Receptacle in a drawer--possible?

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midget

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Hey guys...question. My dad is a contractor, does mostly floor and countertops, and has managed a few projects, so I've been exposed to a lot of the construction industry, and that's what really helped me to figure out electrical was my favourite. :) I'm really happy I've found this forum--it's always itneresting to read what you guys have to say. :)

Anyway...this summer, we were at a house doing some countertops and blacksplash...in one of the bathrooms, though, there was no box cutout for a receptacle, so my dad had to go find the GC to ask if he should make a cut out for a box, or if they wanted to hold off and get the electrician to come back. And the home owner said they wanted to electrician to put a recepctacle in the drawer...is this possible? If so, how so? Any ideas on this? We got all done, so we never had to go back, so I don't know what happened with that. I just thought I'd ask you guys for your thoughts, since a post I just read reminded me of that.

Also....sometimes I just notice there will be like a wire just stubbed outta the cieling, or wall, etc...why no box? Is that just so you can cut the box out later, use a remodel box, and have a littlre more choice of where to put a light?
 
Re: Receptacle in a drawer--possible?

A receptacle mounted in a drawer would not meet 210.52(D) requirement.

And yes on the light but we leave it in the wall and cut it out when we mount the fixture using a round old work box. It doesn't mater how definite the plans are. It seems that every time we mount a box the home owner will change it and then we have to remove the box and relocate the wiring. Like a double sink vanity we will leave one long whip in the wall that will have a loop centered on each vanity and one in between them so if they want one bar lite in the middle or two wall sconce lights centered over each sink we will be covered. ;)
 
Re: Receptacle in a drawer--possible?

I recently had a customer make this request, in order to leave a dryer / curler in a drawer and just pull it out for use without cords all over the counter.

The solution I came up with was to cut in a box in the rear wall of the cabinet below the drawer, come out to a surface mount steel with a GFCI recep, and then NM plugmold up, and over the top of the sliding drawer. Tight tolerances wouldn't allow this, fortunately in this instance there was just enough space. This left two receps facing down into the drawer, out of sight and undisturbed by it's sliding action.

Lot of trouble for a curling iron, imho.
 
Re: Receptacle in a drawer--possible?

My first concern on a drawer mounted recpt. for curling irons would be the trapped heat or potential for the iron to be left on un-noticed. Sure sounds like a fire insurance claim waiting to be filed. Second concern would be the continue abrasion of any cords or cables from the continued opening and closing of the drawer.
 
Re: Receptacle in a drawer--possible?

Originally posted by noxx:
I recently had a customer make this request, in order to leave a dryer / curler in a drawer and just pull it out for use without cords all over the counter.

The solution I came up with was to cut in a box in the rear wall of the cabinet below the drawer, come out to a surface mount steel with a GFCI recep, and then NM plugmold up, and over the top of the sliding drawer. Tight tolerances wouldn't allow this, fortunately in this instance there was just enough space. This left two receps facing down into the drawer, out of sight and undisturbed by it's sliding action.

Lot of trouble for a curling iron, imho.
Click to expand...
And the whole time it was "Why am I doing this? This is retarded..." Aren't people amazing? I bet that cost a fortune, too!

Anyway...this summer, we were at a house doing some countertops and blacksplash...in one of the bathrooms, though, there was no box cutout for a receptacle, so my dad had to go find the GC to ask if he should make a cut out for a box, or if they wanted to hold off and get the electrician to come back."
Click to expand...
That drawer outlet wouldn't work for the Bath GFI requirement. Has to be within 3 feet of the sink, over the countertop.

I think the exception is new: It can be cut-in to the cabinet less than 12 in. below the countertop
(NEC 2005, 210.52 (D), exception). But inside the drawer? Throw a can of hairspray in there, maybe some gasoline...
 
Re: Receptacle in a drawer--possible?

As concerned inspectors and electricians, we are always concerned with "what ifs". The reality is we have to install to the minimum or better even if we do not love what the minimum may be. If the code(s) do not prevent it, than it can be installed. If a person performs a "bonehead" move by leaving the hairdryer or heating iron on, no code rules can protect against such nosense.

Darwin's Theory never accounted for the civilization of man.

Pierre

[ December 03, 2004, 06:25 PM: Message edited by: pierre ]
 
Re: Receptacle in a drawer--possible?

"The solution I came up with was to cut in a box in the rear wall of the cabinet below the drawer, come out to a surface mount steel with a GFCI recep, and then NM plugmold up, and over the top of the sliding drawer. Tight tolerances wouldn't allow this, fortunately in this instance there was just enough space. This left two receps facing down into the drawer, out of sight and undisturbed by it's sliding action."
While i will admit it will work,i am concerned about the damage to the cords long term from friction.And what happens if one gets turned on by accident ? OOOPS ,who will the insurance company go after when that house burns ?
 
