Kitchen Counter Recps. BELOW counter?

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davedottcom

davedottcom

Senior Member
Penninsula Problems!
Can a Kit. Counter recp. be in the face of the cabinet, below the counter top?
(Like an island recp.)
Dave
 
Re: Kitchen Counter Recps. BELOW counter?

a receptacle cannot be mounted more than 12" below a countertop, and cannot be located below a countertop that extends more than 6" beyond its support base.
 
Re: Kitchen Counter Recps. BELOW counter?

See 210.52(C)(5), with particular attention to the 2nd exception.

What is prompting the question, Dave? What's arousing your suspicion? :)
 
Re: Kitchen Counter Recps. BELOW counter?

I'm roughing a house and the peninsula is flat, no back splash for recps.
It is 28" then a sink then another 28".

I was talking to the cab. maker and he suggested we cut the recps. into the front-face of the cabs. (He would install a "filler" on both sides of the sink to give me room for an old work box on each side)

No one thinks this will look very nice!
(Myself included!)
So, actually, I'm trying to determine if this is really necessary or not.

210.52 (C)(3) says I only need one.
"At least one"

If I put Just one at the very end (side of cab.) of the peninsula within 12" of the top will this meet NEC?

210.52(C)(5) Exceptions do allow the recp. to be below within 12" of top.

But does 210.52 (C)(3)Really mean I only need the one on the Entire peninsula?

There would be 28" of no recps, than a sink and another 28" of no recps, and than a recp 6" below the end of the peninsual.

It looks to me like that 1 is all I need.

Dave
 
Re: Kitchen Counter Recps. BELOW counter?

You'll want to re-read those exceptions again.

To comply with the conditions specified in (a) and (b), receptacle outlets shall be permitted to be mounted not more than 12" below the countertop.

The sink breaks the countertop, even if it is a peninsula. 210.52(C)(4)

[ February 22, 2006, 11:52 PM: Message edited by: throttlebody ]
 
Re: Kitchen Counter Recps. BELOW counter?

Originally posted by throttlebody:
The sink breaks the countertop, even if it is a peninsula. 210.52(C)(4)
Click to expand...
Ah yes... Now I remember...I already knew that!
:D

The Recps will NOT be more than 12" below, no matter what! ;)

Thanks Throttle-Dude!

Yep, 2 it is. Right in the front-face, on both sides of the sink.
 
Re: Kitchen Counter Recps. BELOW counter?

Originally posted by throttlebody:
[QB] You'll want to re-read those exceptions again.
Click to expand...
I meant to say:
210.52(C)(5) Exceptions do allow the recp. to be below the counter but within 12" of top.
 
Re: Kitchen Counter Recps. BELOW counter?

i just did a couple of these monday,i used a roto-zip with a wood bit,i must admit the thing worked great!,,
grab a milk crate to get comfortable on, and take your time,,
i tape the box out line out,so i can see what i'm doing.
"take your time,,"
 
Re: Kitchen Counter Recps. BELOW counter?

My only problem is cutting the opening in the cabinet.I have always told the GC call the cabinet people have them cut the hole and call us when done.I`m not sure about others but to me if we cut the opening and damage the cabinet we are resonsible for the damage.To me that is a gamble that we need not take.
 
Re: Kitchen Counter Recps. BELOW counter?

We cut the boxes in on 99% of installs. There is one cabinet installer who insists its his job. Great :) For the rest, we just do it. If we screw up, we own it. It's really no big deal, I've probably done 500 of them. I've always used a sawzall with a metal scroll blade, and never once had a problem.
 
Re: Kitchen Counter Recps. BELOW counter?

mpd
a receptacle cannot be mounted more than 12" below a countertop, and cannot be located below a countertop that extends more than 6" beyond its support base.
Click to expand...
(for fun here)!
oh! is that a capital offense? I would think if you wanted to mount one there you could, you just couldn't count it as one of the required S/A branch ciruit outlets. Yes?
 
Re: Kitchen Counter Recps. BELOW counter?

I just put one in a peninsula last week. I prefer to cut my own holes because the cabinet guys often cut holes that are too big.

I've tried the RotoZip route, but I've found that the tool spins a little fast for my taste, so I have moved to using a cordless jigsaw for these kinds of cuts. It lets me make nice, neat holes just the right size to make the box snug.
 
Re: Kitchen Counter Recps. BELOW counter?

Originally posted by allenwayne:
My only problem is cutting the opening in the cabinet.I have always told the GC call the cabinet people have them cut the hole and call us when done.I`m not sure about others but to me if we cut the opening and damage the cabinet we are resonsible for the damage.To me that is a gamble that we need not take.
Click to expand...
What do you do when you have to cut a box into a finished wall? Who do you call to do your job then?
 
Re: Kitchen Counter Recps. BELOW counter?

Originally posted by jeff43222:
I prefer to cut my own holes because the cabinet guys often cut holes that are too big.
Click to expand...
From one "one-man" to another... I agree 100%
;)
 
Re: Kitchen Counter Recps. BELOW counter?

Originally posted by electricmanscott:
Originally posted by allenwayne:
My only problem is cutting the opening in the cabinet.I have always told the GC call the cabinet people have them cut the hole and call us when done.I`m not sure about others but to me if we cut the opening and damage the cabinet we are resonsible for the damage.To me that is a gamble that we need not take.
Click to expand...
What do you do when you have to cut a box into a finished wall? Who do you call to do your job then?
Click to expand...
I agree if I cannot cut it with a razor knife or drywall saw someone else will have to cut the hole
drywallers love it when I use a BFH to find the outlets they buried and refuse to find
 
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