How to Install an Electrical Receptacle on a Kitchen Island | Ask This Old House

[@TENTHIRTYONE]

I love when I too open up a wall in my 60 year “This Old House” and find it pre-wired for the exact project I want to complete.

[@jcw1197]

😂

[@shanew7361]

🤣🥸

[@johngordon2546]

I was thinking the same thing, how convenient 🙄

[@johnlebzelter4208]

Goof of the video goes to you 🏆

[@mccalejk2]

You're missing the point of the video. It's not how to run an electrical line to the kitchen island. It's how to install the receptacle. There are plenty of videos here and on other channels on how to run an electrical line. I understand the confusion because it's not that different from installing one in any other place.

[@Faith_Family_Firearms_Freedom]

How to install an island receptacle: Step 1: Get lucky AF and have 95% of the wiring done ahead of time.

[@teeing9355]

Love how everything always goes right on "This Old House", never any issues.

[@tonythetiger9839]

seems like its always something in real life lol

[@johsiantorres8495]

Because it’s educational it’s meant to shows how to do it right

[@jakemanwhonneedscookies]

The only exception I've seen is when Richard is replacing a woman's crapper and is surprised by the rusted cast iron flange. That one is also notable because he bare hands the toilet bowl before wiping his mouth

[@kalijasin]

That’s the magic of Tv shows. Lol

[@Alconium]

@@jakemanwhonneedscookies Because Richard is an absolute savage. Last of a golden age.

[@woodrowwilliams1812]

I was looking forward to seeing how this was done if there were no wires already going to the island.

[@stephenzies8867]

Me Too

[@ohthatsclever]

Wireless electricity.

[@acerjuglans383]

He'd have to drill through the bottom of the cabinet, into the floor, and run some wiring up from the circuit box in the basement, and then do everything he just showed.

[@woodrowwilliams1812]

@@acerjuglans383 I have a concrete floor and no basement.

[@Nick_Lavigne]

@@woodrowwilliams1812 looks like you're cutting in a trench.

[@sinjon]

Very convenient that he happened to have the conduit and connectors he needed, also that the junction box was there

[@jonrobinson8064]

He took an unreasonable amount of care notching out an area covered by a face plate. I'm in awe. Having said that he is an excellent teacher

[@garbo8962]

WARNING : Going by the 2023 NEC you do not have to install a receptacle on any residential kitchen islands but have to supply a wire and box . Safety concern because too many kids & adults have got hung up on a island cord ( guess on receptacles installed on sides & not the top ). They make nice pop up receptacles that mount on top of Island counter top & dome cost less then $75.

[@garbo8962]

Not required but was taught to always cut the metal jacket on type MC & AC ( Yeah BX ) at a 45 degree angle especially on steel jackets to prevent sharp edge cutting into a wire. Also when you install a wall case seems a better fit if you remove the 4 little ears on devices before securing them with the 6/32 screws.

[@Nikodymus]

Even though it’s usually pretty easy, I love seeing these videos! They help homeowners realize that home repair is not impossible!!

[@alext8828]

I would have loused that job up good. Giant gouges in the expensive wood.

[@Superman-xr1oh]

​@@alext8828Lmao

[@MechPaul]

This should be renamed, "How to install an outlet from an existing junction box". The title is misleading as it doesn't have any of the complexity of putting the cable through the floor to get to the island.

[@vrea77]

I know this old house usually gets lucky On other jobs we're there easy

[@jeremej1]

Right…..I clicked on it just to see how they was gonna run the wires 🤦🏾‍♂️🤦🏾‍♂️🤦🏾‍♂️

[@electriciantv5174]

If you get the hole cut in the island and the box in drilling a hole to the basement is the easy part

[@webfactorysolutions]

@@electriciantv5174 a lot of houses aren't build with basements or crawl spaces

[@electriciantv5174]

@@webfactorysolutions then how would you add an island plug

[@b4lt4z4r85]

I'm 10 years in trade, my partner asks me 'are you watching videos of your work after your work?' YES I DO :)

[@victorlee7638]

The most difficult part is cabling between counter top and the socket on the marble wall. The cable existed already.

[@InvadersDie]

Just do wireless if wire missing

[@robertbamford8266]

@@InvadersDie “wireless outlet”. What do you have in mind? Wireless power transmission versus a wired outlet that can be controlled through a wireless connection?

[@InvadersDie]

@@robertbamford8266 just go witeless, then you don't have to worry about it

[@ja8898]

Yeah, kind of disappointing the only hard part was already done.

