Lighting, Light Fixtures, Ceiling and Exhaust Fans - Bathroom fan wiring
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griva
02-03-05, 07:58 AM
Hello,
I am wiring the bathroom in the basement.
I ran a 20 amp separate circuit that has 6 recessed lights and 1 GFCI receptacle.
Now my husband wants to add a ceiling fan. It looks like the instruction calls for a 15 amp line AND it should be GFCI protected (too close to the shower).
Now I am a little confused here - can I just hook it up to the existing circuit?
The reason for my confusion is in that 15 amp specification - will 20 amp mess the fan up?
And if yes, why it is OK to put other lights on the 20 amp circuit?
The breaker in the main panel is for 20 amp and I do not want to reduce the amperage by pigtailing.
Thank you very much for your help
griva
I am wiring the bathroom in the basement.
I ran a 20 amp separate circuit that has 6 recessed lights and 1 GFCI receptacle.
Now my husband wants to add a ceiling fan. It looks like the instruction calls for a 15 amp line AND it should be GFCI protected (too close to the shower).
Now I am a little confused here - can I just hook it up to the existing circuit?
The reason for my confusion is in that 15 amp specification - will 20 amp mess the fan up?
And if yes, why it is OK to put other lights on the 20 amp circuit?
The breaker in the main panel is for 20 amp and I do not want to reduce the amperage by pigtailing.
Thank you very much for your help
griva
John Nelson
02-03-05, 12:12 PM
What you have now is only legal if all six of those recessed lights and the GFCI receptacle (and everything else on the circuit) are inside the bathroom. Is this the case? Must be a big bathroom.
Yes, you can install the 15-amp fan on a 20-amp circuit. And it can be on the same circuit as the bathroom receptacle as long as nothing outside this one bathroom is on that circuit. Most bathroom exhaust fan do not require GFCI protection unless the fan is directly above the shower or tub enclosure. "Close" is not usually specified, but it may be. Read the instructions carefully.
And yes, you can put 15-amp lighting on a 20-amp circuit too.
Reducing the amperage by pigtailing is not an option anyway.
Yes, you can install the 15-amp fan on a 20-amp circuit. And it can be on the same circuit as the bathroom receptacle as long as nothing outside this one bathroom is on that circuit. Most bathroom exhaust fan do not require GFCI protection unless the fan is directly above the shower or tub enclosure. "Close" is not usually specified, but it may be. Read the instructions carefully.
And yes, you can put 15-amp lighting on a 20-amp circuit too.
Reducing the amperage by pigtailing is not an option anyway.