On Mar 29, 1:45*pm, wrote:
On Tue, 29 Mar 2011 07:56:13 -0400, "JoeSpareBedroom"

wrote:
Ya know those wind-up timers you sometimes (or used to) see in hotel
bathrooms for the heat lamps? I need to mount one of those, and an outlet in
a metal box. It'll be used for a portable electric heater which we regularly
forget to turn off. For grounding purposes, should the green from the
outlet, timer and cord all be attached to the box itself?

Done safely this will be OK but it is not really legal. These devices
are only listed for mounting in a box fastened to the wall. Impact
would be the concern, either to the operating knob or just "G" shock
to the internal parts.
*As long as you never are in a situation where the OSHA inspector is
looking, I doubt it will ever come up. I have seen people on job sites
written up for the ubiquitous "handy box on a cord".

Yeah I have an extension cord made up with two duplex outlets in a
cast aluminum box and braided strain relief. I use it for camping and
sometimes at work ........looks professionallly built but illegal as
hell if the electrical police come around.

Jimmie