Vertical extension cords?

I've got some new sectional seating and there's not a lot of clearance underneath. The old seating had enough room to allow for an Anker 4-port USB charger being plugged into an extension cord, but not the new ones.

I generally like to use as few cords as possible, especially for stuff tucked under furniture. That and use zip-ties to keep things from being unplugged or otherwise disturbed when cleaning is being done.

Most electrical extension cords put their sockets on horizontally. Like this: http://www.amazon.com/GE-51954-feet-Extension-Cord/dp/B00178HJ6C

Has anyone seen any that put the sockets on with a vertical orientation? As in, the cord lying flat with the socket prongs suitable for plugging this charger into it, also lying flat.

I'll probably have to switch to using a Y-splitter like this: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DRQT4UG

Which would work, of course, but adds to the rats nest of wiring bunched under there.

The charger is feeding two wireless charging pads in an end table, along with a loose 30-pin iPad cable. I could rearrange things a bit to just run AC into the end table and put the charger in there, and use a separate one for the iPad cable. I already have the gear necessary for that.

But it occurs to me there could well be the kind of cord I'm looking for out there already. Anyone seen such a thing?

mikefamig said:

http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1378658&cp=2568443.2568454.2632223.4355323.2632264

Click to expand...

Huh? That's a 20a-style appliance cord and would have nothing to do with what I was asking.

wkearney99 said:

Huh? That's a 20a-style appliance cord and would have nothing to do with what I was asking.

Click to expand...

OOPS
 
http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1285794&cp=2568443.2568454.2632223.4355323.2632265

or this?
 
http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=18590826&cp=2568443.2568454.2632223.4355323.1259176
 
there are a few around

When I redid our family room I added an electrical box outlet next to the couch end table as the outlet was behind the couch and the couch was too heavy to move easily.  It involved putting in new conduit. 
 
Thinking back what made me do that was that I did have a flash and burn of one automated lamp module behind the couch in the early days of automating the house.  It happend while we were watching television one night and it was bright you could see the flash from the sides of the couch. 
 
The new outlet is utilized today. 

This is already using an in-floor outlet, which is under the sectional. But there's also an adjacent wall outlet that can be utilized for the lights and seating, as the furniture now covers the way to it.

I suppose I'll just rejigger things to put the charger in the end-table. The closeness of the outlet under the furniture is convenient for the limited distances supported by USB. Which are less of an issue for power, I suppose.

mikefamig said:

or this?
 
http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=18590826&cp=2568443.2568454.2632223.4355323.1259176
 
there are a few around

Click to expand...

Well, yeah, if all I wanted was ONE socket. I was thinking more along the lines of at least two, perhaps on opposing sides. Much like a flat-layout kind of engine in a BMW bike, air-cooled VW, Porsche or Subaru engine.

Alternatives like this would handle the connecting, but lack compactness or ready ways to secure things to it: http://www.amazon.com/C2G-Cables-29803-Power-Splitter/dp/B000083KIH

I used to use those types of power splitters a few years back in the automation wall vicinity. 
 
They do make those with two hole plugs instead of three hole plugs. 
 
I wonder if they make them in white versus black nowadays?
 
Yup they do exist in white.
 

 
What does it matter if you do not see it anyways?  
 
While searching noticed that Ikea makes furniture / lamps with built in charging pads now.

I don't think that I'm clear on what you're lookingn for. Will something like this work?
 
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Leviton-6-Outlet-Adapter-R52-6ADPT-00W/100356859

Hmmm, you mean something like this, but an extension cord?
 
http://www.amazon.com/GE-Side-Access-6-Outlet-Tap-54543/dp/B00106GYLM

No, more like the orientation of these outlets. Like this:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Wiremold-15-ft-6-Outlet-Computer-Grade-Surge-Strip-with-Lighted-On-Off-Switch-and-Surge-Protector-M6BZNET-15/205469900

See how they're side-by-side? That's the kind of orientation I'm after. That way, a wide charging transformer will still fit under the furniture.

This sort of works, but the outlets are a bit close to each other:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Globe-Electric-3-Outlet-Swivel-Surge-Tap-with-Surge-Protection-White-and-Grey-2-Pack-27730301/205139711
Which is the problem with this, something I'd been using:
http://www.amazon.com/Globe-Electric-46505-Single-Tap-Grounded/dp/B007XQORTO

As for 'why it matters', using stuff like the squid splitters doesn't necessarily provide a compact way to secure the mess. Nor does using gizmos with their own detachable power cord.

Something like this is 'less worse' in that it has enough surface area to allow for zip-ties being strapped around it and the gear:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/QVS-Space-Saver-3-Outlet-3-Prong-AC-Plug-PA-3P/205569195
I show that as an example where you can see how a wide device would be able to plug into it and still keep a low profile. I'd have to use another cord to go from that to the floor outlet. Which is kind of it's own hassle, as it's recessed.

The maid whacking it with a dust mop has been more trouble than you'd think. And hiring a smarter one even more trouble, don't get me started on THAT.

Hmmm, this is getting closer:
http://www.amazon.com/Right-Angle-Wall-Tap-Furniture/dp/B001K42BJ8
 
You'd think that after 5 decades on this planet I'd have all manner of adapters and the like for plugs.  There's always that one new setup that eludes what my hoarding can cover...

I have / had a white one like the above that pivots and sort of folds flat to a wall with two prong side outlets.  I haven't used it in a few years now.  Thinking though I used it behind a couch in the early 1980's.

mdesmarais said:

Hmmm, you mean something like this, but an extension cord? http://www.amazon.com/GE-Side-Access-6-Outlet-Tap-54543/dp/B00106GYLM

Click to expand...

 
No, notice the orientation of the plugs?  I'd want something with the plugs going the other way.  And yes, in a short extension cord.
 
But meanwhile I think I'm going to order one of these:


 
The trick will be whether it'll have enough reach to get down into the recessed outlet. If not I'll use one of those grey 3-to-2 prong cheaters...  That's what I had before.
 
I may have to punt and replace the floor outlet.  The electrician was, well, not very inspired.  He put in a single outlet under a round brass screw cover.  I'd have gone with a flush straight outlet on the floor, but I'm sure there's some code aspect against doing that.  I've already replaced the screw-in ones he put in the shop's floor with flush flip-doors.  So now, at least, I don't have to worry about losing those screw-in plugs any time I use the outlet.