hello everyone....quick question on dwelling unit bath. The code requires a bathroom circuit. Can I "share" that circuit between two bathrooms, or does each bathroom need its own circuit. The house has a bathroom inside the master bedroom and a smaller bathroom for the other rooms.
Dwelling unit baths
- Thread starter molotov27
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jimwalker
Senior Member
- Location
- TAMPA FLORIDA
Re: Dwelling unit baths
If your trying to wire your own house i suggest you buy a NEC code book.There are many new things involved like gfci and afci as well as SA circuits.Your question is far more complicated than you think.
If your trying to wire your own house i suggest you buy a NEC code book.There are many new things involved like gfci and afci as well as SA circuits.Your question is far more complicated than you think.
bphgravity
Senior Member
- Location
- Florida
Re: Dwelling unit baths
The NEC requires at least one 20-ampere branch circuit for bathroom receptacle outlets. This one circuit can serve the receptacles in as many bathrooms as you would like. If the one circuit serves more than one bathroom, then no other outlets can be supplied by that circuit. If you dedicate a 20-ampere branch circuit to one bathroom, you may supply other outlets in that one bathroom.
See section 210.11(3) and its Exception.
The NEC requires at least one 20-ampere branch circuit for bathroom receptacle outlets. This one circuit can serve the receptacles in as many bathrooms as you would like. If the one circuit serves more than one bathroom, then no other outlets can be supplied by that circuit. If you dedicate a 20-ampere branch circuit to one bathroom, you may supply other outlets in that one bathroom.
See section 210.11(3) and its Exception.
petersonra
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern illinois
- Occupation
- Semi-retired engineer
Re: Dwelling unit baths
I think you "can" but why would you want to? What happens someday when people in both bathrooms plug in their hairdryers at the same time? Run seperate circuits.
A
a.wayne3@verizon.net
Guest
Re: Dwelling unit baths
petersonra for the most part cost in residential will kill job costing over the long run.What if.... well if the NEC allows it and the profit benefits thats the best recourse.Commercial work is a whole different bag of cash.Residential is a low profit business when dealing with tract homes.Now on custom high end $$$ homes well then I would agree.But day to day hit 1st bath receps. and jump from there.With the amount of homes we do a year that is one service call we almost never hear.Light dimming on a 15 amp circuit when H.O. bought a $400.00 vacum and tries to use it on a general purpose circuit is more common.
petersonra for the most part cost in residential will kill job costing over the long run.What if.... well if the NEC allows it and the profit benefits thats the best recourse.Commercial work is a whole different bag of cash.Residential is a low profit business when dealing with tract homes.Now on custom high end $$$ homes well then I would agree.But day to day hit 1st bath receps. and jump from there.With the amount of homes we do a year that is one service call we almost never hear.Light dimming on a 15 amp circuit when H.O. bought a $400.00 vacum and tries to use it on a general purpose circuit is more common.
goldstar
Senior Member
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
Re: Dwelling unit baths
Bryan's first response was exactly correct. Let's try to remember that the NEC provides us with a minimum requirement and not a design spec. If you have 5 bathrooms and want to provide separate circuits for all 5 (and eat up 5 points in the breaker panel) - that's your option !!!( But really not necessary) In fact, if you really want to "cheap out" on this (and still be legit) you can install a GFI receptacle in the first bathroom you hit, then off the load side of that GFI you can install standard receptacles down-stream.
So your scenario might end up looking something like this : You've just finished wiring a million dollar home; your GFI is located in the powder room on the first floor; the homeowner just gets out of the shower and is drying her hair in her 2nd floor master bedroom when the GFI trips..................It's a long trip downstairs to reset the GFI. If you're working for a track builder - this might be the way you'd go but you can't (morally) do this for a custom home.
Bryan's first response was exactly correct. Let's try to remember that the NEC provides us with a minimum requirement and not a design spec. If you have 5 bathrooms and want to provide separate circuits for all 5 (and eat up 5 points in the breaker panel) - that's your option !!!( But really not necessary) In fact, if you really want to "cheap out" on this (and still be legit) you can install a GFI receptacle in the first bathroom you hit, then off the load side of that GFI you can install standard receptacles down-stream.