[@RobertLeBlancPhoto]

If there was no wiring already in the island, simply extend from a circuit in the basement below. ;)

[@MrRichardyc]

I think NEC changed the code to make outlets below countertop borderline illegal for potential burn accidents due to dangling cable from a hotpot to the outlet. Most inspectors will fail the inspection if you have a receptacle where he has it.

[@LoveStallion]

I clicked on this video to learn how to run electrical to a complicated area that didn't have any. Instead, I got a J box already in a cupboard that just needed to be connected to an outlet.

[@bradpaulp]

I'm only here for the homeowners reactions when the installer asks them to use a tool they have not used before. lol. But, she seemed very happy to have her mixer on the counter now.

[@tycobb8621]

I know the dialogue between the contractor and the homeowner is scripted and a little campy, but it feels wholesome. I think that’s why TOH has stayed so popular.

[@betods1013]

I love the show. But its kinda cringy at times.

[@Faruk651]

I love how these guys only do work in a perfect world. There is a junction box with wiring already in place, how convenient.

[@davinjohnson1110]

That receptacle is beautiful

[@OpportunityElectrical]

Just a heads up to DYI folks 2023 NEC made these outlets illegal for new installs they have to be in the countertop surface now if you want one, and be a countertop rated receptacle

[@Chrissers2010]

4:21 When trying to create an even space around the box, don't use the metal tab at the top as your reference point, use the top of the box.

[@danimkn579]

I am living and working (as electrician) somewhere there we don't even have such boxes and same wiring code but i am still watching it, knowing i will never do it 😁

[@jmrah]

That transmitter/receiver tool is slick!

[@DougFishercsc]

No longer allowed under the 2023 revision to the NEC.. No outlets under countertop level. Have to use a more expensive popup or build a two-level island and put it in the riser. I think a lot of builders are just omitting them, though my understanding is they are supposed to provide a feed to a junction box in the cabinet so one can be installed later, if desired.

[@mcarroll598]

Ok, a junction box is just sitting there in an island? 👌🏻

[@salvadorsepulveda6415]

Nice job Heath, I learn something new every time. 👏

[@toddcriswell796]

You know what would have been impressive? No prewired and a crawl space who’s access door is on the other side of the house.

[@rwhite9994]

I am stunned they decide to go through the raised panel door, where it is so visible and over time will increase marrings from hands and cords etc. They should have put a hole at the top of the bottom cabinet to the underside part of the marble counter. Opposite the refrigerator. And then used a flush or low profile multitap outlet, that could be attached to the cabinet. You might have to slightly bend down to see the outlets when plugging in the appliance but it (the outlets) would be less visible and when people walked around the island you would not have people hitting the plug at the outlet. Just my preference.

[@NQBN]

I love “this old house” episodes

[@evanski2271]

An AFCI circuit breaker was swapped for the old circuit breaker because a new receptacle was added? Is that part of code that you have to do that, I never heard of doing that. Other than that thanks for making the video; it was simple and easy because the junction box was there, but I still learned a few things.

[@swrconstructioninc.1158]

It will depend on your local code. Generally AFCI breakers are for bed rooms and GFCI breakers are for wet or exterior locations.

[@evanski2271]

@@swrconstructioninc.1158 great thank you

[@johnhall7476]

@@swrconstructioninc.1158 I know this may differ by locale, but would the homeowner technically need an electrical inspection after a contractor did work like this?

[@swrconstructioninc.1158]

@@johnhall7476 it depends on location and what was on the original permit, I would say yes as a handyman could of wired 2 Gang 20A plug without BX cable within the cabinet. It’s always best to hire a licensed master electrician that pulls the required permits or is pre approved for small alterations. To save a few hundred dollars and not have your homeowners insurance cover it in the event of a incident is crazy !

[@adrenna123]

The issue is the counter outlets were already connected to a gfci outlet on the load side. This was proven when he hit the trip switch on the tester. The issue is that by changing the breaker to a gfci breaker, he effectively daisy chained two gfci outlets in series. This will cause the counter gfci to heat up and fail prematurely not to mention a possible fire hazard.

[@heroknaderi]

Nice job at least an existing junction box made it alot easier.

[@JimYeats]

Hate to be negative, but this could just be titled, “How to install a pre-wired outlet, anywhere in your house, as long as its pre-wired, and again -just to reemphasize -the wiring is all ready”.

