Kitchen Outlets With Under Cabinet Plugmold
Aside from the family room where you plug in several appliances such as TV, home theater, and game console, the kitchen is also a keeper of multiple electric appliances such as microwave oven, blender, electric pot, coffee maker, toaster, and food processor. While you can have plenty of wall outlets in your family room, the kitchen may have limited wall outlets, not enough for running several appliances at the same time.
Although you can add new outlets, they must run outside the walls, which can be unsightly and is also unacceptable to the NEC or National Electrical Code. However, changes are often necessary. To make up for kitchen outlets, you can have an under-cabinet plug mold mounted just over your kitchen’s backsplash.
Plugmolds are simply strips of outlets that are referred to as multioutlet assemblies in the NEC. Plugmolds are often needed in schools, laboratories, and the workplace to power multiple appliances, tools, and machines at the same time.
Though it is not necessary to use plug mold outlets simultaneously, the option to be able to plug and power an appliance at close range is convenient. Plugmolds also conserve space, especially in laboratories or repair shops, where equipment is placed at relatively close intervals.
An under-cabinet plug mold works the same way as well. With a plug mold installed under your cupboard, you can power electric kitchen appliances without using an extension or moving the appliance to the nearest wall socket.
Under cabinet plug molds are conveniently located over the backsplash, allowing easy access to other kitchen equipment. It gives a neat, clean look on the backsplash as well since the plug mold is concealed under the cabinet.
Under the cabinet, plug mold is much preferred by electricians since it is convenient and accessible to the homemaker. Plugmolds can also be installed under the backsplash where it is hidden. However, the dangling cords and the tendency of the plugs to fall without notice are noticeable disadvantages.
While under cabinet plug mold allows the cord to dangle, the tendency to move the plug or the cord is low. Under cabinet plug mold is also high enough to be reached by small kids, providing a safer environment for your family.
While under cabinet plug mold seems a safe way to plug in your kitchen appliances, there are also certain drawbacks. For one, tall people need to duck or stoop low to access it. While this may seem irrelevant, ducking is unnecessary if the plug mold is mounted on the sides of the cabinet, or what is called an angled plug mold.
Installing plug molds is easy if you are adept in electrical wiring and have some basic knowledge of electricity. Plugmold is available in most hardware stores. You can also visit Wiremold’s website for Plugmold parts, installation guides, projects, and tutorials.
For safety, use a plug mold strip that has a built-in circuit breaker. Do-it-yourself plug molds are also available. However, if you are unsure of how to mount an under-cabinet plug mold, hire a licensed electrician and let him do the work for you.