Re: Receptacle in a drawer--possible?

Look at 334.30. How can you pull a drawer in and out with the cable secured 12 in. from the outlet? So I would say a definite no.
 
Re: Receptacle in a drawer--possible?

Darn I can not figure out how to "qoute"

Anyhow:
jem, I think you are misunderstanding the recptacle is not moving.
 
Re: Receptacle in a drawer--possible?

The receptacle doesnt move but the cords will move every time the drawer is pulled out.Not sure if thats very safe
 
Re: Receptacle in a drawer--possible?

jim,
not saying its safe, but wouldn't the cords move even when they are on the outside? every time she moves her arm to curl her hair??, or what abbout the ones where its plugged into the outlet, and the vanity is shoved right up against the plug? and then the cord is jerked every time she tries to get to the back of her head?, :D
 
Re: Receptacle in a drawer--possible?

By jes25 Darn I can not figure out how to "quote"
Click to expand...
It's easy Just repeat what they say :D
Ok joking aside just hold down your left mouse button at the beginning of the words you wish to quote then move the mouse over to the end of these words and let go of the left button, Then hold you mouse pointer on the hi-lighted words and click the right mouse button and go down to where it says copy then left click on copy. then click post reply to open the post window. at the bottom you will see several buttons click the "quote button"
ubb_quote.gif
[QUOTE /QUOTE] will appear in your post. put your mouse pointer in the middle between the two bracketed quote words and right click and select paste then left click, the word that you copied will appear between the bracketed quote words then just add a space or hit the enter button to move to the next line and type what you need.

[ December 03, 2004, 08:03 PM: Message edited by: hurk27 ]
 
Re: Receptacle in a drawer--possible?

Originally posted by jemsvcs:
Look at 334.30. How can you pull a drawer in and out with the cable secured 12 in. from the outlet? So I would say a definite no.
Click to expand...
Yeah, that's what I was thinking...that you wouldn't be able to secure...plus the drawer pulling in and out, seems like it would put stress on the wire.

[ December 03, 2004, 09:15 PM: Message edited by: midget ]
 
Re: Receptacle in a drawer--possible?

Maybe we need afci protection on the bathroom receptacles as well as gfci.Of all the cord connected items i would think hair blowers and shavers would get the most use and failure rate would be high

[ December 04, 2004, 01:54 PM: Message edited by: jimwalker ]
 
Re: Receptacle in a drawer--possible?

There is no code for securing cord of curling irons. This receptacle may not be a good idea but I dont think it is a code problem.

[ December 04, 2004, 07:37 PM: Message edited by: jes25 ]
 
Re: Receptacle in a drawer--possible?

I was thinking more of having to secure the romex within 12 inches of the box...if the wire is stapled, I don't think the drawer would be able to come out very far. :)

[ December 04, 2004, 08:07 PM: Message edited by: midget ]
 
Re: Receptacle in a drawer--possible?

We have run this in the past. We used a UL approved wiring assembly made for this purpose. We cut in a hole into the drawer, allowing this receptacle device to be mounted, inside the opening. The cord was coiled like a hairdryer cord allowing it to be plugged into a receptacle inside the cabinet on the wall. This was in addition to the required receptacle located over the counter within three feet of the basin.
 
Re: Receptacle in a drawer--possible?

Oh yeah...there has to be a receptacle within 3 feeet of the sink...the way this lady described this, the electrician was goign to put this *one* receptacle in the drawer...now that you reminded me of that, I seriously doubt that ended up being the case. But anyway...this assembly...you just have a recetpacle in the cabinet, which it plugs into?
 
Re: Receptacle in a drawer--possible?

Originally posted by pierre:


Darwin's Theory never accounted for the civilization of man.

Pierre
Click to expand...
Possibly one of the best quotes I've ever heard. Its up there with Charles Barkleys (NBA's) quote.
 
Re: Receptacle in a drawer--possible?

Having done high end homes for years I have often wired for receptacles in cabinets ,behind drawer units,under vanity areas,as long as you meet the required receptacle within 3 ft of the basins edge there is nothing in the NEC that forbids this install :D
In response to what if or could happen or might occur HOGWASH,the NEC is not for these senarios.It sets a minimum standard and after it is met all the what if`s,or could occour`s can take a flying leap ;) It`s is secured/tight/legal enough with the what if`s he signed it off :cool:
 
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