[esweet21]

We'll be adding some molding around a window, but there is an outlet below the window that will be in the way. I'd like to drop it about 3 inches. I believe the top of the box will be ~12" from the floor. From what I can tell, in and of itself, this should not violate any code standards, but I want to make sure I do it right. What should I be prepared for? I'm sort of breaking this up into two scenarios in my head. 1] The wires are long enough and I can just remount the box 3inches lower and drywall it up. 2] The wires are not long enough and I need to...?? Any help for this electrical newbie would be appreciated! thanks!

 

[dmxtothemax]

You are over thinking this !
There is a good chance that the wires will allow movement.
If not ? Then just add pig tails to the existing wires.
Pull the breaker, take the outlet out and have a look.
Then you know for sure.

 

[drjay9051]

Here you go:

I idn't watch entire video. Don't know if he mentions that if you "pigtail" wire it must be contained in a junction box. I believe.

 

[MrElectricianTV]

We'll be adding some molding around a window, but there is an outlet below the window that will be in the way. I'd like to drop it about 3 inches. I believe the top of the box will be ~12" from the floor. From what I can tell, in and of itself, this should not violate any code standards, but I want to make sure I do it right. What should I be prepared for? I'm sort of breaking this up into two scenarios in my head. 1] The wires are long enough and I can just remount the box 3inches lower and drywall it up. 2] The wires are not long enough and I need to...?? Any help for this electrical newbie would be appreciated! thanks!

What could make it a little more difficult is having multiple cables in the outlet box and not all of them are long enough.

Open up the outlet and see what is in there. If there are several cables in the box, I would open up that section of the wall and pull out any cable staples. Then see how much slack you have to work with.

 

[esweet21]

You are over thinking this !
There is a good chance that the wires will allow movement.
If not ? Then just add pig tails to the existing wires.
Pull the breaker, take the outlet out and have a look.
Then you know for sure.

Thanks all!
I guess I'd rather over-think it than under-think it, so I was just covering my bases. If I need to add pig-tails, I believe the pig tails would have to be in the outlet box to be up to code, right?



I should mention that, this outlet is controlled by a switch on the wall as well.

 

[Tom738]

Thanks all!
I guess I'd rather over-think it than under-think it, so I was just covering my bases. If I need to add pig-tails, I believe the pig tails would have to be in the outlet box to be up to code, right?



I should mention that, this outlet is controlled by a switch on the wall as well.

The pig tails would have to be in the box and the box would have to be "accessible," IIRC. I don't know that a local inspector will consider it accessible if it's behind molding... I suppose you could put the molding on a hinge or cut out a piece of your molding and screw it in separately over the box or something, but at some point you would prefer to run new wire to avoid a funny look, if it comes to that.

My mom has a place in Ontario where the idiots on-site cut into custom cut molding under some low windows to put an outlet at the height of the rest of the outlets in the room rather than lowering the outlet. It looks terrible. Make sure whatever you do doesn't look like that.