Bathroom wiring clarity


  #1  
Old 12-29-16, 04:19 PM
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Exclamation Bathroom wiring clarity

Hi,

I've gone through a lot of posts and web sites and read info, but most everything I find is contradicted somewhere else.

I have two 60's bathrooms we're going to redo and a brand new one in the basement. All are under 50 sqft. Each will have 1 outlet, 1 exhaust fan, 1 shower/tub light, and some sort of ceiling fixtures.

The one point in agreement is that the outlet in each bath must be 20A, GFCI, and not feed anything outside that room. After that, it's all contradictions. So:
  1. Must the outlet be the only thing on the circuit or can it power lights and ceiling fan?
  2. If not, can the lights and fan be on the same circuit?
  3. Can the fan and lights be on one switch?
  4. Can the fan be automatic and no switch?

Thanks guys!
 
  #2  
Old 12-29-16, 05:06 PM
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  1. Must the outlet be the only thing on the circuit or can it power lights and ceiling fan? All connected devices must be in the same room. Recp/lights/fan OK.
  2. If not, can the lights and fan be on the same circuit? Yes.
  3. Can the fan and lights be on one switch? Yes.
  4. Can the fan be automatic and no switch? Yes.... if that's really what you want.
 
  #3  
Old 12-30-16, 11:13 AM
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So to be clear on question #1:

I can bring 20A to the sole bathroom outlet, then tap off to the switch which controls both lights and fan and I amwithin code?
 
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Old 12-30-16, 11:37 AM
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Only if the circuit serves only one bathroom .
 
  #5  
Old 12-31-16, 11:10 AM
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Ok - thanks for clarifying.
 
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Old 01-01-17, 07:13 PM
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Don't forget you also have to use 12AWG for fan and lights since you will be powering them off 20A circuit.

Personally, I'd just connect fan and light to existing light circuit and pull new 20A for outlet only. You have to terminate existing circuit somewhere with a junction box anyway. Why not make use of it?
 
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Old 01-02-17, 06:50 PM
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The one point in agreement is that the outlet in each bath must be 20A, GFCI, and not feed anything outside that room.
The circuit must be 20 amps, but not the receptacle, a 15 amp device would be normal and compliant. Typically you never need to use a 20 amp GFCI receptacle or duplex receptacle anywhere in a house.
 
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Old 01-14-17, 02:25 PM
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I'm at the point of pulling wire (the old 14g had to go). I'm pulling 12/2 NMW to feed the bathroom. The way it's set-up, it would be easier for me to bring power to the switch box (just one switch for everything) then feed the GFI outlet box, then go on from there to lights and fan.

I don't want the GFI switched, it needs to be live always. So... can I run 12/3 from the switch, to the GFI box, use one leg (red) to feed the GFI outlet (unswitched), the other leg (black) to feed the fan and lights (switched), sharing the neutral in the GFI box by connecting to the GFI w/a pigtail?

I hope that's clear.

LMK...

Thanks guys!
 
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Old 01-14-17, 04:41 PM
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You could run a 12-2 to the gfi from the switch box. From the switch box run out to the fan and or light.
 
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Old 01-14-17, 04:51 PM
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@pcboss - that will mean the outlet is switched. I don't want the outlet switched.

So is my approach valid and within code or does it need to be changed somehow?
 
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Old 01-14-17, 05:50 PM
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Yes you can use 12-3 as you suggested. Common convention would be to use red as switched and black as unswitched. The neutral would be pigtailed before the GFCI.
 
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Old 01-14-17, 06:04 PM
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Got it -Thanks for the help Ray!
 
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Old 01-14-17, 08:04 PM
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No, you would splice the power before the switch to feed the gfi.
 
 

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