[kokaneesam]

Hello I live in a rural area and it is impossible to find an electrician, I want to reno my bathroom and I want to wire it correctly. I am electrically challenged however I can follow basic diagrams and understand some basics such as where the power comes from and GFI breakers etc.

So I used to have power (15 amp breaker) coming in to two switches that used to supply the GFI, one plug receptacle, one light and the exhaust fan.

I have gutted the bathroom and want to rewire the entire space adding two vanity lights and keeping a ceiling light, a plug receptacle (outside wall), GFI plug( at sink) and the exhaust fan. Can anyone draw me a simple picture of how to wire this?

The old bathroom had a wire with a red wire in it and I don't understand what it is doing.

I think that I can use one switch to run the ceiling light and continue on with wire over to the vanity lights. Get power direct for the GFI and receptacle. And run the exhaust fan off the other switch.

[KISS]

You need a basic wiring book from Home Depot or wherever.

There are two ways to wire things. Power at he fixture or power at the switch. There are advantages to both. Power at the switch allow some automation devices to be used such as motion detectors.

Wires when used as switch loops need to be re-colored. The white wire needs to have a few wraps of black electrical tape to make it black. This taped wire becomes the "switched hot".

You'll need a 20 Amp service for the bathroom which necesitates 12 AWG wire.

Your 3 wire with ground was used because there was likely 2 switch loops. One fro the fan and one for the light. Many times the bathroom has a heater as well in the ceiling. You can also use the 3 wire with ground, so that you can provide a neutral in the switchbox for automation devices.

[kokaneesam]

You'll need a 20 Amp service for the bathroom which necesitates 12 AWG wire.

The bathroom has a 15 amp service with 14/2 wire. Would I need to change the breaker and run a new wire? Is there any way to use the 15 amp service and just cut back on some lights?

Bored a basic wiring book and am reading it as we speak, thank you so much for your answers. It gives me a direction to go and stuff to look up.

[stanfortyman]

The bathroom receptacle needs to be on a 20A circuit using #12 wire. The lighting, fan, etc, can be on a 15A with #14.