Sorry in advance for the long post. My tenants want a garbage disposal. I agreed to put one in for them. I don’t have any electrical outlets under sink so I need to add an outlet and switch. It'ss going to be a dedicated 15A circuit. I figure I have the following options:
1. Do it the “Clean†way. Cut a hole in the plaster above counter and below sink for old work boxes then fish new 14-2 wire behind walls to make it work. Seems the most time consuming but seems like the right way to do it. Problem is, there are horizontal studs in the way of fishing wire up to where the new switch would be. I have one of those really long flexible drill bits that would allow me to drill through the horizontal studs and fish the wire up.
2. Install two handy boxes under the cabinet. One in the back (attached to plaster wall) for the single outlet, and one in the front (by the door) for the switch. I’d then run 14-2 up through the floor / bottom of cabinet, into the outlet box. From the outlet box, I’d run MC to the switch box.
3. Install a handy box under cabinet for the outlet (single) and installing an old work box in the “fake drawer†part of the cabinet and mounting the switch there so the switch will be on the outside of the cabinet below the sink. I’d use MC to connect the two boxes. The only thing that worries me about this is kids being able to reach the switch.
Both options seem reasonable. Option 2 seems easiest, however:
1. Would I used handy boxes and can I mount the one for the switch to the cabinet itself?
2. Should I use MC or would it be better to run the romex from the outlet box to the switch box (Romex would be exposed but I'd secure it to the cabinet)?
3. I'm going to use metal boxes. If I do option 2, can I go from romex coming in to the outlet box then switch it over to MC to go to the switch. I know the MC has the separate wires in it, and is attached to the box using a special knockout adaptor. I would assume I’d ground the outlet box using a pigtail which would then transfer the grounding to the metal clad of the MC.
4. I was also thinking (if I'm going option 2) of using the flexible plastic electrical tubing from the cabinet base to the first box (outlet), then from the outlet box to the switch box and running the romex inside that tube for extra protection and a cleaner look. Is that acceptable?
Any other ideas would be appreciated. I do know there is an air switch that I can install also, and I'm thinking of going that route and not putting in a physical switch.
Thanks
1. Do it the “Clean†way. Cut a hole in the plaster above counter and below sink for old work boxes then fish new 14-2 wire behind walls to make it work. Seems the most time consuming but seems like the right way to do it. Problem is, there are horizontal studs in the way of fishing wire up to where the new switch would be. I have one of those really long flexible drill bits that would allow me to drill through the horizontal studs and fish the wire up.
2. Install two handy boxes under the cabinet. One in the back (attached to plaster wall) for the single outlet, and one in the front (by the door) for the switch. I’d then run 14-2 up through the floor / bottom of cabinet, into the outlet box. From the outlet box, I’d run MC to the switch box.
3. Install a handy box under cabinet for the outlet (single) and installing an old work box in the “fake drawer†part of the cabinet and mounting the switch there so the switch will be on the outside of the cabinet below the sink. I’d use MC to connect the two boxes. The only thing that worries me about this is kids being able to reach the switch.
Both options seem reasonable. Option 2 seems easiest, however:
1. Would I used handy boxes and can I mount the one for the switch to the cabinet itself?
2. Should I use MC or would it be better to run the romex from the outlet box to the switch box (Romex would be exposed but I'd secure it to the cabinet)?
3. I'm going to use metal boxes. If I do option 2, can I go from romex coming in to the outlet box then switch it over to MC to go to the switch. I know the MC has the separate wires in it, and is attached to the box using a special knockout adaptor. I would assume I’d ground the outlet box using a pigtail which would then transfer the grounding to the metal clad of the MC.
4. I was also thinking (if I'm going option 2) of using the flexible plastic electrical tubing from the cabinet base to the first box (outlet), then from the outlet box to the switch box and running the romex inside that tube for extra protection and a cleaner look. Is that acceptable?
Any other ideas would be appreciated. I do know there is an air switch that I can install also, and I'm thinking of going that route and not putting in a physical switch.
Thanks
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