[@rzh3443]

I did this for my son’s island , but used a combined duplex with USB C and A charging outlet . I also believe in the HD back wired outlets Eaton and others sell. I had to buy that BX cable stripper some time ago (works great) so I use that type cable wherever I can. My nephew needed an inspection of electric in his detached studio. We installed a GFCI receptacle on the first outlet in the chain circuit. The inspector argued that the one GFCI did not protect the downstream outlets “well enough” ,so he made us install a GFCI in every outlet. Wasn’t worth the attempt to appeal ( if there was such an Avenue).

[@rzh3443]

@@Ampacityelectric I agree. Its right in the GFCI instruction sheet, but you can't argue with City Hall! The problem , around here anyway, seems to be that the inspection is passed off to a contractor and not the UL person like it used to be. Other folks have related equally dumb things from other local inspectors. I did report our issue to the training guy for "follow up". Thanks for the confirmation though.

[@aurvaroy6670]

Installing mutliple GFCI receptacles isn't a bad idea. It does make ground fault situations more convenient since only one receptacle would trip instead of the whole branch losing power. However, it is very expensive and unnecessary to do so if all the receptacles are on the same circuit. So that inspector shouldn't force you to do that unless your local code mandates that. Now that you passed your inspection, you can revert back having only one GFCI and the rest normal as long as they're all protected and labeled.

[@rzh3443]

@@aurvaroy6670 Thanks for the info. and advice. Around here, the inspections have been off- loaded to private contractors. They used to be done by the NYS Board of Fire Underwriters. Their folks were very good and helpful. A friend of mine works for Hubbell and he said the training is all over the lot these days. Subsequent to my initial comment. My son’s new coffee maker started tripping the Siemens AFGFCI combo breaker. After checking and rechecking everything per Siemens videos, etc. , no luck. Apparently, these particular breakers can be sensitive to certain appliances and there is a class action lawsuit underway. I decided to install a GFCI receptacle (redundant, yes) where the coffee maker plugs in. That to see if there was an appliance issue or not. Strangely, or not, no more breaker trips and the receptacle never tripped either. Anyway, technology is great when it catches up with everything else.

[@Matt-nv2qg]

Imagine a world where general contractors showed up on appointment time, listened to the client intent, explained every safety step and method before getting out the drills and saws... Wishful thinking

[@AlMai222]

That’s what I do as a handyman

[@carriv]

You’re not doing this? You should consider another field

[@arnoldshangle414]

Putting this out there..just because. I noticed he wired the original box first (power source), then went up and wired his receptacle. Obviously, he knew power was off, likely shutting power off elsewhere in house. What if another person in the house, in the meantime watching t.v., all of a sudden power goes out, he goes down and flips breaker back on. Now electrician, re-connecting wires in existing box gets a surprise! Point is, always have the wiring to the power source the last connection you make, and double check power still off before connecting.

[@snk9382]

2:02 where can I get this tone generator? Anyone have a brand name or model number?

[@keithharrington8715]

A reminder to all that the 2020 nec has new requirements for island recepticles. There are over hang limits on the counter and a square footage requirement for each recepticle. I did not check, but this job may have required 2 recepticles based on the counter top size. Be safe out there

[@glopv2]

That makes sense for the original install, but are you required to add both if you're adding one?

[@keithharrington8715]

@@glopv2 whenever you upgrade, you upgrade to the current standard or better. Remember that the NEC is renewed every three years and must be adopted by your local jurisdiction. Some are many cycles behind. A quick call to your local building office will get you their answer should they seem it inspection worthy.

[@hammerpocket]

And the 2023 NEC has eliminated receptacles on the sides of islands and peninsulas. Having a receptacle on the island is optional, but it has to be on or above the countertop.

[@keithharrington8715]

@@hammerpocket thank you

[@davidciaffa4711]

Another episode with Heath Eastman aka "the lucky electrician". He should play the lottery...

[@johnlebzelter4208]

Another T.O.H. Video clip where a wise a&: makes a comment, embarrassing himself in-front of the whole world. We all just sit and laugh and wonder when this wise guy will show us what he got…we will wait. 😂

[@mikemacdonald2032]

Buddy getting her involved in the project...im sure he was hoping to stay for " cookies " afterwards 😅

[@andrewc6385]

Great info. Thanks Heath!

[@jrpritchard1622]

thanks heath on the tip with the masking tape pre drilling the holes will you that on my next job

[@MariaMLoBalsamo]

@This Old House, Are reduced depth receptacles okay and appropriate to use with a kitchen island? Are there any limitations with these?

[@Mikidy303]

Remember, a real electrician never cleans up the mess.

[@freddybee4029]

@Mike Horan Maybe in your scabby non union world, they don’t clean their mess. Union Professionals do though.

[@Mikidy303]

Ouch!

