The Outlet Wall concept is true wall wart nirvana

David Friedman's Ironic Sans blog is full of great ideas, but never have we been in such desperate need of rapid implementation as this Outlet Wall. We'd say the idea is pretty self-explanatory, making an art out of plugging in devices instead of fussing with a hidden tangle of cords and powerstrips on the floor -- we've lost many a friend and family member to the wilds behind our entertainment center. As David points out: "Of course you don't have to actually wire all the outlets on the whole wall for electricity, but you'd better come up with a good way to remember which ones are live."

[Via Gadget Venue]

[Dan S. @ Jun 16th 2009 9:21AM]

Ugh. Imagine child-proofing that.

[Gipionocheiyort @ Jun 16th 2009 9:24AM]

Beat me to it.

[Kennyb123 @ Jun 16th 2009 9:24AM]

THEORETICALLY, you could only have outlets above a certain height that were live, essentially child-proofing it. It might take away from the wall wart nirvana though.

[Chris- Engr @ Jun 16th 2009 9:29AM]

I think that it would be easier to outlet-proof the baby.

[Brat @ Jun 16th 2009 9:43AM]

I don't think people with the time and money to make such projects have kids!

[ALEIS @ Jun 16th 2009 9:59AM]

beat me too!

[jacilk @ Jun 16th 2009 10:00AM]

Or girlfriends, friends, lives..

[RichardBronosky @ Jun 16th 2009 10:21AM]

+1 on house proofing you child instead of child proofing your house. I just love when people with child proofed houses come visit. The entire time is spent with them trying to control their little monster.

I can tell my 2 year old "one finger only" in the china/dishware department at Macy's and she is perfectly responsible. I love the look of horror on the old ladies' faces.

[barry99705 @ Jun 16th 2009 10:35AM]

Why, let them learn the same way I did as a child. They will only stick their finger in a light socket once. If they keep trying, well maybe society is better off.

[Richard Lai @ Jun 16th 2009 10:39AM]

@barry99705: I remember first poking the socket when I was four. I then poked it again for the thrill.

[Jeff @ Jun 16th 2009 12:30PM]

Imagine adding another row of outlet covers every couple months as your child grows!!!

Add three rows all at once when they learn to stand.

Add another ten rows when they reach monkey-stage and start climbing on things....

[ssoltero @ Jun 16th 2009 12:31PM]

Yup, that's the first thing that came to my mind.

It's a really cool concept though.

[Gipionocheiyort @ Jun 16th 2009 9:23AM]

I hope he never has kids...good luck trying to baby proof that one.

[kwahhn @ Jun 16th 2009 9:24AM]

russian roulette anyone?

[bondsbw @ Jun 16th 2009 9:47AM]

Sure... but on my electric wall, you would do well to know your prime numbers. :)

[Ghen @ Jun 16th 2009 1:14PM]

nice bonds. Nice.

[jsrabin @ Jun 16th 2009 9:26AM]

I dont know why but i want this in my living room

[Xenoterranos @ Jun 16th 2009 10:58AM]

I don't know about that. I can't stand it when I loose a plug to a bookshelf.

[YoYoYo @ Jun 16th 2009 12:24PM]

I want it in a renter's apartment, wired to an 8A fuse.

*cackles*

[Pontro! @ Jun 16th 2009 12:46PM]

can't imagine what it look like inside that wall.

WIRED!

[rita hainsworth @ Jun 16th 2009 9:26AM]

Wall-E

[ohsnapitstahj @ Jun 16th 2009 12:27PM]

good one.

[xValentine @ Jun 16th 2009 9:27AM]

You guys should read first.

He said that not all outlet has live wire underneath it.

Most of them are just plain outlet.

[Brat @ Jun 16th 2009 10:08AM]

YOU should read more carefully, It say's they don't all have to be connected, but his may well be!

[xValentine @ Jun 16th 2009 10:21AM]

"As David points out: "Of course you don't have to actually wire all the outlets on the whole wall for electricity, but you'd better come up with a good way to remember which ones are live."

[Karl UK @ Jun 16th 2009 9:30AM]

Way to blow your fuse box lol

[Andir3.0 @ Jun 16th 2009 12:22PM]

Technically, you could have 30 million plugs on a circuit, as long as you aren't using them all, and you'd be fine.

[Newone @ Jun 17th 2009 12:13PM]

Not quite 30 million.

With that many outlets dont go straightforward.

First the line length starts to increase resistance, and that means the voltage will drop.

Then comes the problem with inductance even if you could get over the resistance. Long lines have inductance which means the current phase to the voltage phase shift. If the current phase isnt same as voltage phase the power will decrease. With 30 million outlets phase shift could be as high as 90 degrees -> no power even if theres current.

[Adderz @ Jun 16th 2009 9:31AM]

lol id love this wall but i can just imagine all the guests going "what the..." when they see it, thinking i have some mental illness and love collecting powerpoints.

[htd @ Jun 16th 2009 9:34AM]

that's exactly what I wanted to say when I saw this post...

[Matt @ Jun 16th 2009 9:32AM]

Pin the tail on the donkey anyone?

[youngstunna @ Jun 16th 2009 9:33AM]

ive never wanted a wall more than right now.

[msm @ Jun 16th 2009 7:20PM]

tough economy, eh?

[tuaamin13 @ Jun 16th 2009 9:37AM]

2 weeks and I bet he forgets which ones are live and he has to go around with a tester.

[PCIV @ Jun 16th 2009 9:39AM]

Isn't it so much easier to just make them all live? Darts, anyone?

[GodCentMe @ Jun 16th 2009 9:39AM]

Obviously these people do not understand the concept of resale value... 0_o

[Tim Brown @ Jun 16th 2009 10:39AM]

Depends, if you are selling to a gadget nut, then you have added some serious value to your house.

[HenryL @ Jun 16th 2009 9:39AM]

such an ugly looking wall

[Jon Acheson @ Jun 16th 2009 12:04PM]

It would be cheaper and more attractive to just paper the wall in one dollar bills.

[BeyondtheTech @ Jun 16th 2009 9:39AM]

All you need now is a party and someone pissing or throwing some alcohol at the wall. Let the sparks fly!

[JStro @ Jun 16th 2009 9:55AM]

What kind of parties do you go to? I tend to avoid the ones where people piss on walls.

[scyber @ Jun 16th 2009 9:57AM]

@Jstro
You know people that piss alcohol? Awesome!

[Bluecold @ Jun 16th 2009 10:14AM]

JStro, you're missing out.

[GodCentMe @ Jun 16th 2009 10:16AM]

@scyber
Wow, what a buzzkill...

...I don't get it.

[TheLionOfAzzalle @ Jun 16th 2009 9:41AM]

EPIC FAIL!

[copeys @ Jun 16th 2009 10:42AM]

whateva... you know you secretly want one ;)

[BigD145 @ Jun 16th 2009 12:20PM]

Nope. This really is a fail. It's the perfect example of wasteful energy usage.

[dewalt25 @ Jun 17th 2009 9:30AM]

@BigD145

No energy is wasted unless you plug something in.

[a @ Jun 16th 2009 9:41AM]

"you'd better come up with a good way to remember which ones are live."

trail and error. it never fails.

[Buenos ding dong diddly dias @ Jun 16th 2009 12:06PM]

It's called trial and error. It sometimes fails.