How many Bathrooms on a circuit?

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e57 said:
This stems from a 2-1/2 bath circuit of recepticals only as I was running out of spaces in the panel, another sub was gonna be a hard sell - my boss (A women) thought it was against the code to do it this way, and not one for each. Of which I corrected her on, and sent her this page as back up on the opinion. However, my arguemnt was how often would you have 3 hair dyers going at the same time? Her reply was simular to Bill W. "3 women going out - thats 3 hair dryers at once - thats not un-common!" So now it looks like it will be company policy...
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Three women going out???? Are they hot?
WHERE? When?
Hey Celtic? Want to go?
 
"I tell the HO, Code says dedicated GFCI 20 amp, one per bathroom. They love it......"


It being a code requirement is an out-right lie..... (Unless using the exception and having lighting on the same circuit. Where you would be required to have one each.) So mabe it a truth bender item....
 
77401 said:
Three women going out???? Are they hot?
WHERE? When?
Hey Celtic? Want to go?
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Sure...they will tell 3 friends ~ we'll install some more GFI's and go out on some more dates...they will tell 3 friends......:D :D :D
 
Am I a liar if the NEC creates a minimun safety standard & I write my own code?
Who says I may not write my own company code as long as it meets the NEC?

77401 LEC (Local electrical code) Code Art # 3
Dedicated 20 amp GFCI for each bathroom. No lighting or other rooms may be allowed on this circuit.
Except #1 any other additional receptacles located in the same bathroom may be installed on the dedicated circuit.
 
If you write your own check, I guess you can write whatever you like... ;)

Talking to the wife, to get the female prespective, as this code is not for men.... (What man needs 20A, unless he uses a planer as a shaver, or bathroom tool shed...) Wifes says: Who uses curling irons? Thats a thing of the past. Hair dryers ruin your hair...
 
bathroom circuits

bathroom circuits

We generally wire using the exception: one circuit serves one bathroom. This way, we feed the bathroom light(s) off the load side of the GFCI and someone using a light switch is protected as well.

Question: From my understanding of the code, it is required that lights in a bedroom have AFCI protection. Not that this is a perfect analogy, but shouldn't the light switch in a bathroom have GFCI protection ?
 
tufts46argled said:
Are you not being a bit dishonest!
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After a while, you get used to it. :D

Anyway, I don't really see the issue with the entire bath circuit being loaded off the first GFCI. Three hair dryers operating simulatenously will as likely kick a breaker as trip a GFCI. Since I can't put a panel in each bathroom to compensate for this inconvenience, I reckon folks can either learn to share or live with wet hair.

I've lived with a woman for eight years, and the only time I hear a hair dryer is after a dog gets a bath. There's no predicting how an electrical system will be used, so I don't see the sense in overcompensating without being requested to. People often volunteer their habits at the rough, and then I will oblige them at no extra charge (within reason).

I guess it would be accurate to say I wire to avoid a callback, not to survive an estrogen-driven holocaust. ;)
 
Re: my question about bathroom switch being protected by GFI, 77401 asked:

"Why? Should it be GFCI protected?"

(Sorry, I'm not nimble yet at posting features such as quotes)

Isn't there a risk of fault current passing through tacky metal cover plate (retrofitted by customer, of course) through wet naked human standing on wet tile floor ?
 
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jeff43222 said:
I wouldn't put more than one bathroom on a circuit unless a customer insisted on it, and I would only do so if it was the "least worst" option.

jwelectric said:
Would you be so kind as to give us a reason.
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My reason is no different from what the others have said: too great a chance that the circuit will be overloaded on a regular basis. I sure don't want to have the customer call me back and tell me the circuit keeps tripping, only for me to tell them that I'm not surprised because I put all the bathrooms on the same circuit. They then ask me why I did that, and I stammer something about it being slightly cheaper. They won't call me back the next time they need work done because I'd look like someone who doesn't design things well.

I design my installations so that overload will only happen in rare circumstances. I know I can't guarantee a circuit with receptacles won't be overloaded, but I can design one so that it's very unlikely.
 
flashlight said:
Isn't there a risk of fault current passing through tacky metal cover plate (retrofitted by customer, of course) through wet naked human standing on wet tile floor ?
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Isn't the metal plate grounded through the screws to the switch ? (404.9(B) )
 
celtic said:
Isn't the metal plate grounded through the screws to the switch ? (404.9(B) )
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Well, sure it is, but since a bathroom is a a wet area... Suppose corrosion
compromises the conductivity of the screws. Suppose the ground is compromised (some future remodeler loosens bx cable from the panel.) Suppose the homeowner installed metal plate with plastic grommit (don't laugh! this stuff happens!) Now, in case of fault current, the best path to ground is through wet human.

Point is, GFCI protection here can only help, right ?
 
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Sure, it can help, but is unnecessary.

The danger of receptacles in a bathroom is the things we plug into them, IMO. You can't drop a hair dryer into a sink that is plugged into a switch. ;)
 
flashlight said:
Re: my question about bathroom switch being protected by GFI, 77401 asked:

"Why? Should it be GFCI protected?"

(Sorry, I'm not nimble yet at posting features such as quotes)

Isn't there a risk of fault current passing through tacky metal cover plate (retrofitted by customer, of course) through wet naked human standing on wet tile floor ?
Click to expand...


Not if the switch is properly grounded. If so, there should be no more risk than standing on the wet tile and touching the faucet.
 
flashlight said:
Well, sure it is, but since a bathroom is a a wet area... Suppose corrosion
compromises the conductivity of the screws. Suppose the ground is compromised (some future remodeler loosens bx cable from the panel.) Suppose the homeowner installed metal plate with plastic grommit (don't laugh! this stuff happens!) Now, in case of fault current, the best path to ground is through wet human.

Point is, GFCI protection here can only help, right ?
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We'll have to go back to the beginning here:
90.1 Purpose.
(A) Practical Safeguarding.
The purpose of this Code is the practical safeguarding of persons and property from hazards arising from the use of electricity.

(B) Adequacy.
This Code contains provisions that are considered necessary for safety. Compliance therewith and proper maintenance will result in an installation that is essentially free from hazard but not necessarily efficient, convenient, or adequate for good service or future expansion of electrical use.
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The other alternative is more nominations for the [Darwin Awards]
 
77401 said:
Its OK Woorry wart
Maybe you should get on a code panel. & help to increase the number of pages in the NEC.
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OK, I guess I deserved that one. : )

celtic said:
The other alternative is more nominations for the [Darwin Awards]
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And that one. But I still can't help worrying about the fool customer removing a busted lamp from an energized shower can with a potato.
 
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