Anyone ever set an outlet into the surface of a kitchen countertop? I guess it would have to have some kind of cover in order to be code compliant in addition to being GFI protected, thanks GMOD.
(5) Receptacle Outlet Location. Receptacle outlets shall be located above the countertop, but not more than 18 inches from the countertop surface. Receptacles shall not be installed in a face-up position in the work surfaces or countertops and they must not be located on the sides of cabinets.
I would never put them in anyhow even if someone asked me too. Things always get spilled on countertops. It would just be trouble in the long run.
You have to use a pop up receptacles in counter tops like on islands, etc.
I saw a really nice new one in one of my trade magazine the other day, much better looking and a lower profile than most of them I have used or seen in the past. I'll have to find where I saw it and post a link.
What about them? They are fine as long as they are less than 12" down from the top. Lower than that will not meet the dimensions for any required counter top receptacles.
An inspector told me a while ago. It's what you call the area that's makes the difference. One cabinet is above the counter and one has a counter on top of it. Or maybe since it's called an island it's not really a cabinet even though it really is. Sometimes it can get confusing. I just passed a big job where I was wondering how they would enforce the afci rule. A 26 room frat house with 26 rooms with a bath and micro but not permanant kitchen facilities. It was classified an R2 which puts it in same category as motels/hotels/nursing homes/ etc... hence we didnt need afci's in the bedrooms in that instance since they were not considered dwelling units.
RCPainting that is the same type of outlet I saw in a different picture in a trade mag.
Gene, found out who makes the outlet, its made by Mockett. I have used Mockett's before but they were a little uglier than this one, and they also have some other new ones that are better than what they had in the past.
To answer the OP's question, a receptacle is not permitted to be installed flat into the counter in a dwelling, but this install is permitted in a non-dwelling setting. Go figure.
It really doesn't matter what I think, what you think, what the HO thinks, what the builder thinks, what the paper boy thinks, what the neighbor thinks............
What matters is: What the AHJ thinks. If the AHJ says they won't fly, that's all that matters.
Side Note: Saw an outlet installed in a cabinet door the other day. I wouldn't have known it wouldn't fly if it were AC in a metal box, but it was romex run into a plastic old work box and already I knew it was a code violation. I wonder how long before that connection fatigues and the HO has to pay a real electrician to come out and tell them that all they got for their money was a hole in their door...
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