Outdoor kitchen

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tbakelis

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Just finishing up trimming out an outdoor kitchen. It was built from cinderblock and we are having clearance issues with the fridge and ice maker. The builder didn't make it deep enough and the outdoor "in use" cover is hitting the back of the units. My question is, am I allowed to use a standard indoor cover in this location? The chances of water getting in there is practically zero. The standard indoor cover would allow the appliances to fit in flush.

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Can you surface wire from the existing box to one above, below, or alongside the fridge where there is more clearance?
Or rotate the box sideways so that the in use cover opens parallel to the wall?
Or is the box recessed into the block wall? If so, surface wire out of that to a new box.

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Are the boxes located in the cinder block? If not, why not jump to a nearby cabinet if there is one to be had? If they are... I hate to say it but it sound like poor planning. I don't mean that in a rude way either. These things happen.

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Have you tried different types of in-use covers (other than a bubble cover). They make some that are pretty darned slim. They add almost no distance other than what's needed for the cord and plug. The one's I use only take up about an inch until you plug something in and more space is needed for the plug and cord and then they expand out to the area needed.

The TayMac ML 450G 1" expandable.
 
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cainisunabel said:
I hate to say it but it sound like poor planning.
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Sure it's poor planning. They should have allowed a little room for air circulation around the back of a fridge or ice maker.

You can always tell the contractors (GCs) that have never done a certain job before when they make mistakes and expect you to come up with an easy fix.
 
growler said:
Sure it's poor planning. They should have allowed a little room for air circulation around the back of a fridge or ice maker.

You can always tell the contractors (GCs) that have never done a certain job before when they make mistakes and expect you to come up with an easy fix.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't expect the depth of the opening to be any greater than the cut sheet calls for. I think this should have been noted and planned for by everyone involved. At the house I recently finished, we would have had the same issue in the summer kitchen there if we hadn't thought to place all the receptacles in cabinets. Then again, there were cabinets available. This may not be the case for the OP.

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The boxes were set flush with cinder block so the only part outside wall is bubble cover. I went with the slimmest in use cover available but still need like an inch. Plus, the fridge has one of those massive gfci ends on it. It's def poor planning on GCs part but just trying to find solution for him. Judging by your responses it's as I suspected... Negative on the indoor cover plate option. I'll have to make it clear that when I left job, covers were code compliant... What he does after is not on me....
 
Using an extension cord may or may not be code, but the flat plug right angle kind of extension cord male end might fit inside a minimal thickness in use cover. I have seen some that appear to be less than one inch when fully collapsed. (The accordion side kind.)

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Since this is a damp location an in-use style cover is not required. You would need a" shall have an enclosure for the receptacle that is
weatherproof when the receptacle is covered (attachment
plug cap not inserted and receptacle covers closed)." This might give you more options maybe one of these:

6927404.jpg
 
infinity said:
Since this is a damp location an in-use style cover is not required. You would need a" shall have an enclosure for the receptacle that is
weatherproof when the receptacle is covered (attachment
plug cap not inserted and receptacle covers closed)." This might give you more options maybe one of these:

6927404.jpg
Click to expand...


That would work if they were not designed so that the covers stick straight out when in-use.

The covers are about an inch and a half so they actually take up more room than a slim in-use cover ( 1"). When closed they are good.
 
He stated that the cord has a "the fridge has one of those massive gfci ends on it" which is probably just as big as the cover in the photo. Otherwise you would need a flip cover that opens more than 90?.
 
GoldDigger said:
How many hard wired residential refrigerators (not built in custom) have you seen?

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How many residential refrigerators are intended to be utilized outdoors? That came to my mind when I first read the OP.

May or may not be something an EI can do anything about though, as inspection may stop at the outlet on something like this.
 
If it is hardwired, the outlet is at the refrigerator end of the wire, not at the wall box. Or so a lot of folks would argue.

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GoldDigger said:
If it is hardwired, the outlet is at the refrigerator end of the wire, not at the wall box. Or so a lot of folks would argue.

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I agree with that. Exception may be if the unit comes with a flexible conduit already installed - like most cook tops or ovens do.
 
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