Dishwasher disconnecting means

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Freshta

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Raleigh, NC
Hi everyone, first post here!

I'm primarily a industrial electrician/control specialist but I'm also an electrical contractor. I just started working with a house flipping real estate agent and I have a question (It's been a long time since I've done any heavy residential electrical work). I know the code states that a means of disconnect must be provided for the dishwasher. Around here (NC) everyone wires to a switch above the counter top. In my case, the dishwasher was hardwired with no disconnecting means except at the panel. The wire came directly up through the floor. Is it permissible to install a handy box/g.p. switch/6' MC Lite whip under the dishwasher? I would install above the counter, but the counter guys have already installed the tile backsplash.

Thanks,

Tony
 
electrofelon said:
I Can't Imagine Having A Switch On The Counter To Kill The dishwasher.

Why not just use a breaker lockout?
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We see it all the time. I have never installed it that way but it was commonly done by others. I have had a few calls from home owner's saying the appliance guy said there was no power to the dishwasher. I told them try the switch next to the sink. One customer lived in the house for 10 years and never noticed the switch was for the dishwasher.
 
Dennis Alwon said:
We see it all the time. I have never installed it that way but it was commonly done by others. I have had a few calls from home owner's saying the appliance guy said there was no power to the dishwasher. I told them try the switch next to the sink. One customer lived in the house for 10 years and never noticed the switch was for the dishwasher.
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Interesting. Never ever seen it. With the new gfci requirements for dishwashers, I would likely but a gfci under the sink. In that case, could the gfci test button serve as the disconnect? Another option is a combo afci gfci with lockout in the panel.
 
electrofelon said:
Interesting. Never ever seen it. With the new gfci requirements for dishwashers, I would likely but a gfci under the sink. In that case, could the gfci test button serve as the disconnect? Another option is a combo afci gfci with lockout in the panel.
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Its rare here, but Ive actually seen a few places. First time I saw it I saw it again I was like... :lol:


True story. My parents had a home 16 years ago where they used the DW for storage as they were used to hand washing as the prior home (50's cottage) didn't have a DW. One day they smelled a faint burning odder in the dinning room while baking pies but didn't think much until the smoke alarm went off. The went into the kitchen much to their surprise to find smoke coming out of the dishwasher's door. Not knowing what it was my dad killed the power. Upon opening the door they found that a plastic lid had melted across the heating element. What mystified them was how the machine turned itself on without having been touched.


Turns out it was controlled by a counter top wall switch and the last time the machine was used by the previous owner the door had been opened at the start of the dry cycle (Makes sense for those who air dry dishes). Because the machine never turned on with the door closed they always assumed it was somehow in the off mode and never thought twice as they just didn't both using it. It sure scarred them, but its a funny to re-tell today.

But yahhh, Im not to found of wall switched DW :lol::p
 
Somewhere NEC tells us that disconnecting means needs to have marking telling us what it is for unless it is arranged so that it is fairly obvious.
 
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