Garbage Disposal Switch - wall outlet or push button ?
ladypie
14 years ago
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night_jasmine
14 years agoRelated Discussions
Garbage Disposal and Dish Washer off Switched outlet?
Comments (7)I would not even try to cut in to the K&T or add to the circuit at all. A dishwasher should usually be on a separate 15 or 20 amp circuit, I would maybe think about putting it on with the disposer if you were aware not to use them together and they were on more modern wiring. Highly suggest that you leave the K&T alone since K&T is most dangerous when it has been modified incorrectly or overloaded. Instead go get some 12/2 romex cable and pull a new circuit to the new dishwasher from your breaker panel. If your home still is using a fuse box then you need to hold off on the dishwasher project and get a new breaker panel installed first. if your homes K&t wiring is ok and not damaged or unsafely modified your electrician can just put all the k&t circuits on 15 amp breakers if your local code allows k&t to be still in use. I am in an older home that still had some K&t when I bought it. now I have it down to only a few circuits and those are mostly just running lighting and ceiling fans that were in the house. I had to add circuits to the upper levels. I am adding a dishwasher my self very soon too and I will just put a new beaker in for it....See MoreCounter top garbage disposal air switch
Comments (14)You'd have to see how the unit was wired from the box (which plugs into the outlet, and then the GD plugs into the box) to the pushbutton. If it's all sealed connection, then no, b/c it would be really hard to run the wire (with pushbutton attached) behind the sheetrock. Not to mention inspector wouldn't allow it b/c then you'd be mudding the switch into the wall, not an approved box/device. If there were wirenut connections inside the box and you could figure out how to mount the pushbutton in the wall (still might need plastic box?), run the wires down the stud cavity and out under the sink to the box (would have to be approved junction box) then maybe. But all you're gaining here is the air gap. Ergonomically, it's the same as having a wall switch. Just looks different from a light switch. But if you really want the switch on the wall behind the sink, it would be easier to put a horizontally-mounted box in with a switch for the GD/outlet, and label it "GD" so no one turns it on while you're stuffing leftovers down the drain. A standard electrical box will fit in 4" backsplash if turned sideways. Sorry, it's been 11.5 years since I installed one of these on a tub deck and it was hardwired (not a switched outlet that you plugged tub into)....See MoreGarbage Disposal and Dish Washer off Switched outlet?
Comments (5)You can NOT alter the existing K&T circuit to run a DW on it. If it can take the load, (questionable), then you could plug a DW into the existing outlet. But that's it. If you need to alter the circuit, you will have to run a whole brand new circuit from your electrical panel to run the DW. There are a LOT of insurance companies out there that won't even insure a home with K&T. And the main reason is that homeowners like to up their electrical demands on the wiring by hacking at it without replacing the K&T, which leads to fires. This is NOT a path you want to go down. Either leave the K&T completely alone, and that means no cramming in insulation around it or trying to use it to further extend or alter a circuit, or rip it all out and have the home completely rewired. If you are attempting to put a modern kitchen in this home, then the best approach is to rewire for that kitchen. Don't touch that K&T!...See MoreGarbage disposal- Wall to Air switch- how to "lose" box in backsplash?
Comments (1)I'm a little confused - are you keeping the light switch or not? Or if you're keeping it, are you saying that it's not in the same box as the disposal switch? I ask because usually the above the sink light switch and the disposal switch are in one double box, in which case this is an easy thing to do. But- assuming that your disposal switch is indeed in it's own box, then your hubby is right that you can't, by code, cover it up. And you shouldn't cover it up even if you're not getting inspections. If the disposal switch is at the end of a circuit run then you'll only need to trace where it's power is coming from - it will be another nearby outlet, or the light switch that you mentioned - and then removing that wire, disconnecting it from the other box. If it's in the middle of the run then it's a bigger job because you would need to trace the wiring in two directions, and then remove the wires going both directions, and then run a new wire from the previous box (where the power comes from to the disposal switch) to the next box (after the disposal switch) in the circuit. Regardless, it means removing drywall and then drywalling after you're done with electrical. But - most likely the previous electrical box and the next electrical box in the circuit are also in the kitchen, maybe on the same wall, and it won't be that hard....See Moreearthpal
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