[@shuitaoyang]

my Electrician needs to watch this video before he goes out to do the work!

[@thelostarchivesserialvault5353]

I noticed that no labeling of the breaker box was done. That is the bane of my life when I get a new house to figure out all the things covered by each circuit and fixing them.

[@dvljet]

Im used to the old school way of stripping the metal jacket off the wire using either a hacksaw or linemans pliers and snipping the jacket . odd thing he didnt bother to mention is how many outlets your allowed on a kitchen circut because ive seen people plug in mixers then a radio And a coffee maker and they end up tripping the circut to much draw on the line . i thought bx cable was only used in commercial settings or metal studs in new construction . for this job simple 14/2 wire would have been just has good and the outlet box was made for the plastic sheathed cable i could tell by the clap in the box . bx outlet boxes have clamps but their half circles to fit around the metal jacket .

[@iggymac3473]

What was the name of the Electrical toner used in this video its not the one listed ?

[@iggymac3473]

@@Kevin-mp5of thank you

[@pablomaseeas4831]

what was the meter called that gives signal

[@elitedragon2732]

Very useful and excellent performed

[@seanhussle2984]

Does anyone know the make and model of the transmitter and receiver he is using?

[@vince6829]

Nice job. Thanks for sharing.

[@ncooty]

@5:59: Why use a gangable box there? A drawn box wouldn't have had that problem and it has no sharp edges on the back side, which is the exposed interior of a cabinet.

[@michaelc.3812]

I thought using the stripped ground wire as a bonding connection is no longer allowed by the NEC?

[@NageebTheAverage]

I love these videos but when he was securing the box and the drill bit started jumping it made me exclaim “oh no!” out loud 😅

[@danman281]

Don’t forget to label that new receptacle noting that it’s protected by GFCI

[@michaelc.3812]

After years of consideration and experience, it’s clear that outlets on the side of an island is a safety hazard, and people have been injured or killed when a heavy appliance gets pulled off the counter by a child, etc. I think the pop up type receptacle outlet is the best option, IMHO. Surprised you didn’t talk about that option.

[@Roy-ij1wq]

I agree and the 2023 NEC code addresses this issue. Outlets on the side of islands are now prohibited but a junction box for a future counter mounted outlet such as a popup is required. The original wiring met the 2023 code. The location of the new outlet does not. The Electric Code Coach just had a segment on this new requirement.

[@LawofMoses]

The wire should be at the breaker box?

[@george-101]

A good electrician always leaves junction boxes for future expansion

[@johnsn10]

This smells like a setup to me. Oh there just happens to be power already run but not hooked up lol

[@Dredpath1]

A job well done as always, Heath!

[@lordgarth1]

I would think placing the outlet up much further would be better esthetically and a cleaner wiring job inside the island. *note I don’t know if there’s a code reason for the placement.

[@illestofdemall13]

You need a large enough flat area for the box and cover to sit flush against and that was pretty much as high as he could go. You don't install a box on top of the paneling where it has moulding because it will make for a poor install and leave exposed gaps.

[@lordgarth1]

@@illestofdemall13 They make narrow tecektiv plates that would have fit there horizontally just fine.

[@DomWasHereOk]

“What’s this, an unused perfectly new electric box conveniently right by project area.” Gtfo. 😂

[@ericwotton2046]

I hate cutting in metal gangable boxes!!! Especially into nice cabinets.

[@brianfong5711]

10:34 That's a Kitchen-aide mixer, the better one. By better I mean it is more expensive than those coloured ones. Exactly why it is more expensive beats me.

[@APhilanthropist]

Does anyone know the brand name of the tracing toner?? It would be greatly appreciated.

[@APhilanthropist]

@@Kevin-mp5of Thank you so much, appreciate you for having taken the time to reply.

[@galvanpowerruiznayarit]

What would you charge for this exact job in California Los Angeles

[@TrapStepOG]

Why change the breaker when its already tied to a GFCI receptacle?

[@Lawomenshoops]

They could have made it a little more interesting by the homeowner asking to have outlets at both ends of the island!

[@MrCaptainpope]

lol. must be nice having a prewired box in there already

[@leosolis5846]

I think is you have an arc fault breaker you don't need a gfci receptacle just regular one.

[@roseymalino9855]

I'd like to know how that wall outlet to the left of the sink magically converted to a GFCI outlet with a rocker switch alongside it.

[@kenmore01]

Because it was always like that. Outlets installed near water sources like kitchen sinks require GFI outlets, so the one he wired to came from that other outlet, and so was already protected. That means he didn't have to install a protected breaker. I figured that from the beginning so wondered why he added a GFI breaker.

