Ask Slashdot: Wiring Home Furniture?

b1tbkt writes "So it seems that furniture manufacturers have not yet acknowledged the realities of modern life. Kitchen tables could benefit greatly from built-in concealable receptacles. Even more obvious is the need for electrical wiring in couches and coffee tables. I realize that there are safety (fire) concerns but as it stands most families that I know already have power cords for laptops, tables and phones draped over, under and through their couches at any given point. If someone wanted to wire their furniture with AC or some type of standardized LV DC system, what are some dangers to watch for and what, if any, specialized hardware exists for the purpose?"

Re:Easy

[davester666]

Even better with safesearch turned off!

Some furniture is already widely available

[OhANameWhatName]

They've been making custom powered chairs [wikipedia.org] in the US for a hundred years.

I can't resist this old joke

[willoughby]

...I made a chair for my mother-in-law once. .. My wife wouldn't let me plug it in.

Re:A few things to watch out for

[feepness]

, so your comments about making sure that chords are protected is spot on. I've found E, A, and B are good power chords, but they only heat up if you use a wah-wah pedal.

Re:Easy

[icebike]

As for sitting furniture, it's an amazingly bad idea. I'm just picturing a couch.. Kids spilling drinks. The dog pissing on it.

The kids will never learn, but I wager the dog won't piss on it more than once.

Re:Easy

[Shompol]

Seeing how I always have water spilled in the countertops (both kitchen and bathroom), I dub these "personal electrocution device"

Re:Easy

[CyberTech]

Outlets are supposed to be every 12 feet, not 6 -- that's the same "thinko" i did while building (self) my house. The code actually says no more than 6 feet along any wall (i think the wall has to be 4 feet or longer) to a receptacle. This has the goal of making appliances with 6 foot cords work from any point along the wall.

When I built my house, I was frustrated with my previous 1960's house that had 2 receptacles per room. I said, hell with it, code says 6 feet, I'll make it 4. Note that thinking CORRECTLY, that would have made it 8 feet between outlets.

It wasn't until I had run wire and boxes to 3 rooms that I realized I'd been wiring for 4 feet between boxes. I laughed my ass off and said fuck it, wired the entire house that way... 115 receptacles later, I was done :)

AND THERE'S STILL SPOTS I WISH I HAD A RECEPTACLE AT! :)

Re:Easy

[icebike]

Well, there may be no need depending on the severity of its first experience.

Re: Easy

[Anonymous Coward]

Dude, it's $29, not $50.