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View Full Version : Hardwiring an over the range microwave


Linda1261
Jan 25, 2012, 11:28 AM
The builders had hardwired the hood, there's no electrical box. The person who installed our new microwave cut the wires on the new unit and hardwired it in place of the hood. The place that we bought the microwave from said it was a fire hazard to do that. Can anyone verify that for me. Don't want to make this person remove the microwave and purchase a new one so if it is a fire hazard would he be able to fix the cut wires and install an electrical box to plug the microwave in or would that be about the same risk?

ma0641
Jan 26, 2012, 01:35 PM
The proper thing is to do, codewise, is to install an old work box in the wall and then use a new plug on the end of the MW cord. The reason the fan didn't have a box is because the fan has a box built into it. Installing an old work box and outlet would have taken no more than 1/2 hour. Make him do it right.

Linda1261
Jan 26, 2012, 02:24 PM
Thank you. I finally asked an electrical engineer that I work with and she gave me that same advice... make him put in a box. She commented that not putting in the electrical box in the beginning was lazy on his part. Thank you very much.