Bathroom Lights & GFIs

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Re: Bathroom Lights & GFIs

Originally posted by Minuteman:

I put the GFCI on the load side of the switch......
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And also posted by minute man:

.....the switches have to be GFCI within 5' of the tub or shower[/QUOTE]


If the gfci is on the load of the switch the switch is not protected..... it might be you with the brain fart.
 
Re: Bathroom Lights & GFIs

heres an easy code compliant fix, just put it all on the gfci and forget it, the homeowner is the one being difficult and created this design nightmare. rarely if ever should the gfci trip anyway, if it does its no different than if some fool hit a powerpole down the street and killed the power for 45min.......I wouldn't spend another min. on it.you have done all you can do, we cant offer all the convieneces of life, what if the bulb blew?..........
 
Re: Bathroom Lights & GFIs

Originally posted by scwirenut:
heres an easy code compliant fix, just put it all on the gfci and forget it, the homeowner is the one being difficult and created this design nightmare. rarely if ever should the gfci trip anyway, if it does its no different than if some fool hit a powerpole down the street and killed the power for 45min.......I wouldn't spend another min. on it.you have done all you can do, we cant offer all the convieneces of life, what if the bulb blew?..........
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Agreed. I cant picture someone stumbiling around in complete darkness freaking out. Hell put in an EM light if its that big of a deal.
 
Re: Bathroom Lights & GFIs

Originally posted by jes25:
Agreed. I cant picture someone stumbiling around in complete darkness freaking out.
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FWIW I have not done dwelling units here in MA for a long time but I think electricmanscott has pointed out that load siding the bathroom lights from a the GFCI receptacle is a violation in MA.
 
Re: Bathroom Lights & GFIs

Recently remodeled 1 of my own bathrooms.I gave thought to putting both lights and receptacles on the gfci.After thinking it out i figure its more of a danger to have lights on the gfci.I ran HR to receptacle first and then to the 4 gang switch box.Should i ever change my mind its an easy fix.
 
Re: Bathroom Lights & GFIs

I see no issue with the lights on the load side of the GFCI protection. Utility power outages are more common than random GFCI trips.
Don
 
Re: Bathroom Lights & GFIs

I GFCI protect everything in the bathroom and I haven't had any complaints. The reason I do this is because the bar light over the sink is usually metal and easy to reach. The manufacturers of the new exhaust fans say they will work on a protected circuit, so why not.
 
Re: Bathroom Lights & GFIs

Originally posted by iwire:
Originally posted by Minuteman:
What is it Bob, a brain fart?
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Well one of us is having a brain fart. :D

Read your post again.


Originally posted by Minuteman:
I put the GFCI on the load side of the switch...
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Oh man, my stupid. Another case of not saying what I meant to say. Bob, I am sorry. I thought you misunderstood the concept of what I was saying. Instead, "I" misunderstood the concept of what I was saying.

{I will crawl back to my lurking position now}
 
Re: Bathroom Lights & GFIs

Originally posted by Minuteman:
Like I said, we often connect the switch to the bathroom GFCI (and no, it does not trip the GFCI when it is toggled).

Another cool trick is to use this Switch/GFCI and put it in a switch box by it self.
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If you use the bath GFCI recepytacle to protect the fan and light, then each bath needs its own circuit, and nothing beyond each bath may be fed from that circuit.

Note: the combo switch/GFCI is two independent devices: the switch's leads come out of the device body with no internal connection.

Also note: the 5' rule is meant to protect the switches within 5 feet, not (just) the load of switches within 5 feet, so after the switch is non-compliant.
 
Re: Bathroom Lights & GFIs

Originally posted by LarryFine:
Note: the combo switch/GFCI is two independent devices: the switch's leads come out of the device body with no internal connection.
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Right Larry, there is no internal connection, but we connect one lead to the load side of the GFI and the other to the switch leg.

Also note: the 5' rule is meant to protect the switches within 5 feet, not (just) the load of switches within 5 feet, so after the switch is non-compliant.
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Right again, they just want the switches to be protected.
 
Re: Bathroom Lights & GFIs

Originally posted by iwire:
Originally posted by georgestolz:
Power in > Special Switch > GFI > Fan
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Might have to do a little research to see if it is allowable to install / use a GFCI in that way.

Wouldn't you have to hit reset each time it was powered up?
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Not with the Coopers I use. There has to be power to reset it, but once reset the power can be turned off and on without tripping the GFCI.

Originally posted by Throttlebody:
That would defeat the following purpose:
Originally posted by iggy:
No can do. Owner wants the fan and the light (2 separate items, not a fan/light combo)to operate together (i.e. on one switch), to force the tenants to use the fan.
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No. The switch has two outputs, per iggy's description.
iggy wrote:
That's the function of the timer switch - it runs the fan for 20 minutes (adjustable, I think) after the switch is shut off.
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Re: Bathroom Lights & GFIs

Originally posted by iwire:
FWIW I have not done dwelling units here in MA for a long time but I think electricmanscott has pointed out that load siding the bathroom lights from a the GFCI receptacle is a violation in MA.
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This is correct Bob, if all the lights in the bathroom are fed from the load side. Don't you miss the feel of that smooth silky romex gliding through your hands........yeah you know you like those plastic boxes :D :eek:
 
Re: Bathroom Lights & GFIs

This thread reminds me of a issue I had the other day wanting to GFCI protect a light using one of those combo GFCI/switch units. (I had only a 1 gang box to work with). I was thinking it would be a violation to have a 15A circuit GFCI recp. in the bathroom, but would it be if it was supplemtary to the required 20A GFCI recp?
 
Re: Bathroom Lights & GFIs

I was thinking it would be a violation to have a 15A circuit GFCI recp. in the bathroom, but would it be if it was supplemtary to the required 20A GFCI recp? [/QB]
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IMO, the way 210.11(C) is worded, and 210.52(D), it is permissible to install a 15 amp GFI-protected receptacle in a bathroom, as long as the required 20 amp receptacle is present at the sink(s) as required.

But, it's not a great design to provide the customer with a 15 amp avenue to overload their lighting circuit and kick the breaker.

Which is why I recommended a dead front in one of my earlier posts. ;)
 
Re: Bathroom Lights & GFIs

Originally posted by iggy:
Is anyone aware of a code provision against putting a dwelling unit bathroom light on the GFI protected side of the receptacle, or is it just not done for common sense reasons?

(Here's the whole picture - Client wants those light/fan timer switches which leave the fan to run after the switch is shut off. Fan is IN the shower, so has to be GFI protected...
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This must be a local or state code. I couldn't find anything in the 2005 NEC that says fans in dwelling unit showers have to be GFCI protected. Unless the fan has an integral receptacle, I think it's legal to have it on a non-GFCI-protected circuit.

That being said, I think it's a good idea to keep the lights separate from the GFCI protection anyway in case the GFCI trips, mainly to keep the bathroom from going suddenly dark. You can do it if you want to, though.
 
Re: Bathroom Lights & GFIs

This must be a local or state code. I couldn't find anything in the 2005 NEC that says fans in dwelling unit showers have to be GFCI protected. Unless the fan has an integral receptacle, I think it's legal to have it on a non-GFCI-protected circuit.
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Jeff -this is a listing requirement of almost all bathroom fans. (Guess how I learned THAT little lesson...)
 
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