Why is the light switch on the outside of the bathroom?
There’s a good answer: It’s to protect you. Electricity and water don’t mix. If a light switch is functional, it’s connected to a live wire. In new buildings with professional electrical installation, there’s a pretty low chance a light switch would shock you.
Can a switch be next to shower?
NEC Requirements
The NEC requires that switches not be installed within the confines of shower and tub areas, unless as part of a shower assembly. In other words, unless the switch is already built in to your shower assembly from the manufacturer, adding a switch inside a shower is a code violation.
Can a single pole switch control two lights?
The answer is yes; one switch can turn on multiple lights. You can use two ways to make your switch control multiple lights. The most common way is to daisy-chain the light fixtures through connecting them with each other and hooking the first fixture to the switch.
Can you put a normal switch in a bathroom?
They said it’s not a good idea to put an ordinary wall switch in a bathroom which can have lots of water vapour and condensation in it, and be touched by people with wet hands, because there have been reports of people feeling tingles when touching the switch.
Should the bathroom light switch be inside or outside the bathroom?
If a conventional rocker switch is installed, it must be outside the bathroom to avoid risk electrocution. Switches installed inside a bathroom tend to be a pull cord. This prevents contact of wet hands to live electricity, or even dry hands touching a wet switch.
Why do bathrooms have pull switches?
Light pulls, also known as a pull cord switch, are commonly used throughout British bathrooms because of UK building regulations. A bathroom is considered a special location for electrical instillation, mainly because of the increased risk of electrical shock it poses to users.
How far does light switch have to be from shower?
Unless installed as part of a listed tub or shower assembly, switches will not be installed in wet locations. The NEC states that a damp/wet location is within 36 inches of either the edge of a tub sink or basin or an area that is subject to spray.
How far away from a shower should a light switch be?
You should keep the receptacle at least 6 feet away from the edge of a bathtub or shower and at least 1 foot away from sinks.
How close can an electrical switch be to a water source?
According to the National Electric Code, any receptacle within 6 feet of a water source needs to be protected with a GFCI.
Is it illegal to have a plug socket in the bathroom?
Electrical sockets are permitted in bathrooms or shower rooms as long as they are located more than 3m from the edge of the bath or shower.
Where is Zone 2 in a bathroom?
Zone 2 – Is the area 600mm above or to the side of the bath and shower and still 2.25m from the floor. Zone 2 is the area least likely to get wet but, still a likeliness of the odd splashes.
Why are electrical sockets ever rarely installed in bathrooms?
Bathrooms are considered to be a special location for electrical installations because they have an increased risk of electric shock for the users, due to being so close to water.
Do bathrooms need special light switches?
Thankfully, safety standards require U.S. bathroom switches to be watertight (either rated for damp or wet locations, depending on how far it is from the shower) and connect to a circuit that only powers the bathroom.
Where should a light switch be placed in a bathroom?
Where to Install Bathroom Light Switches. It is best to locate the bathroom light switch just inside the entry door to the bathroom.
Should light switch be inside room or outside?
The National Electrical Code [NEC 210.70(A)(1)] states that “At least one switch-controlled lighting outlet shall be installed in every habitable room, kitchen, and bathroom.” Rooms other than kitchens and bathrooms are allowed to have a switched wall receptacle outlet instead of a light [NEC 210.70(A)(1)(Exception 1)]
Where should a light switch be placed in a bedroom?
Locating the Switches
By convention, most switch boxes are installed with the bottom of the box located 44 to 46 inches above the floor, this places the top of the box between 47 1/2 and 49 1/2 inches above the floor. By using these conventions, the top of the box is below the maximum 54 inches set down by the ADA.
Can a light switch be outside of a bedroom?
It can be anywhere you want unless required to be there by some other code. The NEC doesn’t specify a location as this is a design issue.
How close can a light switch be to a bathroom sink?
National Electrical Code says that the receptacle must be within 3′ of the outside edge of the basin, but not more than 12″ below the top of the basin (210.52(D)). It also states that the receptacle can be installed in the countertop, but must not be in the face-up position (406.5(E)).
Can you wire outlets and lights on the same circuit for a bathroom?
No lighting outlets or other equipment can be fed from the same circuit feeding the bathroom receptacles. For example, a one-family dwelling has two bathrooms and a duplex receptacle has been installed in each. One 20-ampere branch circuit can supply power to both bathroom receptacles but cannot feed anything else.
Can a bathroom fan and light be on the same switch?
It is not a bad idea to connect the bathroom fan and light in your home on the same switch. It is safe to operate both at the same time. Running the fan in the bathroom is one of the best ways to prevent mold from growing in your bathroom. Mold in the bathroom is a result of the condensation of hot water.
