Ask Experts Questions for FREE Help !
Ask
    Waynemccue's Avatar
    Waynemccue Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #1

    Dec 11, 2011, 09:51 AM
    How to wire a bathroom light/fan unit
    I have one red,black and white wire and one black and white wire.
    I am trying to wire them to the unit which has one blue, one black, two white and one green
    Can you please help
    stanfortyman's Avatar
    stanfortyman Posts: 5,598, Reputation: 279
    Electrical & Lighting Expert
     
    #2

    Dec 11, 2011, 09:57 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by Waynemccue View Post
    I have one red,black and white wire and one black and white wire.
    I assume this is in the ceiling at the fan?
    What do you then have at the switch?
    ballengerb1's Avatar
    ballengerb1 Posts: 27,378, Reputation: 2280
    Home Repair & Remodeling Expert
     
    #3

    Dec 11, 2011, 10:00 AM
    Bathroom fans/lights need a 20 amp circuit GFCI with 12 gauge wire and two switches. Both switches are fed via the incoming black wire, the one switch goes to fan black and the blue goes to the light hot. Green is ground and white is a common neutral for both fan and light. Do you have two switches, the red tells me likely yes.
    donf's Avatar
    donf Posts: 5,679, Reputation: 582
    Printers & Electronics Expert
     
    #4

    Dec 11, 2011, 02:54 PM
    Slight correction, according to the 2008 edition of the NEC, 210.8(A)(1); only the receptacles are required to be GFCI protected in a bathroom.

    What we need to know is the mapping of the wall switch(es) that control the light/fan device.

    We also need to know where is the source for the power to the device. Is it at the wall switch(es) or is the source brought to the ceiling and then routed to the switch(es) and back to the device. This would be called a switch loop.
    Stratmando's Avatar
    Stratmando Posts: 11,188, Reputation: 508
    Uber Member
     
    #5

    Dec 11, 2011, 03:36 PM
    Connect the blue and black to control with 1 switch, red and black may be separate switch legs and could control them separately.
    What do you have at the switch location?
    stanfortyman's Avatar
    stanfortyman Posts: 5,598, Reputation: 279
    Electrical & Lighting Expert
     
    #6

    Dec 11, 2011, 04:06 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by ballengerb1 View Post
    Bathroom fans/lights need a 20 amp circuit GFCI with 12 gauge wire and two switches.
    Just a correction.

    Bath fan/lights do not need a 20A circuit, nor do they require GFI protection, unless of course the manufacturer requires it. Most only require GFI protection if a fan is installed over a tub or shower.

Not your question? Ask your question View similar questions

 

Question Tools Search this Question
Search this Question:

Advanced Search

Add your answer here.


Check out some similar questions!

Wiring bathroom fan/light to separate light/fan switches [ 0 Answers ]

I am trying to have my bathroom light/fan operate separately, with one switch operating the light and the other operating the fan. The power coming from the switches is 6 wires (2 black, 2 white,1 red and ground). The wire coming from the light/fan is 4 wire (black, white, red, and ground). I have...

How to connect bathroom fan/light using two switches and 14-2 wire? [ 3 Answers ]

I have two switches where 14-2 wire (white, black and bare wires) goes to a combo bathroom ceiling fan/light. One switch is for the light and one for the fan. It looks like the white wires from both 14-2 wires are all connected to both fan and light white wires. The black wire from the light...

How do wire up a bathroom fan through a GFCI plug to a fan timer switch? [ 1 Answers ]

I am installing a Broan model# QTRE070C ceiling fan in my bathroom. I'd like to wire the fan through the GFCI plug to fan timer switch. The fan isn't going to be directly over the tub/shower enclosure but in the center of the bathroom ceiling. If it's not directly over the tub/shower will I still...

How to wire a bathroom light and fan to separate switches. [ 1 Answers ]

I removed old switches and plugs from existing box. I installed a single pole switch for the vanity lights which is working correctly. I have installed a "double switch" for the tub light and the fan. I want to wire the light to the upper switch and the fan to the lower switch. There are four...

Bathroom fan/light: light works, fan doesn't [ 3 Answers ]

I'm back with more "finishing basement" questions. This weekend, I wired my bathroom. This is 20 amp service with 12 ga wire. For the bath fan/light, the power source came into the switch box (1 box, 2 switches) on a 12/2 wire. From there, power goes up to the light/fan on a 12/3 wire. Red goes...


View more questions Search