logistics of running extension cord to coop

[dftkarin]

I can't imagine how this could work, partly because I don't know how you can run a cord out of the house without leaving a door or window cracked slightly so run it out of. Is there some way of running an extension cord out of a house but still allow the house to be shut up tightly against the cold? Please tell me how!!

 

[hinkjc]

We have an outdoor outlet just below the porch light on each porch. It is also GFA, which will kick off if there is a water issue or surge to eliminate risks. Not sure how others do it, but no doors or windows need to be opened for that.

Edited to add - make sure to use a heavy duty outdoor extension cord.

Jody

 

[Beekissed]

Depends on your door and window frames....I ran one from one outbuilding clear across the yard to the coop. We just drilled a hole on the edge of the frame and on the edge of the door, tacked the wire in that groove, and made sure there was no friction on the wire with the use of the door.

We have an orchard and a fence, so our cords are strung over to the first tree, along the top of the fence, then to consecutive trees and finally to the coop. The cords are green, so noone ever really notices them! We contemplated sinking them in the ground but they would have to cross my garden space, we couldn't have dug them deep enough that they wouldn't "work" to the surface and be caught in the tiller or mower, and this ground is pretty hard in which to dig.

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

Be very careful. Extension cords are a leading cause of fire.

I've been searching out solar powered lights and whatnot. I'm hoping that will work instead.

 

[SSO202]

You need to be careful with this issue. I had an extension cord run from an outdoor outlet to a fountain in the yard. We had a storm, lightning hit the cord in the yard and came into the house via the cord. You can imagine the havoc wreaked inside the house as a result. There are options for you if you still choose to run the exstension cord, make sure it is protected via a ground fault interupt breaker. You could look for an adapter that screws into one of you outdoor lights that has a ac plug inline. Good Luck!

 

[PurpleChicken]

Adding an outside outlet can be a very easy thing. If you have an inside outlet on
the inside part of a wall you can easily mount a box to the outside portion of the
wall and drill a hole.

Anyone with basic electrical wiring experience can do it. It would cost about
$30 in parts.

As HinkJC said, a GFI outlet MUST be used!!!!


Also, don't expect to run more than a light or two, depending on the distance
and type of extention cord you use.

 

[vicki2x2]

We run ours out of our garage.

 

[Indiana hens]

If you have a receptacle(inside your house) on the exterior wall, it is easy for an electrician to add an outside receptacle under the interior receptacle. It may call for a new recetacle box on the inside of the house in order to gain access and allow for the extra wire. Material cost is around $20: 2 boxes, wire connectors, wire, GFI receptacle, 1 weather-proof cover( They also have a cover that protects the receptacle while your cord is plugged in; $10 extra). Note that they have 15 amp and 20 amp receptacles. I use the 20 amp and it handles 4 heat lamps without overheating anything. I also use a 12 gauge all-weather extension cord.

 

[GertieBird]

How do you feel about setting up a solar powered coop? Then you don't have to worry about running cords...it'll be all self-contained and won't raise your electric bill.

 

[patandchickens]

Running an extension cord across the yard to the coop is maybe something you can get away with (most of the time) if you HAVE to, but is really not especially safe and it would be a real good idea to take steps as soon as possible to NOT have to do it.

If you DO run an extension cord, it will need to be from a garage or outdoors receptacle (preferably one of the ones with the lid that can be closed fully even when a cord is plugged in), it should be a HEAVY DUTY extension cord (yeah, even if you're just going to run a waterer heater and a light), and run it somewhere at or near ground level (not up on a fence) that's out of the way of tripping, lawnmowers, and rodent nests.

It would be a whole lot better, though, to get an actual electric line run out there as soon as possible - buried conduit, GFCI, and preferably its own breaker.

Good luck,

Pat