Bathroom extra outlets

**dgbldr** · 10-31-2008, 04:12 PM

I have a customer who wants a bidet/toilet combo unit, an unusual item I haven't done before. I have to put a new receptacle near the toilet. Here is the manufacturer's requirement:

Electrical service requirements – 120 VAC, 10A, 60Hz protected by Class A GFCI.

The unit is actually rated at about 600w. Is there a code provision that would prevent us from hooking it into the existing bath receptacle circuit? My sparky does not think we need a new home run and I can't find any pertinent provision in the code to contradict him.

Edit: the toilet/bidet is not direct-connect, it uses an ordinary cord and plug.

**Happy Home** · 10-31-2008, 06:21 PM

I'm not a sparkey but even if the existing home run is 20 amp, you need 10 amps for the bidet, this only leaves 10 amps for a hair dryer etc.

Don't you put your customer at an inconvenience splitting the circuit that way ? They / you may wish that a new circuit was run.

**dgbldr** · 10-31-2008, 07:36 PM

No, that's not an issue. Customer does not use hair dryers and would not be likely to dry both ends of his body at the same time anyway :)

This is strictly a code issue. I've left a message to the inspector, but I won't hear back till Monday and I need to plan the job this weekend.

**David Meiland** · 10-31-2008, 07:46 PM

You can get what, ~4000 watts out of a 20A circuit? I would not think a dedicated circuit would be needed unless there is a lot of lighting in the room. Do the instructions for the unit call for one?

**dgbldr** · 10-31-2008, 07:58 PM

No, David, the only requirements by the manufacturer are stated in my OP: 120V, 10A GFI. As I said, strictly a code question.

**Speedy Petey** · 10-31-2008, 08:14 PM

Originally Posted by David Meiland

You can get what, ~4000 watts out of a 20A circuit?

Actually no. You can get 2400 watts.
How did you figure 4000 watts???

**Speedy Petey** · 10-31-2008, 08:15 PM

Originally Posted by dgbldr

This is strictly a code issue. I've left a message to the inspector, but I won't hear back till Monday and I need to plan the job this weekend.

You absolutely CAN put the toilet receptacle on the bathroom receptacle circuit as long as that one circuit does not leave that one bathroom.

**dgbldr** · 10-31-2008, 08:56 PM

Thanks Petey. I do know the dedicated bath circuit requirement, that's no problem here.

**David Meiland** · 10-31-2008, 09:51 PM

Originally Posted by Speedy Petey

Actually no. You can get 2400 watts.
How did you figure 4000 watts???

I could be confusing myself, thinking about running (2) 1500-watt heaters off of a single 20A 240 circuit with a little room to spare, or my 4000W Dayton space heater. Different with 120.

**dgbldr** · 10-31-2008, 11:34 PM

OK, how about this from IRC E3602.3:

"Fifteen- and 20-ampere branch circuits. A 15- or
20-ampere branch circuit shall be permitted to supply lighting units, or other utilization equipment, or a combination of both.
The rating of any one cord-and-plug-connected utilization
equipment not fastened in place shall not exceed 80 percent of the branch-circuit ampere rating.

The total rating of utilization equipment fastened in place, other than lighting fixtures, shall not exceed 50 percent of the branch-circuit ampere rating where lighting units, cord-and-plug-connected utilization equipment not fastened in place, or both, are also supplied."

Since my toilet is fastened in place, the last paragraph applies. So basically the 10A toilet on a 20A circuit is barely OK, but the same toilet cannot be added to a 15A circuit.

Correct?

**jwelectric** · 11-01-2008, 03:12 PM

Originally Posted by dgbldr

OK, how about this from IRC E3602.3:

"Fifteen- and 20-ampere branch circuits. A 15- or
20-ampere branch circuit shall be permitted to supply lighting units, or other utilization equipment, or a combination of both.
The rating of any one cord-and-plug-connected utilization
equipment not fastened in place shall not exceed 80 percent of the branch-circuit ampere rating.

The total rating of utilization equipment fastened in place, other than lighting fixtures, shall not exceed 50 percent of the branch-circuit ampere rating where lighting units, cord-and-plug-connected utilization equipment not fastened in place, or both, are also supplied."

Since my toilet is fastened in place, the last paragraph applies. So basically the 10A toilet on a 20A circuit is barely OK, but the same toilet cannot be added to a 15A circuit.

Correct?

Correct .

**goldstar** · 11-05-2008, 06:15 AM

Hi All,

Sorry to just drop in on the thread like this but what are the chances that the woman (and I feel comfortable assuming that it will be a woman) will be using the bidet and a hair dryer, curling iron or electric toothbrush at the same time ? I've had several instances where I've installed a receptacle off the load side of the bathroom GFI receptacle for items like this, a seat warmer or a towel warmer and there has never been an issue. As Petey mentioned, as long as the 20 amp circuit does not leave the bathroom and supply any other area it is acceptable.

**dgbldr** · 11-05-2008, 07:46 PM

No it's not just a woman. In some cultures it is considered proper hygiene to wash after using the toilet, for both genders. That is the case here.

**goldstar** · 11-06-2008, 05:11 AM

Thanks for the update but more information than we needed to know. Good luck with this.

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