Bathroom lights and GFCI outlet?

Old light was over the sink and had a receptacle which we used for the hair dryer/shaver.

Switch is on the wall near door when entering bathroom.

We ripped out the old light /receptacle thingy and bought a new light fixture which doesn't have the receptacle for dryer/shaver .

Can i put in a new light switch ( where old one was) that also has a receptacle for dryer/shaver in same box?

Light switch and receptacle (GFCI) in a double gang box. Switch controls the new lighting fixture over sink.

I never felt safe with the old receptacle over sink anyway, so if i could do this i would feel better.

Thanks a billion :>

Blue

 

You must find out how many wires are in the switch box first thing. There needs to be 2 sets of wires entering it. If there is only one set with a black and white both to the switch you need to find another source for power.

 

Hi

Power coming into switch (2 wires Blacl/white) then 2 more (black/white) going to where old lighting fixture was.

How's that?

Thanks

Blue

 

Yes, you can do this, in either the existing single-gang box or a double-gang box. For a single-gang box, buy a combo switch/GFCI receptacle. For a double-gang box you can use the existing switch and add a regular GFCI receptacle.

 

Thanks

I was browsing the Home depot ( just looking cause i wasn't sure if i could do this ) for a "combo switch/GFCI receptacle" and they didn't have any. Is this a common setup?

I would love to use the single box so i don't have to make the hole bigger.

I'm happy as a clam

Blue

 

Yes, you can do what you want. You need gfci with a set of pigtails on it, one black one white on the correct terminals. Hook the black from the switch to the light and the incoming black with another pigtail to the switch and to the gfci. Then hook white from light to gfci whit pigtail and incoming white. If you have ground wires hook them to ground terminals. If you dont you will need to label the recept no equip ground. You can gfci protect the switch if you like,,, and maybe this will be recomended because of not having ground,,, you can do that by hooking white from light to load side of gfci and getting power for the switch from load side of gfci.

 

Whoops,, I was watching tv,, didnt meant on jump on your post John.

 

Question...Why do you have to ground at the gang box all the time when it's already grounded at feed terminal and using BX cable?

Thanks : >

Blue

 

Bx really isnt supossed to be used for ground,, unless it has a special strip in it for that,,, there was a long thread on it here and maybe John will clarify.

 

No way am I going let "BX grounding" out of pandora's box again. We almost didn't get it back in the box last time.

Bluerain, check out:

http://www.eagle-electric.com/catalog/PDF/SECTION_J/J_4_CWD_GFCI.pdf

sberry27, no problem with the overlapping post. It's good to see we came up with the same answer.

 

Thanks for the link

Bluerain

 

Ok, I found it at the Home depot(last one)

I'll wire this maybe Monday or Tuesday, working on fan now.

Please see my "Oh Boy" post regarding fan,Thanks so much.

Blue