Pop-Up Countertop Power: Cutout Sizes, Depth Below the Surface, UL 962A and the NEC 406.5 Rules for Kitchen Islands
Sep 09, 2026
Since the 2023 NEC, island and peninsula receptacles can no longer be mounted face-up in the countertop or below the overhang where a cord hangs off the edge. Pop-up modules are the clean answer: flush when closed, listed for the purpose, and cord-connected so there is no box to rough in. Here is what to know before the fabricator cuts the top.
The code, briefly
NEC 406.5(E) prohibits receptacles installed face-up in a countertop unless they are listed for the application; a pop-up module listed to UL 962A (furniture power distribution units) or with a UL listing for countertop use satisfies that. 210.52(C)(2) in the 2023 cycle removed the island receptacle requirement but requires provision for one, so many designers still spec a pop-up rather than leave a blank. Wherever the module lands, the circuit it plugs into must be one of the two 20 A small-appliance branch circuits and GFCI protected; the module itself does not provide GFCI.
Cutout and depth by product
| Module | Cutout | Depth needed below top | Ports | Listing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Push-lift 1670-900 | 2-1/2 in round | 8 in | 2 AC, 2 USB-A 2.4 A | cETL |
| Motorized 1670-999 | 3 in round | 10 in | 2 AC, USB-C PD 30 W, USB-A | UL |
| Chrome and gloss black push-lift, CT-106-01 and 1666-005 | 2-1/2 in round | 8 in | 2 AC, 2 USB-A | cETL |
| Desktop grommets 1666-003 / 1666-010 | 3 in round | 4 in | 1 to 2 AC, 2 USB-A | cETL |
| Slide-out 1666-008 | none, under-mount | 3 in | 1 AC, 2 USB-A | cETL |
| USB pop-ups 1666-150 / 1666-250 | 1-1/2 in round | 3 in | USB-A or USB-C, 12 V | 12 V DC |
Depth is the number people miss. A push-lift module drops its full body below the surface when closed; on an island with drawers directly under the top, the module needs a bay or a notched drawer box. Plan the location over a cabinet void, a false drawer front or the dead corner.
Cutting the top
- Stone and quartz: the fabricator core-drills the hole; give them the diameter and a template, not the module. Keep the hole at least 3 in from an edge and away from the sink cutout to avoid a crack path.
- Solid surface and laminate: hole saw on site is fine; seal the cut edge of laminate against the module gasket.
- Wood: hole saw and a light bead of silicone under the flange.
- Thickness limit on all modules is 2 in; thicker mitred edges need a relief cut on the underside.
Powering it
Every module ships with a 6 ft cord and a NEMA 5-15P plug. It plugs into a GFCI receptacle inside the cabinet on a 20 A small-appliance circuit; that receptacle should be accessible, so a cabinet-mounted outlet is the norm. Do not hard-wire a cord-connected module. On a conference table the same rule applies: floor box below, cord to the module.
Picking the module
Kitchen island for a family: motorized 1670-999, the USB-C PD port charges a laptop and the soft close survives kids. Rental or office fit-out on a budget: push-lift 1670-900, the 4-pack at $99 covers four stations. Boardroom: two motorized units in the 2-pack, or flip-lid grommets if the table is thin. RV galley or boat: the 12 V USB pop-ups, which run straight off the house battery with no inverter.
Send the top thickness, cabinet layout and outlet count to CS@ConversionsTech.com and engineering will confirm fit and return a cut template. Everything above is in stock and ships same day.
