I'm about to start wiring a new bathroom. It's gutted and on the ground floor with easy access to underneith. I have limited space left in my main panel for new breakers (new service coming soon), so I may have to move things around for more efficient use of breakers.

I want to wire:
1 GFCI near mirror
1 outlet in the bathroom closet for toothbrushes, shavers, etc
2 sconce for mirror or 1 double or triple light above mirror (which is next to tub)
1 ceiling light
1 vent fan
1 Floor Mat, Warm Tiles, Heated Floor, Floor Heating, Radiant Floor Heating SAM 1025 (3.1amp)
2 switches by the door for ceiling light and fan (seperate units)
1 switch near mirror for lighting


http://telcohero.com/bathroom/Drawing1.jpg


Any suggestions on the best way to do this "by the book" using the fewest breakers in the main panel?

Thanks!

I would suggest two 20 Amp breakers. One for the lights and one for the outlets. By code, the outlets must be on an independent circuit. I would also GFCI protect any outlet near water.

You really do not want you lights on the same circuit as your outlets. It that breaker trips, you are standing in darkness.

I thought, so long as the circuit stayed in the bathroom, the outlets could be on the same breaker as the lights, etc.

Also, I was of the impression that I could put a light BEFORE the GFCI to avoid the "GFCI blackout" problem.

This is all based on previous discussions I've read here regarding bathroom wiring.

I would be difficult to free up 2 20amp breakers to dedicate to this, I'm more likely to rob some power from someplace else for the lighting if it absolutely needs to be separate from the GFCI. I hate to complicate the house wiring like that though.

It is poor practice, as least as I understand it, to put both the lights and outlets on the same breaker in a bathroom.

You could do it just the way you suggested, but you might still end up in the dark it the breaker trips for other reasons.

You could also include the bathroom lights on another light branch circuit as long as you are within the total wattage allowed by the circuit. This would mean that you only have to use one new breaker for the outlets.

Your question was framed around the "Best Recommended" method. If it wee me and I had the room for two separate breakers, that's the way I would do it. Because by using two independent branch circuits one for outlets and heat pads and one for the lights I'm very safe about always having the lights on when I need them.

If you extend an existing lighting branch circuit, you run the risk of a problem somewhere else in the home causing the lights to go out. If you put both lights and outlets on the same breaker, the same is true.

Nothing is really absolute for an independent lighting branch circuit not going out, but the risks of an incident are lower that way. IMO

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dan42

I thought, so long as the circuit stayed in the bathroom, the outlets could be on the same breaker as the lights, etc.

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Yes, you are correct.


I personally am not one who buys in to the whole "If the breaker trips you'll be in the dark" philosophy. Breakers tripping are rare with new wiring and there is always other light in a home.

You do not have to put the lights "before" the GFI, just don't wire them to the LOAD terminals. You can wire the lighting off the LINE and other receptacle off the LOAD terminals.

ALL receptacles in a bath must be GFI protected, NOT just those near water. They are ALL near water.