What uses 20amps in a kitchen?
December 20, 2011 1:02 PM Subscribe
I just bought a house that was partially remodeled in 2009. In both the main kitchen, and basement kitchenette, there is a single 20amp 120volt outlet located in the cabinet above the sink. Neither cabinet is made to hold a microwave. What could this outlet be for?
There are other normal outlets at counter height, one for an over-the-range microwave, one for the dishwasher and one for a sink disposal.
Possibly relevant, the previous remodeling owners were dog breeders, and had made interesting design choices for that purpose (like a hose bib and floor drain on an interior room).
There are other normal outlets at counter height, one for an over-the-range microwave, one for the dishwasher and one for a sink disposal.
Possibly relevant, the previous remodeling owners were dog breeders, and had made interesting design choices for that purpose (like a hose bib and floor drain on an interior room).
I was going to say it was pre-wiring for a disposal, as a place to put the off switch when the time came to install one, but it sounds like you already have a disposal.
It might have been for an appliance they kept up there and used so often they wanted to keep it plugged in. We have a stand mixer in a pull-out shelf so we had an outlet put in the cabinet so it's always ready to go.
posted by bondcliff at 1:11 PM on December 20, 2011
It might have been for an appliance they kept up there and used so often they wanted to keep it plugged in. We have a stand mixer in a pull-out shelf so we had an outlet put in the cabinet so it's always ready to go.
posted by bondcliff at 1:11 PM on December 20, 2011
Is it possible that they kept a small TV or stereo up there. My mother has one in her kitchen, with a screen that would be at home on Dick Tracey's wrist, that she uses to listen to the afternoon news while she makes dinner.
Or, it could be that whoever did the remodel was putting in extra circuits at the time, so that a potential future remodel wouldn't have to gut things if they decided to rearrange things.
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 1:27 PM on December 20, 2011
Or, it could be that whoever did the remodel was putting in extra circuits at the time, so that a potential future remodel wouldn't have to gut things if they decided to rearrange things.
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 1:27 PM on December 20, 2011
A place to plug in a hair trimmer (stick the dog in the sink)?
Whatever it was, putting the plug in the cabinet (rather than just using the outlet in the backsplash) means that you can keep it plugged in at all times, and not have to un-/re-plug.
posted by misterbrandt at 1:35 PM on December 20, 2011
Whatever it was, putting the plug in the cabinet (rather than just using the outlet in the backsplash) means that you can keep it plugged in at all times, and not have to un-/re-plug.
posted by misterbrandt at 1:35 PM on December 20, 2011
Is the outlet on its own circuit, or just one of several outlets on one of the kitchen circuits.
You're required to have several 20A circuits serving your kitchen for general-use small appliances.
Could it be for some kind of high powered dog blow-dryer? Failing that, an air conditioner that went in a window near the sink? Otherwise, I'd assume some random kitchen appliance they kept in the cabinet.
posted by rmd1023 at 1:50 PM on December 20, 2011
You're required to have several 20A circuits serving your kitchen for general-use small appliances.
Could it be for some kind of high powered dog blow-dryer? Failing that, an air conditioner that went in a window near the sink? Otherwise, I'd assume some random kitchen appliance they kept in the cabinet.
posted by rmd1023 at 1:50 PM on December 20, 2011
Response by poster: Thanks for the ideas so far. From its location, it's most likely for an appliance of some sort. What cool appliance could there be that'd need a dedicated 20amp circuit (and light enough to be in a wall cabinet, instead of at counter height)?
Location would be good for a can opener. Current would be good for a meat grinder, but not in a wall cabinet.
There is a seperate room for the dog trimming and blow-drying. Oven is on the other side of the kitchen. Wired for TV elsewhere in the kitchen. Already have central AC. This is a dedicated circuit with a single plug (not duplex).
Somewhere on this planet is the perfect object to plug into this, and I don't want to miss out on all of that potential joy!
posted by Diddly at 2:17 PM on December 20, 2011
Location would be good for a can opener. Current would be good for a meat grinder, but not in a wall cabinet.
There is a seperate room for the dog trimming and blow-drying. Oven is on the other side of the kitchen. Wired for TV elsewhere in the kitchen. Already have central AC. This is a dedicated circuit with a single plug (not duplex).
Somewhere on this planet is the perfect object to plug into this, and I don't want to miss out on all of that potential joy!
posted by Diddly at 2:17 PM on December 20, 2011
They might have just wired it in so they could turn off the power to the rest of the room and still run power tools. I have a single outlet like that between the kitchen and back hallway. It let's me shut off the power to most anywhere in the house but still sawzall holes in the walls with a normal length extension cord because its on its own breaker and its centrally located.
posted by fshgrl at 2:30 PM on December 20, 2011
posted by fshgrl at 2:30 PM on December 20, 2011
If the plug was there before the remodel, and since it's placed over the sink, my guess would be it's for an electric clock - with a cord, before battery-operated wall clocks. Old kitchens used to have a big kitchen clock hanging on a short cabinet over the sink or over the stove and it's possible that the old cabinets had a hole for the clock's cord to run into the cabinet (I'm making the big assumption that the cabinets or cabinet doors were replaced during the remodel?).
Just one more thought.
posted by aryma at 5:57 PM on December 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
Just one more thought.
posted by aryma at 5:57 PM on December 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
Is it possible that they moved the location of the stove during the remodel? If that's where the stove used to be and the remodel didn't fully expose the walls / wiring, they would have to leave a covered junction box at a minimum if anything else travels through it since you can't bury a box. Kind of a longshot, but I've seen crazier.
posted by true at 6:14 PM on December 20, 2011
posted by true at 6:14 PM on December 20, 2011
I would say it is for a stove or a portable washing machine or portable dishwasher.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 8:05 PM on December 20, 2011
posted by JohnnyGunn at 8:05 PM on December 20, 2011
"What uses 20amps in a kitchen"
In Canada because of an economic quirk of the electrical code most new kitchens have 20A receptacles exclusively. We aren't however generally allowed to have receptacles inside cabinets.
Outlets aren't generally right above the sink (illegal in Canada) so that is the weird part. I'd guess it's probably the result of the remodel. Because you can't cover over splices you often end up with boxes in weird locations and a receptacle, even in a weird spot, looks like less of a mistake than a blank plate. But some high current devices that might be plugged in their include a radiant heater, coffee maker, or on demand water heater.
posted by Mitheral at 6:01 PM on December 21, 2011
In Canada because of an economic quirk of the electrical code most new kitchens have 20A receptacles exclusively. We aren't however generally allowed to have receptacles inside cabinets.
Outlets aren't generally right above the sink (illegal in Canada) so that is the weird part. I'd guess it's probably the result of the remodel. Because you can't cover over splices you often end up with boxes in weird locations and a receptacle, even in a weird spot, looks like less of a mistake than a blank plate. But some high current devices that might be plugged in their include a radiant heater, coffee maker, or on demand water heater.
posted by Mitheral at 6:01 PM on December 21, 2011
« Older Any edible insects or game meat in NYC? | how best to sit and bike? recumbant question Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by FlamingBore at 1:04 PM on December 20, 2011