I'm building a bathroom in my basement based on installed rough-ins. I shall
need lighting and a low output outlet (for toothbrush, hair dryer, etc.).

Is it allowed to use ONE circuit for both lighting and low output outlets? I
shall use a 15 amp breaker and wiring.


Yes, you can use the same circut for the lights and outlets,
as long as that circut doesn't serve anything BUT that
bathroom. No, you can't use a 15-amp circut, it has to
be 20A. This has nothing to do with arc welders,
which typically pull 50-60A. It has to do with hair-dryers,
which frequently pull between 14 and 17 amps.

If you've got lights, exhaust fans, a hair-dryer, some electric
thingus to clean your contacts, a radio.. you can run up over
15A in a hurry.

Peter.

"PVR" wrote in message
...
I'm building a bathroom in my basement based on installed rough-ins. I
shall
need lighting and a low output outlet (for toothbrush, hair dryer, etc.).

Is it allowed to use ONE circuit for both lighting and low output outlets?
I
shall use a 15 amp breaker and wiring.

Peter.




You can just use one circuit.

But for the cost of a bit of extra wire, run to two, or more.

If you plug in a shorted hairdrier and trip the breaker, you may appreciate
not being left in the dark.


AMUN

"PVR" wrote:
I'm building a bathroom in my basement based on installed rough-ins. I shall
need lighting and a low output outlet (for toothbrush, hair dryer, etc.).

Is it allowed to use ONE circuit for both lighting and low output outlets? I
shall use a 15 amp breaker and wiring.

Per the 2002 NEC, Section 210.11(C)(3), Exception,: "Where the 20-ampere circuit
supplies a single bathroom, outlets for other equipment within the same bathroom
shall be permitted to be supplied in accordance with 210.23(A)."

Translation: if you bump this up to a 20A circuit, it's permitted (subject to
whims of your local code, of course).

"Goedjn" wrote in message
...


I'm building a bathroom in my basement based on installed rough-ins. I
shall
need lighting and a low output outlet (for toothbrush, hair dryer, etc.).

Is it allowed to use ONE circuit for both lighting and low output
outlets? I
shall use a 15 amp breaker and wiring.


Yes, you can use the same circut for the lights and outlets,
as long as that circut doesn't serve anything BUT that
bathroom. No, you can't use a 15-amp circut, it has to
be 20A. This has nothing to do with arc welders,
which typically pull 50-60A.

My wire feed welder works on 120v and less than 20 amps, usually. Even works
on a GFCI circuit without tripping. Unless I get carried away


It has to do with hair-dryers,
which frequently pull between 14 and 17 amps.

If you've got lights, exhaust fans, a hair-dryer, some electric
thingus to clean your contacts, a radio.. you can run up over
15A in a hurry.

Peter.

My wire feed welder works on 120v and less than 20 amps, usually. Even works
on a GFCI circuit without tripping. Unless I get carried away


Cool.. What kind is it, where can I get one, and how heavy a weld
will it do?

wrote in message
...
On Wed, 21 Sep 2005 11:29:19 -0400, "PVR"

Yup, just make it a 20a

WRONG code requires dedicated, GFCI protected circuit for outlet, separte
from lighting. Lighting can be shared with other circuits but the outlet
must be dedicated (can have more than one outlet in the bathroom on that
circuit tho).

-Tim

"PVR" wrote in message
...
I'm building a bathroom in my basement based on installed rough-ins. I
shall need lighting and a low output outlet (for toothbrush, hair dryer,
etc.).

A hairdryer is not a "low-output" device. It's one of the single-most power
hungry devices you'll plug in to a household outlet -- more than your
washing machine, refrigerator, vacuum cleaner... Many pull 15A.

-Tim

"Tim Fischer" wrote in message
...

wrote in message
...
On Wed, 21 Sep 2005 11:29:19 -0400, "PVR"

Yup, just make it a 20a

WRONG code requires dedicated, GFCI protected circuit for outlet, separte
from lighting. Lighting can be shared with other circuits but the outlet
must be dedicated (can have more than one outlet in the bathroom on that
circuit tho).

Well at least that's what the electrical inspector told me when we did a
bathroom remodel in 2000. Someone else quoted the 2002 code elsewhere in
this thread, which seems to allow the single circuit -- so maybe they
relaxed the requirement?

-Tim

The NEC is constantly changing. You can wire the bathrooms either method
currently



"Tim Fischer" wrote in message
...
"Tim Fischer" wrote in message
...

wrote in message
...
On Wed, 21 Sep 2005 11:29:19 -0400, "PVR"

Yup, just make it a 20a

WRONG code requires dedicated, GFCI protected circuit for outlet, separte
from lighting. Lighting can be shared with other circuits but the outlet
must be dedicated (can have more than one outlet in the bathroom on that
circuit tho).

Well at least that's what the electrical inspector told me when we did a
bathroom remodel in 2000. Someone else quoted the 2002 code elsewhere in
this thread, which seems to allow the single circuit -- so maybe they
relaxed the requirement?

-Tim

Why is doing the wiring? If you are then put in two lines.
If it was an electician and they wanted alot more for a second line...

OR

You dont have enough space in your meter box then only put in one.

I personally used two lines in my bathroom. One
takes care of the lights (4 in the ceiling and 7 or 8 in the vanity)
and
also the exhaust fan.
The other is dedicated to JUST the outlet (20 amp gfci)

If you do the math its amazing how much power a simple hair dryer
can pull out of an outlet..... 110volts X 15amps = 1650 watts.
Many hair driers use more than that. (at least my wifes does) so
at 20 amps X 110volts we have 2200 watts.

It sucks if you have to do things over again down the road. I rather
just get it right once and forall.