Range hood wiring needs tweaking

RedHelix · 12-02-2010, 01:03 PM

The previous owner of my house was apparently a fairly adventurous soul when it came to electric... in the "thrill for danger" sense.

My latest find is on the wiring to my under-cabinet filtered/no vent range hood.

It seems there's just a hole in the wall (my cabs have no backs) with an NM wire going from the wall hole and into a hole drilled into the bottom of the cabinet, which leads into the top of the range hood. See below.

I can see his dilemma, as this appears to be the only hood ever that has no punch-out hole in the back. Still, there's just.... no way this can be up to code. (Though I'd be happy to hear that it is.)

These cabinets get a lot of use so I'd like to do this correctly, I guess via junction box and some conduit. (Pic below.) Am I on the right track? Any recommendations? I live in MA.

michaelcherr · 12-02-2010, 01:19 PM

If it were me I'd make my own punchout (drill), and avoid having the wire come through the cabinets.
Add a box between the vent and the wall.

RedHelix · 12-02-2010, 01:34 PM

Should I also have conduit?

michaelcherr · 12-02-2010, 02:04 PM

Rule of thumb:
if you see wires-conduit.
If you don't see wires-no conduit. (Doesn't always hold true)
In my mind you could do it where the wires come out of the wall and directly into the range hood=no need for conduit.

joed · 12-02-2010, 02:31 PM

The hood may not need a box. If the hood can accept a cable clamp then the hood can be the box. It depends on the design of the hood.

If there is a clamp in the hood now then there is not really any code violation unless you consider the exposed cable as "subject to dammage".