Pimp my Tarpmahal - Electrical

[[memphis]]

I need lights inside my tarpmahal garage... it's what I've got to work with and the legality of what I am doing is unknown. I want to add to circuits for damp wet shitty conditions.

One line is a 240v 50 amp circuit that I will be tying my air compressor, band saw and welder to... They will not be run simultaneously. Compressor pulls 9 amps, welder pulls 22 amps and I need to check the saw but again these will not be run at the same time. I have 6/3 wire to support this

I will be installing lights on a 20 amp circuit which is already on a GFCI. I bought powerful as hell screw in LED waterproof lights and want to use a waterproof box to mount them.

All of this will be plugged into an existing outdoor subpanel that has 50amp, 20 amp, and 30 amp (120v RV) receptacles. It will be unplugged when not in use, and proper breakers are installed.

The structure of the tarpmahal is 1.5" thin ass tubing... how can I attach waterproof boxes to the frame work? I was thinking exhaust clamps initially and trying to utilize one of the threaded ends to bolt the waterproof box onto it but I don't think that will work. Drilling into the box also destroys the waterproof aspect... it gets humid as fuck inside the tent in the summer and obviously I deal with rain and crap as well...

 

[Dethmachinefab]

I'd do some sort of tab on the back and use hose clamps to go around the tube.

 

[[memphis]]

Good idea on the tabs, most of the outdoor junction boxes have external tabs that I could maybe hook onto using hose clamps!

For the over head lighting... see my attached pic. A friend recommended I use hooks on the frame to hang lights. Obviously the light can’t hang by merits... how are these retained?

 

[aczlan]

Save save yourself time and money and buy something intended specifically for that purpose.
Here you go, an outdoor rated string light: https://www.amazon.com/Sunlite-EX50-14-SL-Incandescent-Temporary/dp/B010B64BYI/?tag=91812054244-20
Zip tie it to the framework of your canopy with good UV resistant zip ties and call it good.

Aaron Z

 

[4xfiend]

;n243033]Good idea on the tabs, most of the outdoor junction boxes have external tabs that I could maybe hook onto using hose clamps!

For the over head lighting... see my attached pic. A friend recommended I use hooks on the frame to hang lights. Obviously the light can’t hang by merits... how are these retained?

That kind of socket isn’t meant for use in a box. Something like below will work if you want it all waterproof. If it were me I’d just bolt the box to a minny (conduit hanger) and hang it from the tubing with that. Silicone to seal the bolt hole.

Will the lights be directly exposed to water? Millions of porch/patio lights are installed all over the country in regular sockets and work just fine.

 

[[memphis]]

Save save yourself time and money and buy something intended specifically for that purpose.
Here you go, an outdoor rated string light: https://www.amazon.com/Sunlite-EX50-14-SL-Incandescent-Temporary/dp/B010B64BYI/?tag=91812054244-20
Zip tie it to the framework of your canopy with good UV resistant zip ties and call it good.

Aaron Z

I was looking at that originally but wanted to run two GFCI outlets inside the tarp to minimize extension cords on the ground tied into this circuit

 

[[memphis]]

That kind of socket isn’t meant for use in a box. Something like below will work if you want it all waterproof. If it were me I’d just bolt the box to a minny (conduit hanger) and hang it from the tubing with that. Silicone to seal the bolt hole.

Will the lights be directly exposed to water? Millions of porch/patio lights are installed all over the country in regular sockets and work just fine.

Saw that box yesterday and was considering it but didn't know about the conduit mounts... that should solve my problem! Not the cheapest option but it will look clean and de-ghetto it a bit. I'm more considered about the condensation that accumulates on the inside of the structure in the summer. It literally sweats in there... I'd say the chances of the electrical getting wet is much less than direct rain water but I'd rather "do it as right as possible"

 

[aczlan]

;n243308]

I was looking at that originally but wanted to run two GFCI outlets inside the tarp to minimize extension cords on the ground tied into this circuit

Well that's easy, zip tie them to the frame and then they aren't on the ground

They do have a 14/3 version of that as well if that would work better.

Aaron Z

 

[[memphis]]

@4xfiend

I cannot find that light fixture now... what did you search? I have tried googling everything under the sun!

 

[aczlan]

;n243345]@4xfiend\n\nI cannot find that light fixture now... what did you search? I have tried googling everything under the sun!

\nHere is one: https://www.amazon.com/Hubbell-Bell...utdoor-Flood/dp/B005GOGCNY?tag=91812054244-20\n\nI dont see how you are going to use the straps posted above to mount the box to the frame without shredding the tarp, curious to see how you do that.\n\nSomething like: https://www.amazon.com/Harrier-1-5-inch-Stainless-Cushion-11-Pack/dp/B08CL55T1J?tag=91812054244-20 with a pair of them for each box and them facing in opposite directions (and bolting into the \"ears\" on the box) would be now I would do it. I would still use the string lights, everything is already waterproof (except for the sockets and plugs) and it just needs to be strung up.\n\nAaron Z

 

[4xfiend]

;n243345]@4xfiend

I cannot find that light fixture now... what did you search? I have tried googling everything under the sun!

http://www.homedepot.com/p/300854221