Installing receptacles inside cabinets

As part of my bath remodel I plan to install outlets inside both vanity cabinets.

A cleaner looking installation would be to mount them with a remodel box to the cabinet wall itself, but that'd still probably require a hole in the drywall behind for clearance.

The other way would be to add them to the wall and make a hole in the cabinet that aligns with them. This would also mean any future cabinet replacement (not likely in my lifetime, lol) would perhaps be a little easier.

Is either of those prohibited by code or better or worse for some reason I didn't mention.

 

The box should be roughed into the wall, flush with the drywall and then when you set the cabinet you cut a hole in the cabinet then install a UL box extender that slides inside the existing box. Then on finish, it usually requires a little longer screw to attach the receptacle.

 

Code wise either is fine.

 

Interesting, never heard of those. Looks like they come with the extra length screws.

 

Lining up the hole you cut in the cabinet up exactly with the box can be a little tricky. Just takes some careful measuring. IMO it's easier because if you put the box in the cabinet first you are trying to fish the wire as you try to install the cabinet. Division of labor... Carpenters do carpentering. Electricians do... electrocuting?

 

Are you looking to have the outlet accessible from outside the cabinet?

That is allowed, think kitchen islands where there are plugs mounted to the cabinet walls, have a couple of them!

 

No, this is for keeping hair dryers and things like that plugged in but stored in the cabinet. Open the door, pull it out, use it, put it away.

 

Doesn't sound like a very safe thing to do. Typically, an appliance like a hair dryer or curling iron should not be left plugged in.
Plugging in an appliance on a wall mounted outlet seems about as easy as it can get.
Besides having an outlet inside a cabinet just seems awkward. Only place that it normally would be used in under a kitchen sink for use with a disposal or hot water dispenser.

 

That is something I have never seen, safety question aside, it would be odd reaching under there plugging and unplugging, not sure the cords would even be long enough!

 

And even with my post about the toaster, I still feel odd about leaving a hair dryer plugged in. But I suppose it doesn't make much difference.

 

Appliance closets in Canada must disconnect the power when the door is closed.

 

?????
is this a thing?

 

RE: appliance closets
I think they are more often appliance garages and found on kitchen counters.

 

My wife leaves her hair dryer plugged in all the time now. It's got a 6' or so cord, plus its own circuit breaker in the cord. I'm not worried about leaving it plugged in. And we've got a rechargeable tooth brush base that might be nice to have out of the way and I'm sure we'll find other uses.

Since I've got things torn up, it's not a lot of extra work or money to add outlets.