Garbage Disposal wiring help

10 years ago

Im trying to wire up my garbage disposal up and just wanted to ensure it is done correctly. The disposal is currently setup to be on its own 15 amp circuit. The plan was to have a counter mounted switch to turn the disposal on or off as needed.

Currently a 14/2 wire is run from the panel to a metal counter height junction box. There is another 14/2 wire run from the same metal junction box to inside the sink cabinet. The wire is just hanging. No box has has been installed for the 14/2 wire to be placed in yet.

I will most likely try to install a junction box and run a "whip" from the box to the disposal. An additional question arises if there is a difference in wiring using a whip versus hardwiring the disposal. At this time i dont have a need for an outlet under the sink so i was just going to use the "whip".

Any help would be appreciated. I am mainly confused about the white wire but would like to know how to wire the entire setup. If you know please include any grounding insights as well. Thanks.

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Comments (6)

User
10 years ago
Is there a cord on the disposal now? Mine came out of the box with a cord with plug on the end.

You'll want the disposal on a GFCI. What I have is similar to yours. Wire from panel to switch, switch to gfci outlet, disposal plugged into outlet. [alternatively, you could use a gfci breaker].

You are confused with just the white wire? Not the others?

At switch, connect the whites together; connect the grounds together and if your switch has a ground screw connect it as well. At the disposal end, should be black-to-black, white-to-white, ground-to-ground. If using an gfci outlet, that is on the 'line' side, not the 'load' side.

I like using an outlet as you can easily disconnect the disposal from under the sink and nobody will flip the switch by accident while you have the plumbing apart. Plus you won't have naked 14-2 NM just hanging under your sink going directly into the disposal. That wouldn't be good.
Ron Natalie
10 years ago
The ones I've seen don't have a cord (but provide instructions for adding one if you care to). I put a cord on mine and then you can use an "air switch" between the plug and receptacle to operate it. Just drill a hole in the countertop for the button.
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Thanks, everyone. I definitely should have known better than to put that food in the garbage disposal. I learned an expensive lesson. Although I didn't put all those food items in at one time, it was still a mistake to put them in there. The disposal is over 14 years old. As for the dishwasher, it was leaking while in use a year prior to the recent sink clog, so the clog has nothing to do with the leak in the dishwasher. The dishwasher doesn't leak while not in use. I'd be happy to wash the dishes by hand if it wasn't for the pain/injury in my foot. Things are old in this house, and they're breaking down. The kitchen faucet has had issues and has been leaking since 2007 (it's old), yet the landlord refused to have it fixed when a plumber was here for a kitchen pipe. I had even obtained a replacement faucet & replacement parts to help out, but he still refused to agree to make repairs. When I moved in, I was told that the kitchen would be remodeled, so everything would be fixed; that never happened. I can't wait to move out. If I was a regular tenant--not related to this family member--I'm sure things would have been fixed.
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mrroarke
Original Author
10 years ago
I was under the impression that GFCI wasnt necessary to have under the cabinet. What i read seem to indicate that the GFCI under the cabinet would be a pain to have to reset and since it wasnt necessary to just not do it. I appreciate the info and will continue to look more into the GFCI outlet if i put in an outlet.

I was mostly confused on the white wire but am happy to take any and all advice about wiring everything.

If i understand correctly the first box with the switch in it should have 4 ground wires.

Wire 1 - Incoming 14/2 from panel
Wire 2 - Outgoing 14/2 to disposal or receptacle
Wire 3 - additional copper to green screw attached to metal junction box
Wire 4 - additional copper to green screw on switch.

Wires 3 + 4 i will be adding. All 4 wires need to be connected together via a wing nut.

Can i just wrap wire 1 around the green screw prior to joining it to wire 2 to eliminate wire 3?

I was going to use the whip instead of leaving the exposed romex. My main panel is 10 feet from my kitchen so i figured i would just turn off the breaker to the disposal if i ever needed to work on it.
User
10 years ago
RE: GFCI That might be a NEC2014 change. I remember that in a Mike Holt presentation.
weedmeister
10 years ago
The Insinkerators I've installed do not use a 'whip' or a cord. There is a metal cover over the connection point. There is a 'standard' 1/4" hole that can hold a cable clamp you get from the store. White to White, Black to Black. There is a ground screw under the cover plate. That's it.

In my case, the NM comes out of the wall, no box required. Is that what you mean by the cable hanging inside the sink cabinet?

Your choice using an outlet. Personally I wouldn't bother.
weedmeister
10 years ago
Take a look at panel #6. You can see the cover plate and the cable clamp.

Here is a link that might be useful: installation

Garbage Disposal wiring help

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