Undercabinet power strip or Wall outlet?

8 years ago

We're weighing the pros/cons of power in our upcoming kitchen remodel. Love the undercabinet strips, but two questions came up about them:
1) How easy are they to replace should that need arise? Wall outlets are super-easy and inexpensive; not sure about the powerstrips.
2) When plugging or unplugging a cord, are there issues with the strip wiggling or moving? I guess the real question is . . . are they as stable as wall outlets? (Cords are likely to get yanked out on occasion, as they currently do from the wall.)
Thanks!

Featured Answer

zwizzle1

8 years ago

I have wall outlets and undercabinet strips where the upper cabs were installed. The UC strip has USB and electrical outlets so it's mostly used for charging tablets and phones; the wall outlets for larger appliances that sit on the counter, e.g., the coffee maker. My strip doesn't wiggle or move when inserting or removing a plug, but I don't yank the plugs as they fit very tightly. If yanking plugs is likely to happen, I would guess that the wall outlet is better because the plug tines are perpendicular to the outlet. The UC strip is angled at the back of the cabinet so the plug tines are inserted at an upward angle and any tugging would force it out at an angle. I cannot advise on difficulty of replacing the UC strip since I haven't had to do it (yet).

If you are planning on only one or the other, I would think wall outlets would be better in your situation.

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Comments (8)

plants4
8 years ago
Installing the powerstrips can be a bear. We installed one and destroyed two. But then we used surface installed plugs under the cabinets (idea from a GW post) and that was super easy to install. I really don't know why one would have to replace a powerstrip any more than one would have to replace an outlet. In any case, both options are very stable and do not budge one bit during plugging and unplugging.
catolson thanked plants4
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catolson
Original Author
8 years ago
Uh oh. plants4, I'm not sure I understand what "surface installed plugs" are and haven't been able to find info online or on GW. Is there a link you can provide? Thanks!
nini804
8 years ago
I don't like seeing cords going "up" and my backsplash is simple white subway, so it was a no-brainer for me to have horizontal wall outlets in the backsplash. They blend in seamlessly.
catolson thanked nini804
catolson
Original Author
8 years ago
I read about the issue of seeing cords. The KitchenAid mix, Blender and Food processor are tall enough that only a tiny amount of cord will show, something we could live with. I love the idea of having a plug accessible no matter where I am at the counter. However, we hadn't even considered placing wall outlets horizontally - simple solution, and would tie in with our white subway tile, too.
a2gemini
8 years ago
Cat- we have both. I had our UC set at a 45 degree angle to make it easier to access. I chickened out a bit and have a few wall ones as well where I had light switches.

In retrospect, I would have gone all UC except maybe the corner one for DHs coffee pot.

The outlets feel secure. We haven't had any issues in 3 years.

I can't answer on ease of replacement as no problems so far.

As far as ease of use- I haven't had any problems using them. They need to meet code and this makes all of them a bit stiffer to use (wall and UC)I "jiggle" the plug a bit ( the same for the wall version) to push the plug in and out.

My dad taught me as a kid - never yank a cord or plug out of an outlet.

I have visions of friends not following this advise and ending up holding a handful of cord with the plug still in the outlet!

Here is a link that shows some pictures UC plugmold
plants4
8 years ago
I'm sure there is a name for this stuff but I can't recall it. Anyway, here's the cheap and easy alternative to plugmold. Since one isn't looking underneath the cabinet anyway, to me it makes little difference what it looks like and this is tidy enough

(As far as dangling black wires, mine are in a tucked away corner so I don't see them. All the other plugs are used and then the appliances put away.)
catolson thanked plants4
plants4
8 years ago
Catolson -- that was for you!

Undercabinet power strip or Wall outlet?

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