MICROWAVE CKT

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electricallouie said:
does the microwave need to be gfi protected if it is within 6foot of sink also but also arcfault.
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There is a lot of confusion surrounding this rule. If the RECEPTACLE is within 6 feet of the sink (in any direction), it needs GFCI protection. If the appliance is within 6 feet, but the receptacle supplying power to it is more than 6 feet away, it does not need GFCI protection.

Personally I think this is an unintended loophole of this rule.
 
If this is in a dwelling kitchen and you are going by the 2014 or 2017 NEC, then yes, you need to AFCI protect it as well.
 
There should not be any confusion here because the NEC specifies the receptacle. The idea is not to protect the appliance but to protect someone who may use the receptacle. In the case of a mw mounted above the counters in their own space as a range hood mw I would not be concerned. If that MW receptacle was within 6' then the gfci is required to protect someone from using the receptacle with another appliance that could reach the sink.


(6) Kitchens — where the receptacles are installed to
serve the countertop surfaces
(7) Sinks — where receptacles are installed within 1.8 m
(6 ft) of the outside edge of the sink
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Dennis Alwon said:
There should not be any confusion here because the NEC specifies the receptacle.
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For the 2014 NEC, I agree.

For the 2017 NEC, 210.8 has a new general rule that says:

2017 NEC
210.8
(New language before 210.8(A))

For the purposes of this section, when determining distance from receptacles the distance shall be measured as the shortest path the cord of an appliance connected to the receptacle would follow without piercing a floor, wall, ceiling, or fixed barrier, or passing through a door, doorway or window.
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If the microwave receptacle is inside a cabinet space above the microwave, and behind a cabinet door, then no GFI protection will be required regardless of proximity to a sink.

The requirement for AFCI is not changed. . . all 15 and 20 Amp 125 Volt branch circuits supplying outlets or devices in a dwelling kitchen must have AFCI protection.
 
al hildenbrand said:
For the 2014 NEC, I agree.

For the 2017 NEC, 210.8 has a new general rule that says:



If the microwave receptacle is inside a cabinet space above the microwave, and behind a cabinet door, then no GFI protection will be required regardless of proximity to a sink.

The requirement for AFCI is not changed. . . all 15 and 20 Amp 125 Volt branch circuits supplying outlets or devices in a dwelling kitchen must have AFCI protection.
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I have a feeling that this isn't going to hold up. We will have to wait for the ruling from the Dept of Labor and Industry here, but I'm guessing they aren't going to count cabinet doors. If they did, microwave, dishwasher and disposal outlets wouldn't need to be GFCI protected.
 
MNSparky said:
I have a feeling that this isn't going to hold up. We will have to wait for the ruling from the Dept of Labor and Industry here, but I'm guessing they aren't going to count cabinet doors. If they did, microwave, dishwasher and disposal outlets wouldn't need to be GFCI protected.
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The dishwasher will have to have GFCI, no matter what, because of 210.8(D).

The MN official take at my continuing ed class on the 2017 is that the door on a cabinet is a door.
 
al hildenbrand said:
The dishwasher will have to have GFCI, no matter what, because of 210.8(D).

The MN official take at my continuing ed class on the 2017 is that the door on a cabinet is a door.
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Oh, yup, you are correct about the DW. :slaphead:

Thats surprising about the cabinet door. It'll be interesting to see how it plays out. I haven't done my 2017 update yet. I better get on that.
 
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