The deal is as follows. A kitchen island about 6" long and 4" deep is installed less than a foot from a side wall. The back foot of the island is higher than the rest of the isle by about 12". This give me a nice backsplash area to install two recepts in. The kicker is the island is not completely permantly installed. It has feet that will allow it to be moved if neccesary to bring in furniture or new appliances at some time in the future. Any idea as to how to power this thing safely and legally that will allow homeowner to disconnect and reconnect as needed?

Do they want Receptacles there?
If they do not, it may be excused by local Inspectors because it is not a permanent Fixture. If it is moveable it is more like Furniture.

Bill

ok, lemme throw this out.....

wire up a so cord with a power inlet/outlet scenario ??

They want outlets ON THE ISLAND. I tried to convince them a receptacle on the wall adjacent to the island is a good idea. They will have a micro sitting on here and who knows what else. Sparky, thats what I was thinking.

hmmm, so basically you'd be permanently wiring a piece of furniture? , dunno where to refer this in the NEC

on the cord angle, you could introduce the ever popular L14-20 twist locks , and thus 240/120 4Wire and 2-20A branch circuits....

i guess it works on paper.......

Wire it permanently from underneath with excess romex hidden underneath so when it comes time to move it they will have the flexibility to move it out of the way but it will still be permanent.

When they are done they simply coil up the excess cable and plant it again.

They should be instructed to call you when they move it though.

Does your state allow for a "Variation from the code"? Here in NJ if a homeowner doesn't want something that is in the code, they can ask for a variation from the code. If the inspector agrees, then the subcode offical and the construction code offical signs the paper and waves the requirment. Having a floor receptacle in a kitchen might not be a good or safe idea. Maybe you can use that point in your defense. How about small children, if the "island" moves while being plugged in, that could also be unsafe.

Harold,
an agreeable passing of the 'liability ' torch, if available.
myself i would make the floor rec fed via GFI breaker, if said configuration were approved......

As Harold stated. Tell the owner/gc this is by no means safe or code compliant. If they
ask "why", or quetion you, give them the building dept. #, and inspector's name. If they get a variance, just say "damn", and still walk away.
John

[This message has been edited by scjohn (edited 11-11-2002).]

Would a safe way to do this be to mount a power strip or a 4-way surface mount outlet (you know those square plastic deals) to the side of the island and route the 3-conductor extension cord through one of those floor "cord covers"?

It's a beveled strip of rubber with a groove underneath through which you can route your cable - supposedly this avoides the insulation from getting scraped and stepped on.

Somehow I feel the answer will be "no" but I'm just throwing this out to see what happens....

[This message has been edited by SvenNYC (edited 11-11-2002).]

This is not an island. It is furniture. Funiture has different code requirements (UL) than houses (NEC).

Put in a 20amp wall recept.

Wire the funiture with a plug and cord.

Thanks for all the ideas guys. I think I am going with George on this. Gfi in the wall cord to "island" receptacles.

Electrician02125's suggestion to wire from below is a very good one if you can fix this island securely to the floor. Perhaps with detachable kickers, the owner could unscrew some mounting brackets when it's time to move the island (when they get a dishwasher). They may want a freely movable island, but the reality is that people rarely move furniture.

Kobuchi:


You don't know my wife!

...66wv,
Ever read "El joy de rearrangele furnitere"?
That, along with 2 pints of baby oil, and a roll of plastic wrap will either break your wife of moving furniture, break you, or cause you to want to move a little furniture every night. You know you've mastered the art of furniture moving when you wake up the next morning, and your king size bed is on the opposite side of the room from the night before. The author you may ask? Watte doctere de Amoure.....

Scott,
Without trying to site a bunch of Code articles, let me throw my 2 cents in. A few years back we did a ton of work for several department stores. All of the display cases were wired from underneath with (as sparky suggested) SO cord, floor receptacles, and twist lock cord caps. If I remember correctly those type of display cases are addressed specifically in the code (the article escapes me at present, George may be on to it).
Now, I wouldn't install a floor plug in a kitchen due to the possibility spilling water into it. If there is enough clearance between the bottom of the island and the floor you could install a "tombstone" type floor plug, and not run the risk of spilled water. Or install a receptacle down low on the wall, cord & plug connect with SO. I think that there is enough "room" in the code to install it so that they get what they want, and you are in compliance with the code. If I find the article later, I will post.

Amoure,
Doc

Oh dear lord!

LOL!

I'm embarrassed!