Fridge Plug Socket - Alberta Location

4/11/2014 at 5:14:49 PM

The issue with the receptacle is not so much the "location", but if it is a dedicated circuit. I suspect that this existing receptacle is connected with other items in the home.

The Canadian Electrical Code (CEC) rule 26-712 (d) (I) indicates that receptacle must be provided for the refrigerator. Rule 26-720 (a) indicates that the receptacle for the refrigerator must be a dedicate circuit and not have any other receptacles or outlet on it.

Your reference to 2 metres may be the measurement (1.8 m) that is referred to as the maximum distance of useable wall space where a receptacle must be (rule 26-712 (a).

Hope you find this helpful.

Cheers

John Kuehnl-Cadwell

Master Electrician

Datawise Solutions Inc

4/11/2014 at 5:49:55 PM

CEC (Canadian Electrical Code), does not specify a height exactly for this outlet, so he may be thinking of another appliance (range hoods or microwave over ranges are about 2 meters AFF).

So in saying that, as long as the outlet is accessible, at baseboard height sounds it was not installed properly as most fridge holes are surrounded by cabinets so it would very tough to plug in if the cord came from the top (for example).

Best installed about 44" above finished floor to allow the cord to loop down so as to not get trapped under the fridge on the floor, but a piece of heavy string and a screw can suffice to help keep it up.

4/17/2014 at 8:18:15 PM

Hey there,

I'm not an electrician, but I do know the biggest thing is the dedicated circuit. John had the whole electrical code thing for you, so that proves it. Who knows...it may already be a dedicated circuit. An electrician would be able to tell you, or if you have a general contractor, that whole situation would be no problem. Drywall is cheap!