drawer plug
- Thread starter difowler1
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dpcarls1598
Master Electrician
- Location
- Minnesota, USA
- Occupation
- Master Electrician
Bad idea. I'm a retired fire captain and have been on two massive house fires where a downstairs bathroom had outlets in the drawer. On one, the homeowners daughter put the curling iron into the drawer with it on and closed the drawer. The other was a house guest who did the same thing.
Not saying it was the drawer outlet that caused the fires but by having the outlet in the drawer, the user doesn't have to unplug it to put it away.
Both cases the homeowner commented that it was a dumb idea.
Just my $.02
Not saying it was the drawer outlet that caused the fires but by having the outlet in the drawer, the user doesn't have to unplug it to put it away.
Both cases the homeowner commented that it was a dumb idea.
Just my $.02
petersonra
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern illinois
- Occupation
- engineer
This sounds more like a defective product than a problem with an outlet in a drawer.
Knuckle Dragger
Master Electrician Electrical Contractor 01752
- Location
- Marlborough, Massachusetts USA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
Depending on the vanity, I would typically mount a GFCI protected receptacle on the inside face of the vanity near the drawer. They can just plug their appliance into that and leave in the drawer.
As far as being a fire hazard,when careless is involved there sure is an argument for that.
As far as being a fire hazard,when careless is involved there sure is an argument for that.
This one says it has a thermostat.
https://www.amazon.com/Style-Drawer-In-Drawer-Outlet-Thermostat/dp/B00MBPABRO
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
You have a heat producing item in a drawer, and drawers are often "catch -all" for who knows what that may be ignitable. There doesn't need to be a defect in the product to start a fire.
This is nothing more then a display of Darwin's theory. Today I can see the want for power in the drawer for chargers for cordless items, but to put a heating device in the drawer while still powered up is just plain stupid on the occupant's part.
I have never been asked to install such outlet, but would maybe only agree to a USB charging port in a drawer. You want to put 120 volts in the drawer, put it in yourself and not make me even partially responsible when you make a dumb move and try to burn your house down.
Ask them if they would light a candle, place it in the drawer and then close it.
gadfly56
Senior Member
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Professional Engineer, Fire & Life Safety
We have a cabinet that hangs over the toilet which is where a lot of, er, toiletries are stored, including my electric razor. The only way to keep it charged is to string the cord out of the cabinet and run it to the wall receptacle between the toilet and sink. Unsightly. I've considered cutting a duplex into the wall behind the cabinet to neaten things up but haven't mustered the ambition yet.
Coppersmith
Senior Member
- Location
- Tampa, FL, USA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
With the frequency that phones and other lithium ion battery devices are catching fire, I'm not even sure that's a good idea. I no longer leave items charging all over the house. I keep them where I can see them.
gadfly56
Senior Member
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Professional Engineer, Fire & Life Safety
Now you're making me nervous...
cpinetree
Senior Member
- Location
- SW Florida
We have one of these in the shop now to install soon. Purchased through Graybar.
I don't think I would want to install anything without a thermostat of some kind to kill power if the temperature got to hot.
Link to dockingdrawer website: http://www.dockingdrawer.com/
Link to pdf (page 2) stating thermostat cut off at 120 degrees: http://go.dockingdrawer.com/hubfs/Literature/DD_4Page_Brochure_021417_RS.pdf?hsCtaTracking=ff7ee1fd-1689-4490-a4c6-7a395fbaba2d%7Cfaf8630b-0985-4721-bf97-90674b7b3744
Coppersmith
Senior Member
- Location
- Tampa, FL, USA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
By the time the fire starts at the front of drawer and the temperature spreads to the back of the drawer where the thermostat is, it's too late to turn off the power.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
Curling irons, that are a concern here, would hold on a 1 amp breaker.
gadfly56
Senior Member
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Professional Engineer, Fire & Life Safety
My wife doesn't own one, so I'm not terribly familiar with them, but looking on line it seems they have a much lower draw than hair dryers. I can believe you'd be good with that.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
Haven't looked at one in a while, but seems around 30-40 watts is pretty typical.
That don't sound like a lot, but watt density of a heating element is what determines how hot it gets. Some soldering irons are only 7 watt, but it is primarily focused on a small point and still gets really hot.
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