NEC question: 20a switches in bathrooms?
entropyconstruction
| Posted in Code Questions on
I’m doing a gut remodel on a 1900’s victorian. I had a licensed electrician do all the rough wiring and the panel. I’m installing all of the switches, outlets, and light fixtures.
In the bathrooms, the light switches have 12ga wire. I believe this is required by the NEC because the lights and the exhaust fan are on the same circuit. Does that also then mean I have to use 20a light switches? The price difference is *stupid*. I can buy 15a switches for $1.76/ea at my local big box, but the 20a switches are $18 each (a 10x increase). I can’t even find a 20a “dual rocker” (we have a 2-gang box that will hold a GFCI and two light switches, one for fan, one for the light)
Advice – particularly from a licensed electrician – is appreciated. Thx
Replies
not an electrician
what size breaker on the circuit?
20 amp circuit breaker with 12-2 g wire I believe (key phrase ) believe you need a 20 amp switch
other question is why not just ask the electrician who did the rough-in? thinking he would know what the local inspector will want when there's an inspection for the final.
good luck
If the switches are directly controlling lights within the switch's rating, not controlling a receptacle (which then could have a light plugged in) then yes, 15A switches are common on 20A circuits. It's a different story if your switch controls a receptacle, you might plug a vacuum or heater or something else that would exceed the rating of the switch. The relevant NEC code is 404.14.