Is this a "Bad" electrical fix?

Jan 18, 2005 4 Replies

Hello,



I want to install a Garburator (food disposer) in our Kitchen. The problem I am having is routing the power wire. I have a 110 volt plug above the kitchen counter under the kitchen cabnets aproximately 5 feet away from the sink where I want to get the 110 volt power to energize the disposer. I obviously have studs in the way if I were to route the wire straight across inside the wall and don't want to remud walls etc.... Since the kitchen cabnets are over the plug AND where I want to put the switch. I am considering routing the wire directly up inside the wall and poke the wire out directly above the cabnets, then run the wire down the cabnet to the stud where the switch will be.....then poke the wire back inside the wall and fish down to the new switch box where I will mount the switch. Running a wire on top of the cabnets will be totally invisible unless your 8 feet tall......The rest is easy...just run the wire down and come in under the sink.



My question is: Is this common practice? Or is this a Hokey fix? Thanks....Jim


It is a violation of the electrical code in most places to use the circuits that supply counter top receptacles to supply any other load. It is not a violation to power both a dishwasher and the food waste disposer from the same circuit but you may not be able to run both at once.

-- Tom H

Thanks TOM!!!!!

I never thought about the dishwasher. I have a junction box mounted behind the dishwasher where I can get power from... Will do that and will be much easier...BTW... I have a florescent light above the sink that shares it's power from a kitchen countertop receptacle. I know that because as I was flipping breakers I lost the florescent light and that receptacle at the same time. Thanks again...Jim

Depends on the code being enforced. The 2005 around here requires that the garbage and dishwasher be on separate CB's and not with anything else. Before the 2005 code the disposal and dishwasher was accepted on the same circuit but it was a exception locally. Better check locally to be sure.

Regardless, exposed wiring is not acceptable.

You could run it in a conduit, but then you still have the problem of pulling power from someplace you may not be allowed to.

No chance of running something up from the floor below?

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