Electrical Wiring for Gun Safe - Hole Size & Advice

[Triumph]

Need some advice - Just received my Sturdy safe. The hole that is drilled in the safe for a power cord is just big enough for a standard lamp cord (barely).

I would like to plug in a golden rod in the winter and possibly a couple fluorescent lights. I am concerned that the power load may be a little too much for a lamp cord.

Enlarging the hole is not problem. I just don't want to go any bigger than necessary.

Here are my questions -

1. What is the best wire to pass through the safe - keeping the hole as small as possible? I am assuming some kind of round wire. I can put the plug ends on once I pass the wire through the safe.
2. Is it necessary to have a surge protector? If so can a surge protector just be employed on the outside of the safe? Most of the surge protectors would require a 3/8 to 1/2" hole - maybe too big.

Any advice would be appreciated. If you suggest wire please give me the description so I can buy it at Lowe's or Home Depot.

 

[Lee Roder]

just add up the wattage of all the appliances you want to run inside your safe. unless you are running a dehumidifier, space heater, halogen floodlamps, etc i wouldn't worry about it. lampcord will work just fine

 

[a1abdj]

Your dry rod should be plugged in all year. All it is doing is raising the dew point, so it's cheap insurance against rust, and won't over dry the safe.

For those that are running multiple electric items inside of their safe, a surge strip can be installed inside the safe. Simply buy the power strip, and a replacement plug for it. You will need to cut the factory plug off to get it through the hole.

For safetey purposes, you should use a rubber grommet to protect whatever wiring you are running through the thin steel wall so that it doesn't cut through the cord and turn your safe into a giant booby trap.

Enlarging the hole will be very easy. The steel is thin and soft enough that hitting it with a larger bit and a cordless drill should only take about 30 seconds.

 

[Keizer]

I bought a round 12 gauge cord, and wired up an outlet inside my safe. My switched lighting system, and golden rod plug into this outlet. I have a surge protector on the outside of the safe that the outlet plugs into. Since I only have two items in the safe that use power, I kept the surge protector on the outside so I can plug other non-related items into it.

 

[IdahoLT1]

Surge protector are only needed for delicate appliances like computers but they are handy for extra plugs. As long as you have a modern house (1980 and newer) you shouldn't have any concerns about your houses electrical system. Your circuit breakers will protect against overcurrent, ground faults and short circuits.

Whatever cord you run into your safe for power, makes sure its atleast 14 AWG, which is good up to 15 amps.12 AWG wire is good to 20 amps. If you wire it with 18 AWG wire and put 15 amps worth of light/dehumidifiers/etc. on it, it will eventually melt the wires insulation and cause problems, potentially a fire.

 

[Lee Roder]

If you wire it with 18 AWG wire and put 15 amps worth of light/dehumidifiers/etc. on it, it will eventually melt the wires insulation and cause problems, potentially a fire.

15 amps * 115 volts = 1725 watts

Just don't run your safe's HID lighting system continuously from the same wire and you should be fine.