Hello,

I'm doing some prep work for a gas fireplace insert and will have a licensed contract do the final install. As far as the electrical, I am tapping off an outlet that was right next (about 12" to the left) to the fireplace (it's a single outlet on its own breaker, rated properly for this application). The instructions for the gas insert (which is a direct vent) say that you can either plug into a wall outlet or run an outlet into a "bottom back corner" (their words) of the firebox. My wiring is most easily brought in an terminated near the side, there is no easy way for me to easily bring wiring from and into the back. I could run a conduit inside the firebox but, if I do that, does the entire run have to be in conduit (i.e. from outlet box to outlet box) or is there a way to just just the exposed portion inside the fireplace in conduit?

Mainly, I'm just trying to get the cord hidden but I am really struggling to understand why the outlet has to be in the "bottom back corner". There is plenty of gap around the insert, about 10" all the way around (it's a large fireplace). Since this is a high-efficiency direct vent unit, I don't think there will be substantial temp difference from side to the back. I tried to contact the manufacturer but received no response. From my experience, inspectors don't really seem to read the installation manuals but I don't want to make this a point of contention.

Thanks
BB

 

They are just specifying the coolest location for the outlet. I'd run BX or Greenfield from your outlet to the new outlet, and fasten it to keep it as far away from the insert as possible.

When mine was installed, I ran BX from a basement subpanel over to underneath the fireplace. The installers drilled a hole through the top of the basement wall into the old ash cleanout space and ran the gas line and the BX through that hole and up to the insert through the ash cleanout opening in the base of the masonry firebox. That might be another option for you.

 

Okay, thanks. Does the BX have to go all the way from one box to the other? Here's the reason I'm asking. I already have the cable run from the box, inside the fireplace with an extra 3'. I did this back when I assumed the unit would be hard-wired (although, yeah, likely would have needed BX then as well). Can I possibly put a junction box where the cable comes out of the brick and run the BX from that j-box to the outlet box in the back?

Worst case, I'll pull everything out and run the BX box to box. I think I'd also have to replace the box in the wall since its' plastic, correct? Overall as a DIY'er I have very few "do-overs" so I'm not too concerned.

Thanks for the help; I was wondering about the "coolest location" part myself. I can't run underneath since there's another fireplace underneath and the ash dump goes directly to the downstairs fireplace. Now that I think of it, is there something I need to do to more permanently block off the ash dump?

Thanks again,
BB

 

Today there is no such thing as BX, you are probably referring to MC cable. MC and AC cables must be terminated in metal boxes and not the typical plastic residenial wall box. I'd also change the box to metal.