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Wiring air switches for bathroom lights?

xxPaulCPxx | Posted in General Discussion on August 20, 2007 10:50am

I want to add a bunch of controls for things like heat lamps, fans, lights, etc. within the wet area of the tub/shower.  I know that air switches are the only safe way to do this (not ready to trade in the wife quite yet ;), but I had a question about wiring them to permanent fixtures.

The InSinkerator style is a self contained unit that plugs into an outlet and has the switched outlet on it’s back.  You plug in your disposal to this.  I would like to plug in some overhead lights, wired to that location with Romex.  The area where the outlets would be is cover panel accessable. 

Is outlets to fixed lights OK, or do I need to take the boxes apart and hard wire everything together?

Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA

Also a CRX fanatic!

Oh, good Lord, no. But I can give him two dollars and an assault rifle.

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Replies

  1. User avater
    BillHartmann | Aug 21, 2007 01:19am | #1

    Why have those in the "wet" areas?

    There is another style of the air operated switches. They are used in SPA's and designed to be hard wired.

    Use that style and you will have a place to land the power and the wire to the lights.

    http://www.presair.com/air_switches.asp

    .
    .
    A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
    1. User avater
      xxPaulCPxx | Aug 21, 2007 02:02am | #2

      What those components are your link had are on the inside of the the box with a plug on one side and the outlet on the other.  I had looked at those too, but after getting everything I needed, it ended up being only $10 cheaper than the disposal type at the local big box - and the one at the big box is the right finish too.  It seems silly to piece together my own when there is an existing factory made piece that does exactly what I want.

      I know a disposal can be hard wired or outlet wired, as can a diswasher.  Can't a light be wired the same way?

      While the air switch will be in a wet location (near the shower mixing valve), the control box that the air line feeds into will be on the wall under the tub, accessable via the front skirt.  If there is water in that area, something has gone terribly wrong!  Of course everything would be on GFI breaker.Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA

      Also a CRX fanatic!

      Oh, good Lord, no. But I can give him two dollars and an assault rifle.

      1. User avater
        BillHartmann | Aug 21, 2007 02:27am | #4

        Cords can be used for "permanate" wiring or run hidden.Proably the closes thing that you could do would be to have an electrical box and run NM (or other wirings system) to the lights are whatever.Then in that box conect it to a cord set and run it out the box through a coverplate with a cord connector (retainer) in it. then on the outside of that box plug into the packaged airswitch.That would be close, but I still suspect that it won't meet code. But I can't quote sections..
        .
        A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.

  2. User avater
    IMERC | Aug 21, 2007 02:21am | #3

    any place that sells spa parts will have what you need...

    Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming

    WOW!!! What a Ride!
    Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

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