Outlet Height Question

[lowcountrygamecock]

I'm mounting quad outlets above my soon to be work benches in my new shop. Countertop height on the bench is 36 inches. Should I mount the bottom of the outlets at 40 or 42 inches? Want to make sure I have room for a small backsplash if i need it to keep things from rolling off the back. I have the boxes hung at 40 now but that doesn't look like it will leave enough space.

 

[cderalow]

Personally, I'd go with 48" AFF, should give you a good foot above the bench which should keep it well free of any sort of kickout material, spills, splashes and other cords.

 

[rlitman]

That depends on what you intend to use the outlets for.
I have power strips mounted under certain benches, which I use for tools permanently plugged in (grinder, stationary sander, chop saw, etc). Those would work nicely just above your backsplash, in much the same way that kitchen outlets are mounted.

But for hand held tools (grinders, portaband, heat guns, drills, etc.) I have outlets mounted no lower than about 60", and most are on the underside of the loft ceiling (78").
I prefer my outlets way higher, so that a cord doesn't end up on the tabletop.

 

[larry_g]

It would depend on if your a neat freak like some here or a slob like me. I find that that my work bench is constantly covered with stuff making outlets just above bench top height hard to access with out clearing stuff out of the way. In the old shop I had a 1x8 mounted ~18" above the work bench, for a shelf, on the wall and the outlets just below the shelf. They were usually accessible. The new shop is similar with the addition of outlets under the front of the workbench. So think about what you will use the outlets for and will they be accessible to you for the work you do and the way you live.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Falcon67]

I'm going to mount the tops of my outlet boxes at 48 3/4" down from the joists. That leaves room for 5/8" drywall on the ceiling and a full sheet of drywall or OSB on the top half of the wall. Easier to cut reliefs for the boxes in the lower sheets.

 

[5lima30]

All my outlets in my garage are 50" to the bottom of the outlet. My reasoning is it is well above any workbench and any sheet goods (plywood, OSB, etc) leaning up against a wall. Also my outlets are spaced 4' apart on every wall. This has worked out well for me.

 

[Scotty72SS]

I agree with the general public on this one... I would go 42"-44" as a minimum especially if you are not going to be in the way of cabinets above the bench. The more out of the way they are the better. The last thing you want is sawdust and carb cleaner in your outlets!
ds

 

[Scotty72SS]

I'm going to mount the tops of my outlet boxes at 48 3/4" down from the joists. That leaves room for 5/8" drywall on the ceiling and a full sheet of drywall or OSB on the top half of the wall. Easier to cut reliefs for the boxes in the lower sheets.

This is also a great point, I did mine at 48" as well, and it makes cutting the sheetrock alot faster.
ds

 

[Falcon67]

All my outlets in my garage are 50" to the bottom of the outlet. My reasoning is it is well above any workbench and any sheet goods (plywood, OSB, etc) leaning up against a wall.

Very good point - Something to keep in mind depending on shop layout. I'll have a lot of wall space so a nearby plug would be easy to reach. In my old space (lots smaller) this was an issue. At least until it was so full of benches, tools, etc that you could not lean anything against a wall.

 

[BFBOB]

Ever the iconoclast, I have the outlets at my workbench mounted UNDER the bench top, about 4" back from the edge. No cords lying on the benchtop getting in the way. Most tools have 6' cords, so they don't reach the floor either. This is for occasional tools. For the ones I leave in place, plugged in all the time (bench grinders, for instance) I have wall-mounted outlets, about 8" above the workbench top.

 

[6768rogues]

Mine are 48" from the finished floor to the bottom of the work boxes. They are convenient and I have no regrets.

 

[sberry]

I generally agree with most of this, part of the point of having wall space is so stuff can go along it without sitting in the middle of work space and that most cord connected workload I prefer having the service outlets under the edge of the bench with shelf below to toss connected equipment or stuff that needs to be used there. Drills, grinders etc and its still handy to plug in a cord if needed. Circuits above benches or near shelves are for more in place corded devices, all that stuff these days, battery drills; The one circuit to feed benches probably gets used as much as the general outlets in the rest of the building. I hate the cords over the bench tops.
BFBOB states that simply in a couple posts up, fixed equipment, bench grinder, drill doctor from the top back and the hand held from the front. There is always an activity area, over or at benches, shelves etc and ideally for me would be surface raceway with some 4 inch boxes where needed. Easy to make a couple changes, as well as a guy can plan things just dont seem to work out, nice to be able to switch a recept, or switch local light, who knows. Power strips may work but nothing says pro like being wired in obvious fashion where it sposed to go.
Yes, 40 is too low.

 

[sberry]

I got 5 running ft of wall space at one point with 20 outlets and another half a dozen a few ft away for battery tools and light switches. Couldnt have planned how it was all going to turn out if I tried. ha
A working shop would be slightly different than a garage, not as much anymore because I been in the same building a while but its handy to be able to reach back and change, really helps not to be limited as an excuse to avoid change just cause the hydrant is here or there or in the way, if its easy to move something the more likely he is to engineer problems out than to have to live with them.
I added a circuit to a kitchen the other day, installed a new stove and range hood. 5 ft of pipe, one 4x4 box, 1 cover, one duplex, one switch and 5 ft of greenfield. The hood had its own light and fan switch but I put a service disconnect with the switch and used the duplex for the range and another fan next to it for heater. Used everything I put in, served everything I needed to.