Exposed NM in Kitchen Cabinet

F

fltpa

New User
Location
Florida
Occupation
LV Technician
Recently purchased an older home that has had its fair share of electrical issues. Opened up a cabinet this morning to find this exposed NM cable running to an outlet housed on the side of it. I was told by the QA guy within my company to encase it in carflex for protection since it’s a short length and call it a day.

Personally, it seems like hack job suggestion. Is it even up to code? What better solutions are out there?

Thanks
 
I wouldn't bother with it myself but if I did anything at all it would be something like the QA guy suggested.
 
You would be really surprised at what some consider a “hack job”, but is NEC legal.
 
I would call that a borderline hack job. I would have used MC cable. Also it's missing the required support within 12" of the box.
E44BhjG.jpeg
 
LarryFine said:
Welcome to the forum.

NM may be exposed where not subject to damage.

Often a judgement call.
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subject to damage is entirely a judgement call regardless what the item in question is.

pretty much anything is subject to damage, but one must consider what kind of thing is likely to happen during normal use and whether it is going to cause damage to the item in question. There can be valid argument that the NM cable in the OP is not subject to damage as is. But even if so it is not secured within 12 inches of the box which is another code violation.
 
kwired said:
subject to damage is entirely a judgement call regardless what the item in question is.

pretty much anything is subject to damage, but one must consider what kind of thing is likely to happen during normal use and whether it is going to cause damage to the item in question. There can be valid argument that the NM cable in the OP is not subject to damage as is. But even if so it is not secured within 12 inches of the box which is another code violation.
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Tie it to the water line with a cable tie. Or use those sticky pads with a cable tie.
I've used Carflex but what the heck is going to damage either without taking out the entire cabinet?
 
Little Bill said:
Those pipes (water?) would get hit before the NM would. I wouldn't worry about it.
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I think those are drawer rails not pipes?
It might be hard to keep clearance from the drawers if is sleeved in flex.
The NM should closely follow the surface when run exposed, definitely needs some more support.
 
tortuga said:
I think those are drawer rails not pipes?
It might be hard to keep clearance from the drawers if is sleeved in flex.
The NM should closely follow the surface when run exposed, definitely needs some more support.
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Picture was dark and I didn't notice that. But that's even better! The drawer would be inside the rails (mostly) so they would shield the cable.
 
Dsg319 said:
Cut remaining staple sticking out off with grinder wheel and keep couple different color sharpies ready at hand lol
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I had a "brain fart" once while running some NM through a cabinet. I measured the front edge of the countertop and it was about 2" thick. I was going to strap the NM under the countertop to keep it out of the way. I chose screws shorter than the measured front of the countertop and strapped up the NM.
I get home and get a call asking if I knew the screws were sticking up through the countertop. I told her that I didn't know that. It dawned on me that the front edge was thicker than the rest of the countertop because of the extra wood added for the overhang. DOH!

I apologized and told the lady to get her cabinet guy to fix it and send me the bill. The lady just laughed out loud and said she just wanted me to know for future installs not to use that long of a screw. She was planning on getting new tops in a few weeks anyway!
Whew!!!
 
Little Bill said:
I had a "brain fart" once while running some NM through a cabinet. I measured the front edge of the countertop and it was about 2" thick. I was going to strap the NM under the countertop to keep it out of the way. I chose screws shorter than the measured front of the countertop and strapped up the NM.
I get home and get a call asking if I knew the screws were sticking up through the countertop. I told her that I didn't know that. It dawned on me that the front edge was thicker than the rest of the countertop because of the extra wood added for the overhang. DOH!

I apologized and told the lady to get her cabinet guy to fix it and send me the bill. The lady just laughed out loud and said she just wanted me to know for future installs not to use that long of a screw. She was planning on getting new tops in a few weeks anyway!
Whew!!!
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I cut through the side of a skylight once while frustrated and fighting my way through an attic of a medical facility for some data drops.
 
Little Bill said:
I had a "brain fart" once while running some NM through a cabinet.
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Side note: I have found that there is usually a gap between the underside of the countertop and the top edges o the lower cabinet top edges, eliminating needing to drill, and usually holding cables out of sight.
 
tortuga said:
I think those are drawer rails not pipes?
It might be hard to keep clearance from the drawers if is sleeved in flex.
The NM should closely follow the surface when run exposed, definitely needs some more support.
Click to expand...
and i might say those are the cheapest junk drawer rails
 
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