[@stephenzies8867]

Awesome 👍

[@loveexpressions25]

I know he said that he added a new breaker due to adding a new receptical. But what explanation or meaning is why he added that breaker I think I haven't seen other youtubers do that. Just learning and want to know more. Thanks. Great content.

[@illestofdemall13]

Because newer code requires kitchen receptacles to be Arc Fault protected. Since he was modifying the circuit, he needed to bring it up to current code.

[@edwardrobaey4265]

Should the outlet being put in island be a gfi ?

[@oambrosia]

Looks like there's a GFCI feeding it hence the test at the end of the segment. Plus there is an AFCI breaker now so it's double protected.

[@majahanson311]

no, it's already protected by the gfi upstream

[@ryanalexander984]

Let’s go ahead and drill it out with a small bit. 1/2” should do it. I was thinking like 1/64”. Haha

[@YOUTUBERUSE]

it's kinda weird put outlet box on the moving door. why don't install box on the cabinet wall instead of door.

[@DIYelectricalGuy]

People won’t be needing to watch this video anymore. It’s against electrical code to install an outlet for an island on the side. However on top of the counter work area a pop receptacle is allowed if one desires to have one.

[@JoShUa_J78]

How convenient

[@SpenceTube-s7f]

They added that mixture to the end of the video. It wasn’t there the whole time😂

[@andrewebling2369]

What about islands that don’t have a thick price of wood on the sides

[@andyneipert2527]

I like is work

[@ericmoorehead1100]

Per 2023 NEC, outlets on the side of kitchen islands are not allowed.

[@waynegoebel395]

20 amp breaker they threw with 15 amp GFCI with 15 amp receptacles.

[@ajbrown7245]

Would have been nice to at least show wiring up the counter receptible on how to connect the "conveniently already run wire" to the existing countertop receptacle.

[@billdodson207]

Would love to see this repeated in an actual old house

[@jamesrockford6700]

The N.E.C. frowns at placing an outlet below the counter due to toddlers grabbing the electric cords and pulling the cord and having boiling liquids or food spill all over them causing severe burns. The NEC recommends a pop up counter TOP outlet.

[@QUH143]

Your work is great but the way u make clip is not what to ne satisfied, first u check the box in the cupboard it had current, when open the 2nd box the wires were disconnected from direct current.

[@QUH143]

U just make the people fool

[@Exploer8591]

I don't want to see the "good news" scenario. I want to see "worse case." What do you do if there's no wires running to the island at all?

[@acerjuglans383]

Drill through the cabinet, into the floor, and run wiring up from the circuit box in the basement.

[@brandonortiz2220]

15amp outlets on 20amp circuit

[@donaldfranklinjr7087]

Asome👍

[@stvargas69]

There needs to be If TOH was real videos. You come into a house with kids running around mom yelling & cussing open a cabinet overflowing with 30yrs of tupperware and old candy wrappers. Then finding out the nearest wall outlet is wired incorrectly with a under amped CB. Oh and no wire to the island with a house sitting on a slab

[@TheBigA]

Hope he wrapped some tape around that island outlet. Those screws ever come loose and they may be seeing some sparks fly

[@troyqueen9503]

Only 1 circuit ,each plug needs 2 feeds so you don’t pop the breaker if you’re using both at the same time .

[@swimmerdude1100]

Why a brown duplex receptacle when the rest of the house is white decora? Doesn’t match

[@markwelsch940]

Why didn't you put in a double plug so it would have the ability to use four things at once?

[@markwelsch940]

@@Kevin-mp5of A double plug, also known as a Two-Duplex Outlet, or in your case a two gang duplex receptacle feature four outlets on the same cover plate, held on by two screws. This configuration allows for up to four oversized plugs in close proximity. Two-duplex outlets are also referred to as quad outlets or four-plug outlets.

[@roseymalino9855]

No problem; they'll get a dollar store accessory that plugs into the receptacle which converts it to 6 outlets.

[@johndavies2949]

Islands and peninsulas no longer required by code to have a receptacle.

[@Bylga]

Speaking from the experience of an electrical apprentice this never happen. More likely you will have to crawl underneath the house or rewire it from the basement.

[@91326]

Oh my God, there just happens to be a wired junction box there. Ya right!

[@Loren-ee8ri]

If that box and wire wasnt already there, youre looking at an $800 job.

[@urielmontoya8413]

The new island outlet doesn’t have USB ports.

[@w9gb]

Looks to have been “a Step” missed on the Punch List, when the kitchen remodeled (recently).