Check out silllites . They require less space than typical outlet boxes. Others on GW have used them the have covers that can be painted so the don't really show at all. Below is amlink to their website

Here is a link that might be useful: Sillites

Those Sillites look fabulous for the purpose. You might want to double check that a 15 amp outlet is OK with your inspector (doesn't show on their site that Sillites are available in 20 amp versions).

You need to call your local codes office and find out which version of the NEC they use when they inspect.

Far be it from me to question Hollysprings, but I guess I don't see the problem. The codes don't require 20 A receptacles; they require 20 A branch circuits. I learned (the hard way) that a "15 A receptacle" (in most cases) may be put on a 20 A circuit, that is, the receptacle is rated to conduct (and can safely conduct) 20 A, it just doesn't allow 20 A plugs in it. The Sillite says it can take 12 AWG wire, so I would infer that it is rated for 20 A circuits.

I agree that checking with your inspector is a good idea, however.

> I would like to make my windows as large as possible, so what is the smallest > space require to fit an outlet in between 2 windows.
> Can it be smaller than in the picture? I am hoping for 6 or 7 inches.

This is probably a question for your contractor or another framing expert. From what I've seen, there has to be something holding up the wall and roof above the windows, and often that means a vertical post on each side of each window. Those take up some space, usually ~3 inches per side (or one 4x4 post in the middle).

You could perhaps work around that if you used a really shallow outlet box that didn't interfere with the vertical framing. (That might work in your inspiration pic because the walls look thicker than normal there.) Or if the area above the windows is supported by a header anchored on either end of the wall and the area between the windows isn't structural, then you may not have space concerns at all. Only the person doing the framing will know for sure.

I'm pretty sure there aren't electrical code requirements for how close an outlet can be to a window, but I haven't looked at the code in ~8 years and it might have changed. For that you'll have to ask a local inspector or electrician.

Laura

I put mine in the drawer fronts.

Sillites can be placed in a wooden window sill. Because they are so small, they can be placed in many spots where a regular outlet box cannot. I have two sillites in my kitchen. One is on the end of my fridge wall to satisfy the code of needing one on the end of my peninsula. I did not want an obtrusive standard duplex outlet box cut into my cabs on the end of the peninsula, and my electrical inspector told me putting an outlet as shown here would keep me in compliance.

(We have since finished painting, and the fridge wall now matches the white cabs.)

{{!gwi}}

As far as sillites meeting code in general as a kitchen outlet, my inspector said as long as they are NEC or UL rated (they are both) they are acceptable.

Here is a link that might be useful: Sillites

I had a similar issue. We are putting in two 6' wide windows with about 18" wall space between. Our code here requires an outlet every 4' so we were required to put two outlets in this 18" area as well as one at the end of each window. I realize outlets are needed but I can't figure out what I could possibly plug into all these outlets to need them every 4' all around my kitchen.