I’m wiring my new master bath and an electrician friend of mine said to wire the entire bathroom, lights and outlets, on a single 20 amp circuit. I understand the need for the 20 amp outlets but do the lights need to be on the same circuit? I would rather put the lights and fan on a 15amp lighting circuit thats serving the next door bedroom. I figured if I’m working on the outlets at least thelights will be working.
Craig
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Replies
The thing is that it needs to be covered by a GFCI circut, if you got out of the shower with wet hands and fliped the light switchyou could possibly get shocked.
you really need your light seperate from plug, so if you pop a circuit breaker you can find your way out, with wet floors and clothes everywhere.
It seems stange, but:Lights that are NOT directly above tubs and showers do not need to be on a GFCI circuit. AND, switches CAN be where they can be operated while standing in the shower! Just a good idea to not operate the switch while standing in the shower!Furthermore, the 2005 NEC (410.4D) says that GFCI protection of the fixtures over the bathtub and shower is only required if the manufacturer says it is required!Frank DuVal You can never make something foolproof because fools are so ingenious.
The ifficial word is that you can do bathrroms two ways:
1) You can have all the circuits in the bathroom (lights and receptacles) on one 20 amp circuit. or
2) You can have all the receptacles of all the bathrooms on one 20 amp circuit and the lights on a different circuit or circuits.
The cause of all this ruthless mayhem is hair driers.
~Peter
I would reword it differently.1) One 20 amp circuit in the bathroom for the receptacle that can also feed the lights and fan in that bathroom.2) one 20 amp circuit that is limited to the receptacle(s) in one or more bathroom.The way that you have it word implies that if you take #2 you need to have all bathroom receptacles on tha circuit.
I got mine like #2 all receptacle for both bathrooms on one circuit
and lights for both bathrooms on another circuit.