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    hockeybrian's Avatar
    hockeybrian Posts: 6, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Mar 14, 2007, 03:39 PM
    Bathroom Wiring
    I have read as many bathroom posts as I could find but still have a specific question. First I want to reiterate what I have gathered. Please verify the following for correctness.

    1. Outlets and lights must be on separate circuits in a bathroom.
    2. All outlets must be GFI protected by breaker or receptacle and must be on a 20 amp breaker with #12 wire.
    3. Lights do not need to be GFI if they are not located above a bathtub. Regardless of location, lights can be wired with #14 wire on a 15 amp breaker.
    4. There is no limit to how many outlets can be on a designated bathroom circuit. (size per load)

    Question:
    If a bathroom fan/light is located in the middle of the bathroom (not over the tub) and a wall sconce is located over the sink, do either of these need to be on a GFI circuit? If not, can the wire to the lights be taken off another circuit used to light other bedrooms in the house, or do the bathroom lights need to have their own circuit?

    Also, please inform me if I have missed any general rules for bathroom wiring.
    Any advice would be much appreciated.
    tkrussell's Avatar
    tkrussell Posts: 9,659, Reputation: 725
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    #2

    Mar 14, 2007, 04:11 PM
    I have added a statement to be correct in bold:

    1. Outlets must be on separate circuits in a bathroom.
    One 20 amp circuit can feed outlets in several bathrooms, no lights allowed an outlet circuit that handles more than one bathroom.

    One 20 amp circuit can feed an outlet in one bathroom and the lights and fan in that bathroom alone.

    2. All outlets must be GFI protected by breaker or receptacle and must be on a 20 amp breaker with #12 wire.
    Correct.

    3. Lights do not need to be GFI if they are not located above a bathtub.
    Correct, lights do not need any GFI,unless the light is over a tub or shower AND the manufacturer requires GFI protection if their product is installed above a shower or tub.

    Regardless of location, lights can be wired with #14 can be wired on a 15 amp breaker.

    Correct but obviously this circuit is not the 20 amp outlet circuit.

    4. There is no limit to how many outlets can be on a designated bathroom circuit. (size per load)

    Correct, as long as these outlets are not for a hot tub with a pump motor, those outlets should be separate from outlets that are at the vanity for hair appliances.

    Question:
    If a bathroom fan/light is located in the middle of the bathroom (not over the tub) and a wall sconce is located over the sink, do either of these need to be on a GFI circuit? If not, can the wire to the lights be taken off another circuit used to light other bedrooms in the house, or do the bathroom lights need to have their own circuit?

    Correct no GFI protection needed, and yes these lights can be fed by a nearby lighting circuit.


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