new electrical line crossing under sink
I have a friend who is remodeling their kitchen, and asked me for some help in setting things up for some new undercab lights. They want to run low voltage on two upper cab sets, separated by the sink. plan is to branch off existing backsplash outlet put in a switch, and add a switch controlled outlet inside each new upper cab. issue is, how do i cross the area under the sink? the wall is an exterior wall, with insulation, and they don’t want to tear out the drywall. (which i think would be easier) do i have to run some kind of conduit?
any ideas would be great. their old cabinets get pulled tomorrow, and new ones installed friday. very small window to work with.
-mike.
Replies
This is why you earn the big bucks.
thanks, but i only get paid to run computer networks.. not wire kitchens :-)
Yeah if you can run computer networks, can't you run the kitchen lights wireless? :0)
if only i could. then again, i've never managed a wireless network that i've really liked.
". plan is to branch off existing backsplash outlet put in a switch, and add a switch controlled outlet inside each new upper cab"
Technically this is illegal.
You are not suppose to have any lighting on the small appliance circuits.
As to your question there are options such as pulling out an existing box and using a flex drill to drill through the studs.
Some of those tricks are covered in articles/video here.
http://www.taunton.com/finehomebuilding/pages/fh_feat_mechsys.asp
But you can also run Romex "exposed" if it follows the "building surface" and not exposed to damage.
Thus you could run it under the sink in the cabinet, tight to the cabinet in the upper part where it would not be exposed to damage.
Without saying whether or not your plan meets code ... I would use a piece of plastic conduit with a plastic box on each end so the wire is not exposed under the sink, or a piece of flex conduit well supported. I would not want to simply run a piece of romex under the sink.
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
Run a piece of BX instead