Replies

1. 
   gfretwell | Sep 16, 2011 11:40am | #1

   Pigtailing the circuit is the way to go but you have some issues with that.

   Is the box going to be big enough? (the main problem)

   Is there enough circuit capacity?

   Some might even argue that this is not the proper use of a small appliance circuit but there are two ways to look at that.

2. 
   [email protected] | Sep 16, 2011 01:32pm | #2

   Receptacles are designed to be in series

   Since this outlet is not the last one on the circuit, I'm guessing that you know where the wriring is that feeds past it, and want to tie into it. 

   You probably can tie onto the existing receptacle if you want, using the second set of contacts. 

   If there is enough slack, you can route the existing wire into a remodeler box, and connect the two ends onto the new receptacle, they have two sets of terminals just for this reason. 

   If you don't have enough slack, then you need to install either a an oversize box to give you enough room for the recptacle and the wire nuts for a pigtail, or two boxes.  One box to act as the junction box to start the pigtail from, and one for the receptacle.  I'd probably go with two boxes. 

3. 
   bmyyou | Sep 16, 2011 02:03pm | #3

   I'm a little confused by the replies so I'll try to explain the setup a little more.  There are currently three receptacles installed around the top of our L-shaped bar, and I'm planning to tap in the middle one to run a new wire down the inside of the wall of the cabinets below and install a receptacle to permit plugging in a compact refrigerator.  The fridge is approved for putting into a cutout section of the cabinets, but there is no electrical plug there to hide the wire.   Also, the bar is tiled around the receptacles so I can't put in any other boxes in that area.  And I'm going to check to make sure the fridge amperage is acceptable for the circuit and the wire and boxes are sized properly before proceeding.

   I don't know how big the boxes are where the bar receptacles are currently installed, and I suspect the 15A plugs that are installed in each receptacle have wound wires screwed into the posts instead of being pushed in from the back.  I also suspect that the line side and load side attach posts/screws of the receptacle that I want to tap into are both occupied because this receptacle is not the last one, so I don't think I can attach the new wire to the existing receptacle as it is.

   So I am planning to make a pigtail about 6 inches long on the line/inlet/incoming side of the plug that I'm tapping into, wire nut the black, white, and ground wires from the line side with the new receptacle wire, then screw the single lines from that junction to the existing receptacle.  I don't have another way to install another box in that area on the bar, so is this a correct procedure?

   Thanks for the great feedback

1. 
   gfretwell | Sep 16, 2011 04:18pm | #4

   They do make a spec grade receptacle, backwired clamplng plate style that will take up to 4 wires on each side. You still have the box size issue. 6 #12s, grounds and a device adds up to 9 wires @ 2.25" or a 20.25" box.

   That is the legal part. The practical part makes that look easy. You are still jamming 9 #12s in a box. Pigtailing the whole cludge with a stranded wire to the receptacle may actually work better.,

2. 
   gfretwell | Sep 16, 2011 04:18pm | #5

   They do make a spec grade receptacle, backwired clamplng plate style that will take up to 4 wires on each side. You still have the box size issue. 6 #12s, grounds and a device adds up to 9 wires @ 2.25" or a 20.25" box.

   That is the legal part. The practical part makes that look easy. You are still jamming 9 #12s in a box. Pigtailing the whole cludge with a stranded wire to the receptacle may actually work better.,

3. 
   xxPaulCPxx | Sep 17, 2011 09:41pm | #6

   Yes you can do what you want, don't worry about the load of the mini-fridge.

   In the electrical aisle of most big box hardware stores, there will be a premade pigtail setup.  I consists of a wire nut with a wire sticing out the top, with a brass connector at the end.  Use the nut to connect the two wires, then attach the brass connector to the screw on the outside.  Black goes to brass colored screws, white goes to silver colored screws.  The nice thing is that it's long but made with stranded wire so it folds back into the box very easily, and the connector makes a secure connection to the outlet.

1. 
   gfretwell | Sep 18, 2011 12:09am | #7

   His real problem is going to be stuffing 3 extra #12s in the box.

   He also has the problem of fishing that new wire in and hitting the box.

   The easiest answer might end up being to cut out the existing box, put in an old work double box and have quad outlets at that location. Then he will also have the wall open to fish the new wire plus plenty of room in the new box.