Designing Kitchens and Bathrooms - Need help with Kitchen Island Outlet

I was getting ready to install my outlet and switch (for over head light) in my kitchen island. I planned to install it on the right side of the island on the kitchen side (just below the countertop) but I realized the the top drawer of the cabinet will not allow the depth of an outlet box to fit (2 seconds before I started drilling! :eek: ).

That leaves me the option to install the outlet / switch lower so it clears the drawer from the inside but that would place it too low for convienence. Code states that it would be ok (12" below counter hight is the limit), but I do not want to be reaching down all the time since there will be a light switch on it, and it would not look good.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to tackle this? I could remove the drawer and put a false front on but I do not want to lose it as I desparately need the space. Perhaps there is some special low profile box to mount this in? I was planning on using a plastic remodel box.

Thanks!

Is there room to mount it horizontally as apposed to vertically ?

Actually it is the depth that is causing the issue. I am also using a double gang box because I was unable to find a 3-way dimmer / outlet combo. All of the combo 3-way switches were not dimmers and I wanted to have dimming control for the lights.

I see where you are going with it though - I will have to do some more research.

Thanks!

Try measuring the space behind the drawer. Most drawers do not go all the way to the back of the cabinet.

It's actually a full lenght drawer and only leaves about an inch of space between the back of the drawer and the cabinet (I have a false drawer front on the back of the cabinet so I can just pull it off to access).

Also, I am hoping to get it on the kitchen side since there is a switch rather than the living room side (which is what the other side faces).

Thanks for the reply.

On another note, do you know what the shallowest remodel box is that can be used for this application?

How many cables and what size wire coming into or leaving the box?

How many devices?(receptacles and switches)

Any cable clamps in the box?

How many cables and what size wire coming into or leaving the box?


One 12/2
One 14/2
One 14/3


How many devices?(receptacles and switches)


One receptical (duplex)
One dimmer switch


Any cable clamps in the box?

The box I was going to use was the regular plastic remodel box with just the plastic flip stoppers in the back.

Your double gang box must be at least 23.5 cubic inches to meet the NEC requirements for box fill.

The one I was planning on using is 25 so I am ok there but can't go any smaller. My buddy had another idea to put the switch on one end of the island and the outlet on the other mounting both sideways. More work, but that may be my best bet.

How hard would it be to shorten the drawer a couple inches ?

Shortening the drawer would be fairly easy:
Remove the drawer from the cabinet.
Remove the slide rails from the drawer.
Cut out the drawer back.
Cut off the sides and bottom the desired amount.
Reinstall the drawer back.
Attach the slide rails to the drawer.
Place the drawer in the cabinet.

I went to Lowes to get the single gang boxes as I decided to install the switch on one side of the island and the outlet on the other. While I was there I found this funky Carlton low profile box that curved out towards the back rather than going strait which gave it 17 CI of space.

With some careful measuring and cutting I was able to get it exactly where I wanted in the upper corner of the cabinet! There was litterally 1/64" - 1/32" of space left between the side of the rail and the back of the box so it worked out perfect.

I had to create a new junction box in the crawl space below to extend the outlet wires but I am really happy with the way it turned out. It actually works better to have the devices on opposite sides - this way you can have something plugged in and not hit the cord with your hand if you want to work the light.

Thanks again for all the replies! :D