So your scenario might end up looking something like this : You've just finished wiring a million dollar home; your GFI is located in the powder room on the first floor; the homeowner just gets out of the shower and is drying her hair in her 2nd floor master bedroom when the GFI trips..................It's a long trip downstairs to reset the GFI. If you're working for a track builder - this might be the way you'd go but you can't (morally) do this for a custom home.
- Location
- Lockport, IL
- Occupation
- Semi-Retired Electrical Engineer
Re: Dwelling unit baths
Let me wish you the best of fortune, when you eventually take the exam to convert the EIT to a PE. But in the mean time let me offer a gentle reminder that an engineer is not an electrician. As I have said several times on this forum, my two EE degrees and my seven PE licenses do not qualify me to perform electrical work in my own home. If you were to chose to go down that path, to do your own electrical work, it would cause you to be named a DIY. At that point, should you reach that point, the members of this forum would not be permitted to assist you.
- Location
- Massachusetts
Re: Dwelling unit baths
DIY
Do It Yourself
DIY
Do It Yourself
A
a.wayne3@verizon.net
Guest
Re: Dwelling unit baths
Tract homes yes 1 gfci device and hit other bath receptacles,customs imho always get a dedicated circuit for that bath (master)Other baths well depends on layout and usage.
Tract homes yes 1 gfci device and hit other bath receptacles,customs imho always get a dedicated circuit for that bath (master)Other baths well depends on layout and usage.
jimwalker
Senior Member
- Location
- TAMPA FLORIDA
Re: Dwelling unit baths
I figgure him as a DIY .What other reason would he have needed that info for ? E C here disign there own circuits or actually in most cases the crew leader.As long as he keeps it to code would never be a problem.If he was doing a load calc i see no differance how it was wired.If i was wrong in thinking him as a DIY then i am sorry,but from reading the question it seemed like he had no idea of residential codes so why is he offering a service to residential customers ?
I figgure him as a DIY .What other reason would he have needed that info for ? E C here disign there own circuits or actually in most cases the crew leader.As long as he keeps it to code would never be a problem.If he was doing a load calc i see no differance how it was wired.If i was wrong in thinking him as a DIY then i am sorry,but from reading the question it seemed like he had no idea of residential codes so why is he offering a service to residential customers ?
Re: Dwelling unit baths
wow...I didn't have an idea that my question caused such a big fuss.
Charlie..thank you for your wishes...I have already passed the PE, but in Puerto Rico there is a 2 year waiting period between the EIT and the PE, and I'm just waiting for the period to be over with. When I said that I was working from my house I meant, working on a design from my house, not for my house...I agree with you, we are engineers, not electricians, and I don't do any electricians work on my house. I am clear as to the DIY issue on the forum. I have seen many topics closed because of that reason.
jim...I guess that in your jurisdiction it is different, but in our jurisdiction, the engineer prepares the design and drawings, including the wiring plans. The contractor, while on the job, might make changes to the wiring, but only with the authorization from the designer and in full compliance with the code. The preliminary wiring plan and panelboard schedule, etc is part of the engineering/design documents in our jurisdiction and it is what the EC uses to come up with an estimate/bid.
As far why I am doing residential work....as I said I am and EIT, so I am not a know it all. I work under the supervision of a licensed PE, and he reviews everything that I do. That is the whole purpose of being an EIT...learning.
jim, to tell you the truth, I am surprised with your replies. I have been monitoring this forum for a couple of months and I had a very good opinion about you, because of your helpful replies. Now I have to say that my opinion about you has dramatically changed.
To everyone else, thank you for your comments. I went with two separate circuits. I had a 12/24 circuit panel with a couple of spare spaces, so I could afford using two of them for individual bathroom circuits.
