kitchen island electrical outlet code [installing outlet in island]
kitchen island electrical outlet code [installing outlet in island]
This video will go in depth on how to cut in the island outlet that is required by code and the next video will show the outlet being put in to the box.
How to Run Electrical Wiring to a Kitchen Island
Your kitchen is the heart of your home and at its center is your kitchen island. More than additional counter space, a kitchen island is often the landing pad for school projects, small home repairs, bill paying and other household activities.
These days, a kitchen island is where you:
do your menu and cooking prep;
stand up a cookbook or a tablet with recipes;
watch TV or listen to a podcast while you’re working;
spend time with friends and family;
store your pots and pans;
sit and enjoy a morning coffee
sort through the mail;
plan your day, your week or your life.
If you want your kitchen to have all the futuristic touches that will make life easy, consider getting a smart hub for your home. You can start with smart lights and automatic sensors and progress all the way up to having your coffeemaker turn on at the same time your alarm clock goes off, a refrigerator that reminds you to buy milk and juice, motion-activated faucets and even stoves that can switch to self-cleaning mode all by themselves.
As the center of your kitchen’s life, your island is the ideal spot to place the hub. It’s also a good location for the electronic device you’ll be using to program and control all your technological advances.
THINGS YOU MAY WANT TO CONSIDER WHEN DESIGNING YOUR KITCHEN ISLAND
Lighting. Kitchen islands need outlets for kitchen appliances as well as electronic gadgets. They also need their own lighting, whether it’s bright lights for small, focused tasks or soft ambient lighting for those late-night or early-morning talk sessions.
Getting smarter. Smart technology has become another central aspect of today’s homes. That includes kitchens. New homes will often be wired for automation of the refrigerator, lights, water and air temperature. If you have an older home, you may have already upgraded with sensors that control faucets and appliances.
An island brings extra counter and storage space to a kitchen. If the countertop space is greater than 12 by 24 inches, which is true for the typical island, the National Electrical Code requires the island to have an electrical receptacle. The easiest method to get the wiring to the receptacle is to run it under the floor, but that may not be possible if the floor is concrete or you can't get underneath it. In that case, you can run it through the attic and down a decorative pillar.
Install the electrical box for the outlet at the desired location. It can be a maximum of 12 inches below the counter.
Drill a hole through the bottom of the island's cabinet and the subfloor with a drill and a 1-inch bit. Pass a length of electrical conduit through the hole and attach the conduit to the box with appropriate fittings. Terminate the conduit under the floor with an elbow that points in the direction of the power source
Feed an electrical cable into the box and through the conduit until the end emerges from the fitting under the floor. Pull it to the a point where you can feed it up through the floor and connect it to power. If you're drawing power directly from the panel and the panel is on the same floor, feed the cable to the panel.
Through the Attic
Incorporate one or more decorative pillars into the island design that extend from the ceiling to the top of the counter. Construct one of the pillars with a lengthwise notch or hole large enough to contain and conceal an electrical cable. Drill a hole through the counter top to allow you to pull the cable through.
Run the cable through the attic from the panel or from another point of connection to the pillar. Cut a hole in the ceiling drywall directly above the notch that is large enough for the cable.
Feed the cable down through the pillar and pull out enough from the other end to make connections. Staple the cable to the ceiling joist nearest the pillar and to the other joists along its path.
Drill a hole in the top plate of the wall that contains the power source -- whether it's the panel or another receptacle. Feed the cable through the hole to the power source and make connections.
Things You Will Need
Drill,1-inch drill bit
Electrical conduit
Electrical cable
Wire staples
A Tape Measure and also a hammer and probably a good idea to have a meter handy.
Tips
If the floor is concrete or you can't get under it, an alternative to running the cable through the attic is to construct a raised subfloor and run the cable under that.
The island receptacle must be a ground fault interrupting (GFI) outlet -- not a regular one.
Warning
If you are running or connecting electrical cable that is already connected to a power source, be sure the power is off before beginning work.
And always remember to use the proper safety gear.