Can Bathroom Lights And Receptacles Be On The Same Circuit

It is my interpretation that only one bathroom is allowed on a circuit.

Can bathroom lights and receptacles be on the same circuit. It claims bathroom receptacles must not be on same circuit as other room and then i wondered if the light counted as a receptacle or if that only meant outlets. A 15 amp circuit is minimum but this is often a 20 amp circuit especially if there is a heat lamp integrated into this circuit. Q the code reference in question specifies one 1 20a circuit for bathroom receptacles. If there are outlets on the same circuit then try and keep the total of outlets and lights to a maximum of 15.

Lynn underwood an engineer licensed contractor and building code official in norfolk va responds. You want to avoid wiring the fixtures and the receptacles on the same electrical circuit. In some areas the lighting and receptacles must be on separate circuits so that if a receptacle trips the circuit breaker the lights won t go out. But in reality the number of devices depends on how many amps each device pulls.

No such requirement here. My exhaust fan is going to be low draw i imagine most modern day fans are. Light fixtures and wall switches must be on a separate circuit. I have generally run the lighting on 15 amp circuits and receptacles on 20 amp circuits anyway.

Does the code say one bathroom per circuit a the main rule of section 210 11 c 3 requires a 20a circuit that is dedicated to bathroom receptacle outlets. A 15a 125v receptacle is rated for 20a feed through so it can be used for this purpose 210 21 b 3. This all accords with the national electrical code. Good to know just was confused by code.

Zenfixit says this changes when a 20a circuit powers a single bathroom. A 20 amp receptacle circuit for plug in appliances. Outlets for other equipment within the same bathroom can then work on that same circuit. However there s usually a special circuit for lighting because lighting pulls very little current and so much thinner wire can be used and so a separate lighting.

Yes of course for example desk lamps and other loads can be on the same circuit. Section e3703 4 of the 2015 irc requires that at least one 20 amp circuit supply the bathroom s gfci protected outlets. We are seeing modular homes with more than one bathroom connected on one circuit. All receptacles must be afci and gfci protected either by circuit breakers or individual receptacles that offer afci and gfci protection.

Option 2 210 11 c 3 exception. Sometimes the vent fan light over a tub or shower ends up on bath gfci but any other lighting in the bathroom is usually on a 15 amp circuit with lighting for other rooms in that same area of the house.