[ October 07, 2004, 12:01 PM: Message edited by: molotov27 ]
wow...I didn't have an idea that my question caused such a big fuss.
Charlie..thank you for your wishes...I have already passed the PE, but in Puerto Rico there is a 2 year waiting period between the EIT and the PE, and I'm just waiting for the period to be over with. When I said that I was working from my house I meant, working on a design from my house, not for my house...I agree with you, we are engineers, not electricians, and I don't do any electricians work on my house. I am clear as to the DIY issue on the forum. I have seen many topics closed because of that reason.
jim...I guess that in your jurisdiction it is different, but in our jurisdiction, the engineer prepares the design and drawings, including the wiring plans. The contractor, while on the job, might make changes to the wiring, but only with the authorization from the designer and in full compliance with the code. The preliminary wiring plan and panelboard schedule, etc is part of the engineering/design documents in our jurisdiction and it is what the EC uses to come up with an estimate/bid.
As far why I am doing residential work....as I said I am and EIT, so I am not a know it all. I work under the supervision of a licensed PE, and he reviews everything that I do. That is the whole purpose of being an EIT...learning.
jim, to tell you the truth, I am surprised with your replies. I have been monitoring this forum for a couple of months and I had a very good opinion about you, because of your helpful replies. Now I have to say that my opinion about you has dramatically changed.
To everyone else, thank you for your comments. I went with two separate circuits. I had a 12/24 circuit panel with a couple of spare spaces, so I could afford using two of them for individual bathroom circuits.
[ October 07, 2004, 12:01 PM: Message edited by: molotov27 ]
Re: Dwelling unit baths
Interesting thing about the house (built in '94) I bought over two years ago. A GFCI recep in the garage controls the receps in both bathrooms, and the recep on the back patio. EC's were pinching pennies like crazy when they built the tract I live in.
For example, I installed four ceiling fans in my neighbor's house (same blue print as our house), but all of the existing switch outlets in the bedrooms were on a switch loop. Only two 15A lighting circuits in the 1450 foot home, so I pulled a new 15A home run to a can in the attic. It was much easier than fishing down the wall twice so I could grab a neutral. Typical garbage in Southern California.
[ October 07, 2004, 01:48 PM: Message edited by: royta ]
Interesting thing about the house (built in '94) I bought over two years ago. A GFCI recep in the garage controls the receps in both bathrooms, and the recep on the back patio. EC's were pinching pennies like crazy when they built the tract I live in.
For example, I installed four ceiling fans in my neighbor's house (same blue print as our house), but all of the existing switch outlets in the bedrooms were on a switch loop. Only two 15A lighting circuits in the 1450 foot home, so I pulled a new 15A home run to a can in the attic. It was much easier than fishing down the wall twice so I could grab a neutral. Typical garbage in Southern California.
[ October 07, 2004, 01:48 PM: Message edited by: royta ]
jimwalker
Senior Member
- Location
- TAMPA FLORIDA
Re: Dwelling unit baths
ROYTA: as you know codes keep changing.At that time it was the cheapist way to go.In order to win track home bids we must beat the other guys price.Yes they pinch pennys.Its sad that we must give less than we want to but its part of the game.The GC looks at it this way,save a $100 on every sub contractor and he walks away with maybe $1000.They only spend money on things the customer can see.And they know the customer will only be buying one house from them.A trick many play is to upgrade everything in the model and use interior decorator.I seen this to where the upgrades doubled the price of the base house.I worked for one that had a model i would love to owned but the stripped down one was junk.
ROYTA: as you know codes keep changing.At that time it was the cheapist way to go.In order to win track home bids we must beat the other guys price.Yes they pinch pennys.Its sad that we must give less than we want to but its part of the game.The GC looks at it this way,save a $100 on every sub contractor and he walks away with maybe $1000.They only spend money on things the customer can see.And they know the customer will only be buying one house from them.A trick many play is to upgrade everything in the model and use interior decorator.I seen this to where the upgrades doubled the price of the base house.I worked for one that had a model i would love to owned but the stripped down one was junk.
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