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Where do you typically see receptacles installed with near-continuous low panel radiator?

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rossn
rossn Member Posts: 139

[reposted, as my original post was in the wrong forum and I removed it]

I have an area where some Myson RCV linear panel radiators are being installed in a near-continuous layout. The existing receptacle boxes would be 1/2" below the top of the 8" radiators, if they are mounted at the mfg recommended 4"+ above finished floor. That feels too close to me (electrically), and not the best idea, so I am considering abandoning those.

Where have you seen the receptacles placed in these types of situations?

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Comments

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 17,595

    i would like to se you put some dummy panels in and put the receptacles above those. above the active sections having the cord dangling on the hot element won't be a great idea for several reasons.

    rossn
  • bburd
    bburd Member Posts: 1,320

    Receptacle locations are generally prescribed by electrical codes. It may be against code to simply remove them without providing a compliant alternative.


    Bburd
  • rossn
    rossn Member Posts: 139
    edited July 14

    @mattmia2 - that's a good idea. I don't think for these Myson RCVs they have anything like a dummy panel, similar to what you might find with baseboard. I think the longest one is 8', and I may be able to place outlets between, but I don't think the location of the outlets will be ideal.

    @bburd - to clarify, I'm trying to determine where to put receptacles… this will be done under permit and inspected.

    I'm starting to think floor receps about 6" out from the wall are better, just was trying to avoid that because it is a garage beneath and sometimes I do noisy work in there.

    bburd
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 17,595
    edited July 14

    i would put the receptacles above the line of panels. i know runtal has dummy sections, not sure about the more generic european panel radiators.

    floor receptacles require a listed assembly for floor installation to take the weight and moisture and i'm not sure if they technically directly take the place of the required wall receptacles. if there is a garage underneath you need to know if the flooring system is part of the fire rated assembly. if it is you need to replace that hole you cut out of the floor by boxing in the floor box or something like that.

  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 20,571

    Receptacles cannot be installed above ELECTRIC baseboard although I am sitting in my electric heat condo and they installed many receptacles above the electric baseboard when it was built in the 80s. The requirement not to install receptacles above electric baseboard is very old. You can put receptacles IN an electric baseboard with the approved accessories.

    As far as steam or HW baseboard or radiators AFAIK there is no code requirement prohibiting that.

    Weather it is a good idea or not requires common sense and the NEC does not recognize commonsense.

    I had receptacle directly above hot water baseboard in my old house and never had an issue and the house is still standing at 71 years old.

    hot_rod
  • 109A_5
    109A_5 Member Posts: 4,233

    Talk with the inspector, they may have some suggestions, and they are the ones you ultimately have to make happy anyways.

    National - U.S. Gas Boiler 45+ Years Old
    Steam 300 SQ. FT. - EDR 347
    One Pipe System
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 17,595

    i thought there was some prohibition but I couldn't find it in the receptacle part of the electrical code. I did not look at the part about electrical heaters or the mechanical code.

  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 27,914

    I think most homes with fin tube baseboard have receptacles above them.

    What temperatute are those Myson running? probably not hot enough to melt lamp cord or start the drapes on fire.

    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 17,595

    ok, i was avoiding this but i guess i can't. the ambient derates the ampacity of the cord and the plug for that matter. it also makes the materials decompose faster but that part isn't covered in the code. it usually doesn't cause a problem because most modern cables use conductors that could be rated at 75 c or 90 c but usually must be applied as 60 c in low power applications.