Range hood questions

[Michigan Mike]

I am getting ready to install a new range hood. Brand name Proline. It came with a plug in cord. I have never seen this before. Any other hood I have seen was direct wired. I think I already know the answer to my question but I am going to ask anyway. Can I run this cord through the wall cut off the plug and make my connections in an standard outlet box? What are my other options? The power for the hood that was in the kitchen before just came out of the wall and was connected inside the hood. We changed the cabinet layout and the new hood is in a different location. Hood and wire no longer are in the same area.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

no you cannot do that. not only is cordage not allowed inside walls but cutting off the plug on the cord violates the listing.

Either install a receptacle in the new location or check the directions to see if you can direct wire it

 

[Zeke]

In this instance is why I wonder why MC is subject to the same protection requirements of NM. Seems like a perfect scenario to run MC through the cabinets and connect to the receptacle. Perhaps overkill but, sealtight flex conduit can run there, AFAIK. I know there are other solutions.

It's too bad you didn't anticipate this when the wall was clear and move/add a box.

 

[Michigan Mike]

The directions don't give me any option to hardwire it. Opening up the wall to place a new outlet is not a problem. I expected that I would have to do that as we didn't know what the hood would be at the time of cabinet install. Niether my wife or I are very excited about a cord running on a clean wall in the kitchen. I will call the help line and see if they can send me instructions to hardwire it. If that is not helpful another option also probably not to code is to run the cord up to the ceiling and through and wire an outlet in the attic to plug it to. This would be hidden by the metal chase that covers the vent. The cord already exits the hood in the chase area. I see no provision in the stainless pieces that form the chase for the cord to exit. I would have to put a hole in the chase or hood to get the cord to a wall plug.

 

[Walkers]

Posting a couple pics would do you a lot of favors.

 

[Shiftless]

I found this online on page 10 of the installation instructions.

 

[Michigan Mike]

Thank you Shiftless. That matches my instructions. I guess I just didn't dig deep enough. It looks like I am going to have to open the electrical on the hood and see if it is as simple as black to black white to white and ground to ground. I think I am still going to call their help line and see if I can get more detailed instructions.

 

[Michigan Mike]

Well I called their help line and the not totally clueless gal on the other end basically said to run the romex into the chase areas and cut the cord and make my connections to the cord and romex at that point. I am not sure about this and have an electrician that I can talk to before I just cut the existing cord and wire to that.

 

[Zeke]

Yep, she was more than clueless, actually giving out dangerous and illegal info. I'd let the company know about that.
Sometimes there is a j-box in those enclosures that you can run NM to in the attic. That's Kosher.

Don't put a hole in metal and run a cord through, grommet or not. A hood needs to have a means of disconnect, IIRC, hence the plug. When servicing the filters and fans you should be able to cut power to the controls.

 

[Michigan Mike]

Thanks Zeke that was kinda my take on it also. Its been a long time since I had anything to do with range hoods I am mostly a carpenter. I know the previous hood I took out was wired direct. But it was done by my father in law. He was pretty much self taught and could make anything work but best practices and to code were not part of his training.

 

[alfredeneuman]

sealtight flex conduit can run there, AFAIK.

All flex conduits (including sealtight) are subject to the same "protection from physical damage" regulation as NM or MC.

 

[Zeke]

^^^Could be. I've seen a lot of plain ol' metal flex in cabinets. Other than EMT, what can he do if were to run cable from a cabinet bay to the hood?

Might be a moot question because I'm getting the feeling there is no cabinet adjacent to this hood.

 

[alfredeneuman]

^^^Could be

348.12 Uses Not Permitted. FMC shall not be used in the
following:
(7) Where subject to physical damage

350.12 Uses Not Permitted. LFMC shall not be used as
follows:
(1) Where subject to physical damage

 

[Zeke]

I wasn't questioning you. You are always correct. 'Could be' in some vernacular is affirmative. The question remains, what can he do?
I know I'd tuck flex in the corner of the cabinet and be done with it.
Oh, I guess he could run wire mold. That stuff isn't any more stout than MC.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

subject to damage is very subjective... doubt some plates and pans are gonna damage FMC in a cabinet unless its king kong shoving stuff into the cabinet

 

[Michigan Mike]

Thanks for the input. Just to clarify things this range hood does not run through cabinets. It hangs on the wall and the vent that goes through the cieling is then enclosed by a metal chase. Neither the hood nor the chase has any holes or other provisons to run the cord outside the unit.

 

[Zeke]

^^^Thinking the same, Wylie, but I wasn't going to challenge AEN.

 

[Zeke]

Thanks for the input. Just to clarify things this range hood does not run through cabinets. It hangs on the wall and the vent that goes through the cieling is then enclosed by a metal chase. Neither the hood nor the chase has any holes or other provisons to run the cord outside the unit.

Thought so. Well, the discussion about conduits became moot. You can run your NM to where the hood goes into the attic if you have access. I think the manufacturer is remiss if they can't help any more than they have. Reminds me of the conundrum with fireplace inserts and receptacles.

Is there room within the chase for a wall recep? Technically if you can remove the fasteners to the chase and expose the recep, then you would have access.

 

[Michigan Mike]

The duct is 6" round and the chase is 10" x 7.75". I think I could probably get an outlet in there. I thought that covering the outlet with the chase was the same as burying it in the wall but the chase does have the fasteners exposed so this may be the solution?

 

[dave*99]

The duct is 6" round and the chase is 10" x 7.75". I think I could probably get an outlet in there. I thought that covering the outlet with the chase was the same as burying it in the wall but the chase does have the fasteners exposed so this may be the solution?

I did that in my sons house. Located the junction box in the wall, off center from the vent duct, but still fully covered by the chase. His chase is wooden and slipped over the vent pipe. It was easy to remove.

The steel chase on my hood is like yours - 2 screws to remove it.

 

[Michigan Mike]

Its looking more and more like this is the solution. To be clear I want it to be safe and code compliant but it will not be inspected.

 

[Zeke]

The rule says the recep must be accessable. Just like the one behind the built in fridge is.

 

[Michigan Mike]

Will it wouldn't take much longer to pull the chase than it would to roll the fridge out.

 

[dave*99]

A receptacle in the removable vent hood chase as I described does not violate this statement taken from article 100 of the NEC

“Wiring methods are considered “accessible” if they are capable of being removed or exposed without damaging the building structure or finish or not permanently closed in or blocked by the structure, other electrical equipment, other building systems, or finish of the building.”

 

[Michigan Mike]

Thanks for the clarification Dave. That pretty well makes putting the outlet inside the chase the solution to this problem,

 

[cliffcharb]

I just had a kitchen remodel completed at my home. The original hood from 1995 was hard wired, the new replacement required a receptacle per the electrician.

 

[Michigan Mike]

Thanks Cliff. I am guessing that this is something that has changed codewise in the many years since I had anything to do with range hoods. Regardless mine will be plugged in to a receptacle. But it will be covered by the chase for the vent ducting.