Does receptacle spacing requirement recognizes outlet for the wall mounting TV set?

Status
Not open for further replies.
J

Jin Kim

Member
Location
USA
Occupation
Electrical Engineer
I am working on a small bedroom arrangement and I have a receptacle outlet at about 50" level where a TV set will be mounted.
I also have outlets on both left and right sides of the TV receptacle outlet each 12 feet apart from the TV receptacle.
I am wondering if it is code compliant because 210.52 requires receptacles in addition to any receptacle that is part of a luminaire or appliance.

Code reference: NEC-2017, 210.52(A)(1)
 
fishin' electrician

fishin' electrician

Senior Member
Location
Connecticut
You're good at 50".

210.52 Dwelling Unit Receptacle Outlets. This section
provides requirements for 125-volt, 15- and 20-ampere receptacle
outlets. The receptacles required by this section shall be in
addition to any receptacle that is:
(1) Part of a luminaire or appliance, or
(2) Controlled by a wall switch in accordance with
210.70(A)(1), Exception No. 1, or
(3) Located within cabinets or cupboards, or
(4) Located more than 1.7 m (51∕2 ft) above the floor
Click to expand...
 
drcampbell

drcampbell

Senior Member
Location
The Motor City, Michigan USA
Occupation
Registered Professional Engineer
While this may comply with the letter of the law, I believe it violates the intent.

The combination of every inch of a baseboard being within six feet of an outlet and most devices having a six-foot cord eliminates the need for extension cords. Unless you think this receptacle behind the TV can be used for lamps and other random devices, or that a six-foot cord will reach to any point along the baseboard from an outlet four feet above the floor, it's a violation of the intent.
 
Coppersmith

Coppersmith

Senior Member
Location
Tampa, FL, USA
Occupation
Electrical Contractor
It may be code legal to not put a receptacle under the TV, but it certainly would be a better design. It's likely the HO will have a dresser or equipment cabinet under the TV with some additional equipment like a cable box, DVD player, lamp or alarm clock. (Some people put their alarm clock out of reach from the bed to force them to get up.)
 
petersonra

petersonra

Senior Member
Location
Northern illinois
Occupation
engineer
Coppersmith said:
It may be code legal to not put a receptacle under the TV, but it certainly would be a better design. It's likely the HO will have a dresser or equipment cabinet under the TV with some additional equipment like a cable box, DVD player, lamp or alarm clock. (Some people put their alarm clock out of reach from the bed to force them to get up.)
Click to expand...
It seems to me that once you meet bare minimum code you are into design choices. I am inclined toward the idea that it is hard to have too many receptacles. However, cost is always an issue.

It seems to me that the code mavens have dealt with this issue by allowing the receptacle to be 5.5 feet above the floor and still count. That seems to imply they considered the issue and decided it was not a safety problem.
 
augie47

augie47

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Tennessee
Occupation
State Electrical Inspector (Retired)
Agree as long as its below 5'5" it satisfies Code.
Surprised it has not been addressed as it is similar to the "appliance garage" rule in that the receptacles is not "convenient".
 
petersonra

petersonra

Senior Member
Location
Northern illinois
Occupation
engineer
augie47 said:
Agree as long as its below 5'5" it satisfies Code.
Surprised it has not been addressed as it is similar to the "appliance garage" rule in that the receptacles is not "convenient".
Click to expand...
90.1 Purpose.
(A) Practical Safeguarding. The purpose of this Code is the
practical safeguarding of persons and property from hazards
arising from the use of electricity. This Code is not intended as a
design specification or an instruction manual for untrained
persons.
(B) Adequacy. This Code contains provisions that are considered
necessary for safety. Compliance therewith and proper
maintenance result in an installation that is essentially free
from hazard but not necessarily efficient, convenient, or
adequate for good service or future expansion of electrical use.
 
Dennis Alwon

Dennis Alwon

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Chapel Hill, NC
Occupation
Retired Electrical Contractor
I have no idea why the receptacles are placed that far apart. The only useable receptacles are 24' from each other. Bad design IMO. It may be compliant but it is a bad layout.
 
petersonra

petersonra

Senior Member
Location
Northern illinois
Occupation
engineer
julian38317 said:
I am working on a small bedroom arrangement and I have a receptacle outlet at about 50" level where a TV set will be mounted.
I also have outlets on both left and right sides of the TV receptacle outlet each 12 feet apart from the TV receptacle.
I am wondering if it is code compliant because 210.52 requires receptacles in addition to any receptacle that is part of a luminaire or appliance.

Code reference: NEC-2017, 210.52(A)(1)
Click to expand...
I don't see how this is compliant if the TV outlet is 12 feet from the nearest outlet. if it was 6 feet, I would buy it.

Or do you mean that the outlets to the left and the right of the TV outlet are 12 feet apart, which would be compliant.
 
petersonra

petersonra

Senior Member
Location
Northern illinois
Occupation
engineer
Dennis Alwon said:
Receptacles only need to be spaced 12' apart. No place on the wall can't be reached with a 6' cord-- that is the idea. If the TV is within 5'5 then it would count as the required receptacle
Click to expand...
The convenient outlets are 24 feet apart, not the only outlets. I misthought what you were saying.
 
D

Dell3c

Guest
Article 210.52 (A)(1)
The applied wording, not saying 6' from receptacle device, to next receptacle device.

Neither does wording of 210.52(C) Countertop and Work Surfaces, say that countertop surfaces shall be 24" apart from receptacle device, to the next receptacle device.

That's not the intent of placement.
 
kwired

kwired

Electron manager
Location
NE Nebraska
drcampbell said:
While this may comply with the letter of the law, I believe it violates the intent.

The combination of every inch of a baseboard being within six feet of an outlet and most devices having a six-foot cord eliminates the need for extension cords. Unless you think this receptacle behind the TV can be used for lamps and other random devices, or that a six-foot cord will reach to any point along the baseboard from an outlet four feet above the floor, it's a violation of the intent.
Click to expand...
The six foot rule been there a pretty long time, they could have changed it if intent wasn't being met.
 
david luchini

david luchini

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Connecticut
Occupation
Engineer
drcampbell said:
While this may comply with the letter of the law, I believe it violates the intent.

The combination of every inch of a baseboard being within six feet of an outlet and most devices having a six-foot cord eliminates the need for extension cords. Unless you think this receptacle behind the TV can be used for lamps and other random devices, or that a six-foot cord will reach to any point along the baseboard from an outlet four feet above the floor, it's a violation of the intent.
Click to expand...
The Code doesn't say anything about "every inch of baseboard," so I don't see how a receptacle at 50" above the floor would be a violation of that intent.

If you have a table lamp with a 6' cord sitting on a table exactly between two receptacle outlets spaced 12' apart that are 18"aff, the lamp cord isn't going to reach either receptacle.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top