Changing Refrigerator and Microwave single outlets to a duplex

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ProHomeTechSolutions

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I want to install LED under the cabinets tape lights in the kitchen. Would like to conceal the plug in transformers behind the refrigerator and in the cabinet where the microwave plugs in to. Currently both are a single outlet and I cannot find in the code book where it is not allowed to replace them with a duplex. Any input would be helpful! Thanks in advance!
 
I am closing this thread, in accordance with the Forum rules. This Forum is intended to assist professional electricians, inspectors, engineers, and other members of the electrical industry in the performance of their job-related tasks. However, if you are not an electrician or an electrical contractor, then we are not permitted to help you perform your own electrical installation work.


If I have misjudged the situation, if for example this project is related to your work, then send me a Private Message. If you can show me that I am wrong, and that you are a licensed electrician (or at least a licensed apprentice), then I will reopen your post, and offer an apology for the delay and inconvenience.
 
ProHomeTechSolutions said:
I want to install LED under the cabinets tape lights in the kitchen. Would like to conceal the plug in transformers behind the refrigerator and in the cabinet where the microwave plugs in to. Currently both are a single outlet and I cannot find in the code book where it is not allowed to replace them with a duplex. Any input would be helpful! Thanks in advance!
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I don't believe these are required to be single receptacles, at least I hope not because I use duplexes for them all the time.

However, if the fridge or MW is on a kitchen small appliance branch circuit (SABC) and not on it's own circuit, you may be in violation of lighting not being allowed on that circuit. Not sure if that rule applies to plug-in lighting though. (Others smarter than me will chime in shortly. :))
 
Thanks for the response! The MW is on it's on 20amp circuit and the refrigerator is on another 20 amp kitchen circuit that has 4 other duplix receptacles. I could not find any
codes that says you can't but I wanted to checked with other professionals with more experience than me.
 
ActionDave said:
I am closing this thread, in accordance with the Forum rules. This Forum is intended to assist professional electricians, inspectors, engineers, and other members of the electrical industry in the performance of their job-related tasks. However, if you are not an electrician or an electrical contractor, then we are not permitted to help you perform your own electrical installation work.


If I have misjudged the situation, if for example this project is related to your work, then send me a Private Message. If you can show me that I am wrong, and that you are a licensed electrician (or at least a licensed apprentice), then I will reopen your post, and offer an apology for the delay and inconvenience.
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It's still open...................
 
210.52(B)(1):

In the kitchen, pantry, breakfast room, dining room, or similar area of a dwelling unit, the two or more 20-ampere small-appliance branch circuits required by 210.11(C)(1) shall serve all wall and floor receptacle outlets covered by 210.52(A), all countertop outlets covered by 210.52(C), and receptacle outlets for refrigeration equipment.
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Receptacles as described must be considered to be part of the SABC's.

210.52(B)(2) tells us these SABC's shall have no other outlets.

That said, not a lot you can do about the home occupant deciding to plug in a corded luminaire and hanging it under a cabinet, but for you as the installer you are pushing that by intentionally connecting luminaires to it, even if they are cord and plug connected.

Outside of this requirement I personally don't see any low wattage LED luminaire having any safety impact just because it got connected to one of the SABC's and very possibly would connect it that way myself in many instances. Just beware that if your work is to be inspected the inspector would have a code section to cite to back up his rejection.
 
Coppersmith said:
I don't believe these are required to be single receptacles, at least I hope not because I use duplexes for them all the time.

However, if the fridge or MW is on a kitchen small appliance branch circuit (SABC) and not on it's own circuit, you may be in violation of lighting not being allowed on that circuit. Not sure if that rule applies to plug-in lighting though. (Others smarter than me will chime in shortly. :))
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The "no other outlets rule" (or no lighting on sabc) does not come into play when lighting equipment is plugged into an sabc.

Off the top of my head from a code perspective the only potential wrinkle with the ops plan is 210.23(2)/or MW requires its own circuit (he said it was on its own circuit- might be the reason for the single).
 
user 100 said:
The "no other outlets rule" (or no lighting on sabc) does not come into play when lighting equipment is plugged into an sabc.

Off the top of my head from a code perspective the only potential wrinkle with the ops plan is 210.23(2)/or MW requires its own circuit (he said it was on its own circuit- might be the reason for the single).
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Key words in 210.23(2) is "fastened in place". This would apply to a over the range microwave, but not to one that is free standing on a countertop.

Cord and plug connected lights - I think is questionable. For all new installations I would avoid using the SABC for them, to come into an existing situation I very well may connect them to the SABC if that is the easiest way to install them. If it is to be inspected - I would consult the inspector first though, or I just may end up having to redo it.
 
Thanks for all the input! After reading all the comments I am going to check with the local inspector but because this is an add on to the customers house I think the change from a single to a duplex looks to be an option
 
Just to add muddying of waters, what if you (electrician) knows there will be lighting in the kitchen that needs to be plugged into the wall. So you install a receptacle for this lighting, knowing it can not by NEC rules be on a SABC, at or near the counter top. Now how does the occupant, or future occupant know this is not a SABC, and not use it for the coffee maker? Or how does the inspector say, hmm, counter top receptacle on a 15 amp circuit, that's OK? If you use yellow NM-B of course it would never be caught....:D

Just use more than two 20 amp circuits for the kitchen, dinning room and everybody will be happy!

Anybody else here live through the 60s where the breakfast nook table got a pendant light that plugged into the wall?
 
FWIW a receptacle outlet into which lighting gets plugged is still not necessarily a (dedicated) lighting outlet.

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ProHomeTechSolutions said:
I want to install LED under the cabinets tape lights in the kitchen. Would like to conceal the plug in transformers behind the refrigerator and in the cabinet where the microwave plugs in to. Currently both are a single outlet and I cannot find in the code book where it is not allowed to replace them with a duplex. Any input would be helpful! Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

The only thing I can think of is the microwave may require a dedicated circuit as per installation instructions. The refrigerator may be on a small appliance circuit.

I think you are doing right by consulting with your local inspector because you never know how he/she will view such things. Even when you are right you can be wrong if the area is gray enought to allow them to make a judgement call.
 
Frank DuVal said:
Just to add muddying of waters, what if you (electrician) knows there will be lighting in the kitchen that needs to be plugged into the wall. So you install a receptacle for this lighting, knowing it can not by NEC rules be on a SABC, at or near the counter top. Now how does the occupant, or future occupant know this is not a SABC, and not use it for the coffee maker? Or how does the inspector say, hmm, counter top receptacle on a 15 amp circuit, that's OK? If you use yellow NM-B of course it would never be caught....:D

Just use more than two 20 amp circuits for the kitchen, dinning room and everybody will be happy!

Anybody else here live through the 60s where the breakfast nook table got a pendant light that plugged into the wall?
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I still say it doesn't make any difference what gets plugged into a sabc- the sabc is simply there in case small appliances get used, not that it is exclusively for small appliances. I don't see how such a rule would even be enforceable.

And yes, I have seen the nook pendant.

Another popular one is the 18" T8 that is mounted over the kitchen sink- (often hooked to ext cord too) that is plugged into a sabc.
 
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