Bathroom receptacles

[monkey]

I don't have any old code books, can someone tell me when the code first started requiring the bathroom receps to be on their own circuit?

 

[al hildenbrand]

The 1996 NEC introduced the bathroom receptacle outlet supplied on a 20 Amp circuit in 210-52(d). As it was written, for a minimum configuration, one could daisey chain all the bathroom receptacle outlets of all the bathrooms in a dwelling on a single 20 Amp circuit. There was no allowance for adding lights or exhaust fans in any way. That exception was added and 1999, and the whole 20 Amp circuit requirement was taken from 210-52 and placed in 210-11(c)(3).

 

[mdshunk]

I happened to have a 1984 laying here, and there isn't even a "branch circuits required" section in that edition. Now you got me curious. Off to hit the stacks...

 

[mdshunk]

That requirement first appeared in the 1996 NEC.

EIDT... that's what I get for not hitting refresh. Thanks Al.

 

[charlie]

. . . can someone tell me when the code first started requiring the bathroom receps to be on their own circuit?

Since the Code doesn't require them to be on their own circuit now, I don't understand the question. The bathroom receptacle and outlets for other equipment within the same bathroom shall be permitted to be supplied in accordance with 210.23(A)(1) and (A)(2). The other equipment may be lights, fan, small heater, etc. as long as they don't exceed 1/2 of the circuit rating. :smile:

 

[LawnGuyLandSparky]

I happened to have a 1984 laying here, and there isn't even a "branch circuits required" section in that edition. Now you got me curious. Off to hit the stacks...

Heck no. In 84 we wired entire 2nd floor blowouts, 3 beds and a bath with ONE 15a circuit. 3 watts per sq. ft. Bathrooms were still nothing special.

 

[ultramegabob]

Code compliant is one thing, and common sense is another, I would pull at least one circuit for bathrooms minimum, with all the hair dryers, curling irons, curlers, rechargeable toothbrushes, electric shavers, radios, etc. it doesnt take long for them to add up when the wife or teenage daughter is getting ready in the morning....

 

[iwire]

Code compliant is one thing, and common sense is another, I would pull at least one circuit for bathrooms minimum,

I would provide what the customer paid for.

 

[ultramegabob]

I would provide what the customer paid for.

I wouldnt want the headache or argument that would come after every morning they are getting ready they have to reset a breaker, for the price of a homerun.... but then I pretty much gave up residential for the most part because I hate dealing with homeowners.....

 

[LawnGuyLandSparky]

Code compliant is one thing, and common sense is another, I would pull at least one circuit for bathrooms minimum, with all the hair dryers, curling irons, curlers, rechargeable toothbrushes, electric shavers, radios, etc. it doesnt take long for them to add up when the wife or teenage daughter is getting ready in the morning....

And if you were bidding this job with "one additional circuit, for common sense sake," you would be broke and hungry.

 

[480sparky]

And if you were bidding this job with "one additional circuit, for common sense sake," you would be broke and hungry.

I wan't even born when that pix was taken! It looks like post-WWII tract housing. Curling irons, microwaves, plasma TVs and home entertainment centers were the stuff of science fiction back then.

The old Victrola, some lights, and maybe a B&W 9" TV was modern.

 

[growler]

And if you were bidding this job with "one additional circuit, for common sense sake," you would be broke and hungry.

Many bathrooms now are bigger than one of those houses in the picture and probably cost twice a much. :grin: :grin:

 

[LawnGuyLandSparky]

Those houses were the first planned suburban development in the U.S. Levittown. Of course there are more things to be considered today, but does a modern flat screen LCD television really consume more power than the 18" black & white console TV with TUBES did in the 1950's? If I remember correctly, those puppies threw off some serious heat. Is not a 100 watt lightbulb in a bedroom table lamp still consuming the same 100 watts? (Or perhaps only 14 watts, the CFL equivilant?) I distinctly remember both my grandmother and mother owned blowdriers. They had a metallic chrome case, a cord similar to one you'd find on an iron, and weighed enough to cause serious muscle develpoment in the fairer sex that it came with a table stand.

Changes in code have since required dedicated SABCs, and bathroom receptacles, but aside from those exceptions, there really haven't been any improvements to the residential codes since these houses were wired.

Even a bathroom 20' x 24' doesn't require anything more than what a 5' x 8' bath requires.

The economics are still the same. Even if this were a development of "McMansions" built on spec, if you insist on including circuits and extras that aren't required by code, you aren't going to get the job.

 

[ultramegabob]

Those houses were the first planned suburban development in the U.S. Levittown. Of course there are more things to be considered today, but does a modern flat screen LCD television really consume more power than the 18" black & white console TV with TUBES did in the 1950's? If I remember correctly, those puppies threw off some serious heat. Is not a 100 watt lightbulb in a bedroom table lamp still consuming the same 100 watts? (Or perhaps only 14 watts, the CFL equivilant?) I distinctly remember both my grandmother and mother owned blowdriers. They had a metallic chrome case, a cord similar to one you'd find on an iron, and weighed enough to cause serious muscle develpoment in the fairer sex that it came with a table stand.

Changes in code have since required dedicated SABCs, and bathroom receptacles, but aside from those exceptions, there really haven't been any improvements to the residential codes since these houses were wired.

Even a bathroom 20' x 24' doesn't require anything more than what a 5' x 8' bath requires.

The economics are still the same. Even if this were a development of "McMansions" built on spec, if you insist on including circuits and extras that aren't required by code, you aren't going to get the job.

I dont even have the desire to do that type of electrical work, I did my time as a rope monkey, but it was more geared toward the custom home end, not track housing, and is was usually easy to talk the builder into a simple upgrade like that because they didnt want an unhappy customer either. for the most part, I try to stick to commercial work, but I do some trouble shooting service calls and service upgrades for residential, .


edit- somehow I quoted the wrong post, it was supposed to be the one above it, #12....