[TexasPenguin]

Semi-serious question:
I'm a transplanted Brit into Texas, EE (Electronics) and have done a fair amount of electrical re-structuring in my UK life.
Dabbled a little bit here and been often infuriated at how things that I came to rely on in the UK are simply unheard of here.

Case in point, heated towel rail install:
Towel rail comes with 1/2 mile of flex and moulded plug.
GFI outlet is ~2' from towel rail.
Simple, I think: cut of moulded plug, install flex outlet.
For those not familiar, in the UK it's one of these:
http://compare.ebay.com/like/300678745598?var=lv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar
Hmm.. no such thing available.
Ok, no idea why, the only other option is to cut off wire and put on re-wireable plug. Are you serious? The only such beasts available wouldn't look out of place in the 1800s!
So, what do y'all do for a situation like this?

 

[jbfan]

Roll the cord up and use strap ties to hold it together!

 

[TexasPenguin]

Roll the cord up and use strap ties to hold it together!

Yep, done that. Doesn't it look good!:cowboy:

 

[patented]

I had never heard of these before, but now I wish I could buy them!

 

[jakeparr]

See if you can replace the entire cord assembly. It may be easy. They also make replacement ends that look good, but you have to look for them.

Canadian tire has a nice one.

 

[TexasPenguin]

See if you can replace the entire cord assembly. It may be easy. They also make replacement ends that look good, but you have to look for them.

Canadian tire has a nice one.

Yeah, I guess that is the best option, thanks for the suggestion.

 

[TexasPenguin]

I had never heard of these before, but now I wish I could buy them!

Well, you could, of course, in this internet age.
But, like me, putting 'em in might be a mistake when you come to sell your house .
Not to mention the fact that you'd need the UK sized box and the neon would be a bit dim!

 

[tylernt]

I had never heard of these before, but now I wish I could buy them!

Crap, me too!

I'm guessing the NEC doesn't like mixing permanent outlets with temporary device cords.

Hm, how about one of those digital TV wall mount boxes. Some of those have a opening (normally for HDMI) so you could stuff the excess power cord inside the wall, then stick the towel rack's stock molded plug into the recessed outlet. Hopefully you can find one with a cover plate to hide everything behind.

 

[Oso954]

so you could stuff the excess power cord inside the wall

No power cords in walls.

 

[tylernt]

No power cords in walls.

I agree that cords should not go through walls. In this case though, you're going in and coming out the same hole. A fine point to be sure...

EDIT: Oops, I just realized that if there were insulation in the wall, heat could build up in the appliance cord and pose a fire risk.

But an uninsulated stud bay... ok yeah I admit it's still iffy.

 

[TTW]

Case in point, heated towel rail install:
Towel rail comes with 1/2 mile of flex and moulded plug.

I think you meant 1/2 Meter? Not 2,640 feet:yes:

 

[TexasPenguin]

I think you meant 1/2 Meter? Not 2,640 feet:yes:

No, I meant 1/2 mile - I was being facetious!
(But don't get me started on why the USA loves to use the least useful unit of measure - I mean, acre-foot, really?)

 

[jbfan]

Yep, done that. Doesn't it look good!:cowboy:

I never said it would be pretty, but unless you change the cord, thats about all you can do.

 

[TTW]

Is the heated towel rail 120 or 220v?

 

[TexasPenguin]

Is the heated towel rail 120 or 220v?

120, standard US molded plug.
Love your avatar, by the way!