[Smashy]

These wires used to be connected to the fan over my stove, which I removed when I installed a microwave. The microwave is plugged into a different outlet nearby so I don't need these wires for anything.

I twisted on a cap onto each of the wires, then taped the cap on with electrical tape, then wrapped more electrical tape over all the wires together.

Is it safe to leave this like this for good?

 

[Yodaman]

No, wires need terminate in a properly installed box and then covered

 

[Olcrazy1]

Won't do any harm but probably not to code since they should be in a junction box. can you follow the wires back from where they come from and remove them completely? That would be ideal. Many times they would be going into a near by junction box, find that box and disconnect them from there. Then pull them trough or cut tight and tuck them in he hole.

 

[Smashy]

I don't see anything resembling a junction box anywhere in the kitchen, I'd guess it's probably hidden behind drywall and I'm not about to tear up the wall.

I went down to the basement below the kitchen and looked at the wires going up but there are many of them and I have no idea which is which. These fan wires are on the same circuit as the lights in the living room so I can't just turn off the circuit.

 

[Jim Port]

Range hoods have a built-in junction box. It will be easy enough to add a surface mount box with a blank plate in the cabinet.

 

[diyorpay]

Olcrazy1 is saying disconnect at last point. Since your 2 taped wires look like the end of a run on that circuit, you can probably find that last leg and disconnect it at that junction box.

You state that "These fan wires are on the same circuit as the lights in the living room". Find the last junction box that fed the fan over the stove, and you can make the disconnect there. The wires to the fan then will be dead.

 

[Oso954]

These wires used to be connected to the fan over my stove, which I removed when I installed a microwave. The microwave is plugged into a different outlet nearby so I don't need these wires for anything.

Was that a new dedicated circuit or just an existing receptacle ?

Code requires a 20 amp dedicated circuit for an OTR microwave.

 

[Smashy]

Was that a new dedicated circuit or just an existing receptacle ?

Code requires a 20 amp dedicated circuit for an OTR microwave.

The outlet is inside one of the cabinets. There is a switch in the breaker box marked "microwave" which controls that outlet. So as far as I can tell it's a dedicated circuit.

 

[Smashy]

Olcrazy1 is saying disconnect at last point. Since your 2 taped wires look like the end of a run on that circuit, you can probably find that last leg and disconnect it at that junction box.

You state that "These fan wires are on the same circuit as the lights in the living room". Find the last junction box that fed the fan over the stove, and you can make the disconnect there. The wires to the fan then will be dead.

But how can I find that last junction box?

 

[Bondo]

But how can I find that last junction box?

Ayuh,.... Just do as Jim Port says,...

Go buy a box, cover, 'n mount it right there at the end of the wire,...

Cheap, easy, 'n it'll be there if needed in the future,...

 

[dougp23]

Exactly as JimPort and Bondo said. Go to any hardware or big box store, buy a surface mount box with a blank plate, mount the box, insert the wires, put the wire nuts back on (tape optional), put the cover on. The whole thing might run you 2 or 3 dollars.

 

[Smashy]

Can I leave the box just sitting in the cabinet or will I need to mount it to something?

 

[Jim Port]

It should be mounted.

 

[Yodaman]

Can I leave the box just sitting in the cabinet or will I need to mount it to something?

need to mount it to the cabinet