e57
Senior Member
- Location
- San Francisco, CA
Of course they do - because sans a GFI they will most certainly die - especially if changing a light bulb naked with the water running.
GFI protection for recessed light over jacuzzi tub?
- Thread starter DEC01
- Start date
- Status
M. D.
Senior Member
Of course they do - because sans a GFI they will most certainly die - especially if changing a light bulb naked with the water running.
You know there have been many,..many attempts to either remove wall lights from that zone or require that they be gfci protected,.. and none of the folks making the proposals ,..which I have read ,.offer any evidence that there is such a risk...
Joe Shmoe in shower cleaning self ........
I had better not don't want to get my... self banned
- Location
- Massachusetts
Wow how helpful to the OP. :roll:
GFI protection for recessed light over jacuzzi tub?
I agree with you neighbor. Say hi to your dad for me.
I agree with you neighbor. Say hi to your dad for me.
dcspector
Senior Member
- Location
- Burke, Virginia
Well now......I thought it was....Ken posted examples of using brand names instead of using the proper terminology...ie Proper would be hydromassage....another example are all weatherproof, raintight fittings Myers Hub?.....No! the terminology must be correct in order to make a proper decision based on the NEC's terminology. What did you contribute to this thread besides that?
K8MHZ
Senior Member
- Occupation
- Electrician
This came up several years ago on a re-mod I was doing, the inspector wanted me to GFCI a light over a tub. He asked me what kind of light I was going to use and I did not know at the time. I complied as he wished. When the light/fan combo came there was a notation that it was not listed for use in a damp location without a GFCI. Some didn't have such a requirement. The inspector said that even if the fixture is not labeled to be used with a GFCI, how was he to know what type of replacement may be used.
Putting the circuit on a GFCI was no problem. I may also add that the light was low enough to be touched easily if a person was standing in the tub. To me, this is one of those things that makes some sense and is easier to comply with than argue about.
I foresee that all circuits will be required to be GFCI/AFCI protected in the future. To me it's just good installation practice to provide GFCI protection for all devices located in a damp or wet area.
Putting the circuit on a GFCI was no problem. I may also add that the light was low enough to be touched easily if a person was standing in the tub. To me, this is one of those things that makes some sense and is easier to comply with than argue about.
I foresee that all circuits will be required to be GFCI/AFCI protected in the future. To me it's just good installation practice to provide GFCI protection for all devices located in a damp or wet area.
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
I guess you haven't read the 2008 code on arc faults-- you are no psychic we are almost there already.
- Location
- Massachusetts
Your right, the proper terminology is important, none of what he posted was the proper NEC terminology. 680.2 seems more helpful.
Nothing ............ how about you?
dcspector
Senior Member
- Location
- Burke, Virginia
Pierre C Belarge
Senior Member
- Location
- Westchester County, New York
Don't worry Greg...most of us can see what you contributed, at that point you do not need to justify your actions. Like teachers, I would think the mods should set the example.
Hydromassage tubs come in many styles, shapes and sizes. The best way to identify one in the field is to read the label on the unit. It will say somewhere on the label - Hydromassage.
We see this topic of protecting the light over the hydromassage tub with a GFCI device quite often.
My thoughts run something like this.
If taking a bath or whatever it is called when in the hydromassage one feels compelled to reach up and deal with the fixture, so be it.
In regards to feeling good as to protecting the fixture, think about bidding a development with say 300 homes and there are 2 hydromassage tubs in each home. That could mean at least 300, possibly 600 GFCI protective devices added to the overall price. That could be an unnecessary substantial difference in the bid package, especially if no other bidder is doing so.
Also, what about all of the outdoor fixtures we have installed over the years, including post lights, walk lights, wall sconces, etc... Why not GFCI protect them? Because, generally it is not really necessary. if you want to though, I see no reason not to either.
Hydromassage tubs come in many styles, shapes and sizes. The best way to identify one in the field is to read the label on the unit. It will say somewhere on the label - Hydromassage.
We see this topic of protecting the light over the hydromassage tub with a GFCI device quite often.
My thoughts run something like this.
If taking a bath or whatever it is called when in the hydromassage one feels compelled to reach up and deal with the fixture, so be it.
In regards to feeling good as to protecting the fixture, think about bidding a development with say 300 homes and there are 2 hydromassage tubs in each home. That could mean at least 300, possibly 600 GFCI protective devices added to the overall price. That could be an unnecessary substantial difference in the bid package, especially if no other bidder is doing so.
Also, what about all of the outdoor fixtures we have installed over the years, including post lights, walk lights, wall sconces, etc... Why not GFCI protect them? Because, generally it is not really necessary. if you want to though, I see no reason not to either.
tonyou812
Senior Member
- Location
- North New Jersey
people like to group high hats with this requirement probably because most bath exhaust require gfci's by the manufacurer
e57
Senior Member
- Location
- San Francisco, CA
You know there have been many,..many attempts to either remove wall lights from that zone or require that they be gfci protected,.. and none of the folks making the proposals ,..which I have read ,.offer any evidence that there is such a risk...
Joe Shmoe in shower cleaning self ........
" Oh ,..Goodness me ,the light has burnt out,... hold on a minuet ,..I'll just pull a lamp out of my... "
I had better not don't want to get my... self banned
Really it is not a laughing matter - the Darwin awards are full of people doing amazing things. And more power (no pun intended) to them... But sillier codes have been thrown in the book for sillier reasons. Think about the reasons why those other things are not allowed....
Anyway....
M. D.
Senior Member
Oh ,..I'm sure they will either not be allowed or require gfci in the not too distant future,.. but pointing to other sillier codes as an excuse for even more sillier code is,...well ,...silly:smile:.
I have noticed that when a set of rules becomes "silly" then enforcement becomes whimsical .... the silliness acts to undermine the purpose for the set of rules in the first place.. A back yard game played by children or the NEC used by adults ,..it makes little difference
dcspector
Senior Member
- Location
- Burke, Virginia
Great post Pierre and agreed.
- Status