I did my own “not so little house” a while ago. I wired it and put in plenty of outlets. Now, due to the lack of storage and to my dear wife not being totally in sync with the small concept, I’m putting in buit ins and cabinetry most everywhere I can. Actually, I enjoy doing so.
I know that you should never bury electrical boxes/junction boxes, but I have left some inside cabinets. Just cut out the sides or back and left them there, or made a receptacle into a junction box and used a cover plate. They were not buried per se, and they are somewhat accessable, but someone else would have to look for them if I were not around (hopeing for 25 more years). They’ll even have to pull a few drawers to find some. Is this ok? Planning to do this a few more times. When possible, I disconnect power to the box, but sometimes I still need it to feed boxes down the line.
Should I just leave notes inside the electrical panel?
Thanks
Replies
frost
I'm not sure of the exact code per se, but we never bury a box, however, we have concealed some from easy viewing.
For instance-remove the can light can and that houseing has a jnct in it-factory approved. The only way to get to it is to drop the can liner (except of course in a remodel can). Most know that there is a jnct box attached to the housing and that's how youi get to it.
However, some of the other means of concealment sure would help if there was a hint of where it might be. A note in the panel noting the circuit it's on is a good idea. So is a non flamable note in the device box up/downstream on that circuit. I use a formica sample (business card size) cut down and laid in the bottom of the box.
For your drawer situation, it wouldn't hurt to mark the back of the drawer in view, that there's a jnct. box behind it.
I worked around an electrician one time that marked on all the blank covers of jnct boxes-what circuit they were. Seems odd, but was quite the time saver when he returned to do service-this was above drop ceilings in a light commercial operation.
Marking boxes
>>I worked around an electrician one time that marked on all the blank covers of jnct boxes-what circuit they were.<<
I do the same thing, for the same reason. Residential.
Jim
The code defines "accessible"
The code defines "accessible" as "Capable of being removed or exposed without damaging the building structure or finish or not permanently closed in by the structure or finish of the building."
Opening a cabinet or pulling out a drawer is not damaging the building finish.
Yeah, my personal "test" is
Yeah, my personal "test" is whether you can access the box with a wrench or screwdriver. If it requires pulling nails then that's going too far.
But you should attempt to somehow "flag" live boxes -- paste a note inside a cabinet door, eg, detailing what's concealed where within the cabinet.
Re behind a drawer, it's a little questionable (OK, more than a little) if one has to reach all the way into a narrow drawer opening to access the box. Likely only one arm at a time (and no head) can get in there, making it impossible to, say, open the box, inspect it, and redo a connection where the wirenut popped off. I'd probably draw the line there, arguing that it's not effectively accessible.
Semi-hidden
We put j-boxes inside cabinets on almost every remodel. Unless the walls are entirely open, there is always a wire or three that you need to work with. We also put junctions inside boxes with plugs or switches in them. Yes, it might mean at some point that an electrician has to scratch his head to figure out what the heck is going on. I have seen a few instances where electricians opened up many of the plugs and switches in a house looking for a junction in another circuit. Some of them own circuit finders that help trace wires in the wall. Those are probably the guys that had to find a hidden j-box.
As far as burying one in the wall... never done it, but found many while doing demo.
I know that boxes are sometimes used to connect garbage disposals, and dishwashers. The dishwasher would need to be pulled out to access the box, so that isn't burried, but it is concealed.
I would try to avoid having any wiring junctions in boxes like that, just a device.
as long as it is accessible.
We have many behind drop ceilings or behind removeable panels in all of our jobs. Sometimes it is the only way on a remo without tearing the whole house apart