[huesmann]

Kitchen has an island. Island has an outlet on one end. Wiring for outlet comes up from floor, through bottom of cabinet, to the blue plastic box on the side of the cabinet. Wire is covered with blue ribbed tubing, assume Carlon nonmetallic tubing conduit, like this:

Would like to add another outlet on the opposite end of the island. The drawers do not bottom out against the back of the cabinet; there's about 5" of clearance behind when they're closed. Assume no problem with just connecting a section of romex from the existing outlet to a new one on the other end, running the wire behind the drawers. Would the wire need to be mechanically supported, or could it just be run on top of the drawer slides? Would it need similar conduit?

 

[chetwisner]

The Romex needs to be protected from damage, and I wouldn't want to rely on the drawer rails. The NM tubing seems good to me. Staple it to the back of the cabinet.

 

[betelgeuse]

The Romex needs to be protected from damage, and I wouldn't want to rely on the drawer rails. The NM tubing seems good to me. Staple it to the back of the cabinet.

The NM tubing ("smurf tube") needs to be protected from the damage same as the NM (Romex) cable.

 

[rjniles]

NM cable only needs to be protected from damage if it is subject to damage. The location described is not subject to damage. Secure the cable to the cabinet above the drawer slides.

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[Jim Port]

I would probably use tywraps to the drawer supports.

 

[huesmann]

Before anyone asks, the slide design is such that the moving rail (attached to the drawer) is covered top and bottom by the static rail (attached to the cabinet frame), so "smurf tube" resting on the rail would not be subject to any friction.

 

[seharper]

How about from objects which might be placed in the drawers?

 

[rjniles]

How about from objects which might be placed in the drawers?

They will be fine, the cable will not damage them.

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[huesmann]

How about from objects which might be placed in the drawers?

Friction from such objects would be extremely infrequent, since any object that might fall out the back of the drawer would be something that was too high to go into the front of the drawer.

 

[huesmann]

Had one other question before I actually get into this project. Current outlet is 15A
(actually all kitchen outlets are 15A), so I assume the house was built before 20A circuits were required by code.

If pulling a new wire off an existing outlet, is it required to upgrade the circuit to 20A?

 

[rjniles]

Are you sure you fo not have 15 amp receptacles on 20 amp circuits? That is compliant and the most common arrangement.

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[Jim Port]

You can have 15 amp duplex devices on a 20 amp circuit. It it when you only have 1 spot to plug into that the receptacle needs to be 20 amp rated.

 

[huesmann]

Well, looks like you guys are right! Checked the fuse panel and (if the PO's—or their electrician's—notations are to be believed) they're 20A circuits to the kitchen, i.e. breakers noted as kitchen are 20A. Would I use 12g wire or 14g to extend a circuit to a 15A outlet?

 

[rjniles]

On a 20 amp circuit you use #12 with a 15 or 20 amp receptacle.