National Electrical Installation Standards

Standards as High as Your Own

 
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Friday, August 13, 2021

Question:

Greetings Code Question of the Day Staff,

My question is does the NEC require a receptacle outlet installed in the back of a wall-mounted flat scree TV in a home? The TV is installed at about 6 feet above the floor. The receptacle is installed at 16 inches above the floor. The cord barely reaches and looks terrible.

Thanks for any comments.

Paul Hearn

A

Answer:

Hi Paul,

The NEC does not require a receptacle outlet to be placed at the height of the wall mounted TV. The required receptacles in a dwelling unit are addressed in Section 210.52. Often receptacles for flat screen TVs are installed as an option, and exceed the minimum requirements of the Code. If one uses the option to installed this receptacles outlet, all the applicable rules in the NEC must be applied. 

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