Movable Cabinet Question

[RLove]

I am getting ready to build my cabinets for the garage, and to utilize the space the most efficiently I'd like to be able to move (slide) a tall 72"x36" cabinet over the breaker box. I know it's against code to not have space all around the box, but it's limiting the length of my cabinet run. I'd like to put heavy-duty drawer glides, (1,000lb. capacity) at the top and bottom to be able to just slide the cabinet out of the way for access to the breaker box. I will note that all the cabinets are wall mounted without a base touching the floor - otherwise, this would be simple.

Has anyone done this, and if so, did it work as well as I think it should? Thoughts?

 

[glentre]

Welcome to the forum!

Having a little trouble picturing what you are proposing. Sounds like you want to have the tall cabinet which is not resting on the floor to slide over the breaker box. Is the cabinet going to move in a perpendicular motion out from the wall or do you want the cabinet to slide sideways to uncover the panel? Is the panel inset and flush with the wall or surface mounted and projecting out into the room? How deep is this cabinet? What would you be attaching the heavy duty slides to? Will the box be completely hidden with the cabinet in place? A photo or sketch would be most helpful.

Glen

 

[RLove]

Sliding sideways over the panel that is flush with the wall. The cabinet will be about 24" deep and about 36" wide. I would attach the slides at the top and bottom of the cabinet with the the other half attached to studs in the wall. The breaker box would be completely hidden, but easily accessible with a quick slide of the cabinet. I was thinking of attaching a small magnet and a piece of steel as a receiver on the end of the cabinets that the tall cabinet would slide over to. Too late for a drawing right now, maybe tomorrow.

 

[bad_idea]

Welcome to the forum. I think this is a bad idea. I tend to lean towards the paranoid side of safety, and would not be ok with fouling access to a breaker panel. Whatever you decide to do, remember you not only need access to secure a breaker, you also need access to remove the cover and install a new circuit.

If you really want to put a cabinet in front of the panel, then I would put the cabinet on caster wheels and put a sign on the face of it (electrical panel behind cabinet). Think of times when the wife will need to access the panel when you are not around - HVAC tech, etc.

 

[astroracer]

I think you need to have one cabinet that is caster mounted so it can be rolled out of the way. Build around the box if you want but I would treat it just like a window and leave it accessible.
My concern with a sideways sliding cabinet is stuff is going to get piled to either side of it then it will become immobile when an emergency arises.
Mark

 

[CraigStu]

....
My concern with a sideways sliding cabinet is stuff is going to get piled to either side of it then it will become immobile when an emergency arises.
Mark

I agree. If you really don't want it on the floor on casters, could you hang it from the ceiling on a track? Barn doors are popular so plenty of different wheels/tracks are available.

 

[glentre]

Drawer slides, no matter what capacity, are designed to support downward weight only and are always installed in pairs. Using them on only one side of a large and heavy cabinet attached to a wall subjects them to horizontal force as the weight of the cabinet wants to pull it off the wall. This will cause failure of the slides.

Another problem. With one half of the slide mounted to the wall and the other half attached to the cabinet, how do you engage the slides together?


Glen