Electrical Outlet Box Height

There is no danger to installing 15 amp outlet receptacles on a 20 amp circuit in fact this is the standard practice but under no circumstances should a 20 amp receptacle be installed on a 15 amp circuit.

Electrical outlet box height. However your local electrical code is the ultimate voice with these matters. Electrical receptacle outlets on branch circuits of 30 amperes or less and communication system receptacles shall be located no more than 48 inches 1219 mm measured from the top of the receptacle outlet box nor less than 15 inches 381 mm measured from the bottom of the receptacle outlet box to the level of the finished floor or working platform. In rare instances outlets are still installed in baseboards and in the floor with proper box covers. You can meet this requirement by using the hammer method to measure height as long as the bottom of the box is above the tip of the hammer claw.

A common height for a wall outlet is between 12 to 18 inches aff above finish floor. 54 maximum high side reach ada 5 6 maximum above floor level for receptacles meeting the 6 horizontal spacing rule. There is no code on the height of electrical outlets. For switches and 12 in.

Certain height guidelines are commonsense ones. Then there are custom heights in which different company use accordingly to the home owner or builder. Although the national electrical code nec has many very precise regulations for most aspects of residential wiring it does not specify one height for standard wall outlets receptacles or for light switches. Use letters and symbols to identify boxes.

For example section 1136a of the california building code specifies that the minimum height of an outlet be 15 inches from the bottom of the electrical box to the floor. As a result heights are often a matter of convention or preference. Keeping this in mind many electricians maintain a minimum height of 18 inches to the top of the box and a maximum height 48 to 54 inches. 48 maximum height to top of outlet box california.

The average height for outlets is 12 inches from the floor to the center of the outlet box. A 20 amp receptacle is designed to accept the special plug on heavier use appliances and if such an appliance plugs into a 15 amp circuit there is a danger of drawing too much power and. Imo the origin of the 18 minimum electrical receptacle height above the floor in residential garages is the same reason we elevate heating appliances. For outlets or line them up with existing boxes to determine electrical outlet height.

Remodeling and upgrading home electrical wiring when upgrading home electrical wiring or remodeling the actual height can be adjusted so the elevations of the switches and outlets will match other existing outlets and switches. Mark the height from the floor to the center of the boxes usually 48 in. Electrical code and box heights. Add 2x4 blocks to position boxes away from wide window and door trim.