In addition to the family room where you hooked up various appliances such as a TV, home theater, and game console, the kitchen also houses multiple appliances such as a microwave oven, blender, crock pot, coffee maker, toaster, and food processor. . While you may have plenty of wall outlets in your family room, the kitchen may have limited wall outlets—not enough to run multiple appliances at the same time.
Although you can add new outlets, it must work outside of walls, which can be unsightly and is also unacceptable to the NEC or National Electrical Code. However, changes are often necessary. To offset kitchen outlets, you can mount an under-cabinet mold just above the kitchen backsplash.
Plug molds are simply strips of outlets which are called multiple outlet assemblies in the NEC. Plugmolds are often needed in schools, laboratories, and workplaces to power multiple appliances, tools, and machines at the same time. Although it is not necessary to use molded plug outlets simultaneously, the option of being able to plug in and power an appliance within a short distance is convenient. Plugmolds also save space, especially in laboratories or repair shops, where equipment is placed at relatively close intervals.
An under cabinet mold also works the same way. With a plugmold installed under your cabinet, you can power kitchen appliances without using an extension cord or moving the appliance to the nearest wall outlet. The under cabinet pans are conveniently located above the backsplash, allowing easy access to other kitchen equipment. It also gives the backsplash a neat and clean look, since the trim is basically hidden under the cabinet.
Under-cabinet molding is highly preferred by electricians as it is convenient and accessible for the homemaker. Plugmolds can also be installed under the backsplash where it is concealed. However, dangling cords and a tendency for plugs to fall out without warning are notable drawbacks. Although the under-cabinet plug molding allows the cord to dangle, the tendency to move the plug or cord is low. The under cabinet mold is also tall enough for young children to reach, providing a safer environment for your family.
While the under cabinet plug mold seems like a safe way to plug in your kitchen appliances, there are certain drawbacks as well. For one thing, tall people need to stoop or stoop to access it. While this may seem irrelevant, crouching is not necessary if the plug mold is mounted to the sides of the cabinet, or what is called an angled plug mold.
Plug mold installation is easy if you are an expert in electrical wiring and have some basic electrical knowledge. Plugmold is available at most hardware stores. You can also visit the Wiremold website for Plugmold parts, installation guides, projects and tutorials. For safety, use a molded strip that has a built-in circuit breaker. Do-it-yourself plug molds are also available. However, if you’re not sure how to mount an under-cabinet outlet mold, hire a licensed electrician and let them do the work for you.