Bathroom lights over sink: GFCI or not?

[Sokoloff]

In-laws house is a 1960s and existing wiring to the upstairs bath has no GFCI anywhere. There’s a combo switch-single-receptacle that controls the lights over the sink and provides a single outlet. (No fan in the room.) That circuit *is* shared with several other rooms as well.

What I intend to do is to replace the combo with a normal switch and cut a new box into the wall at calf height and put a GFCI outlet there as that would be safer than the current (no pun intended) arrangement.

My question is: should I wire the lights on the load side of the GFCI (take a 12/3 down the wall) or leave the lights off the GFCI?

(Rewiring to isolate the bath or adding a fan is off the table at this point.)

 

[tfi racing]

Not a requirement in these parts, but if it makes you feel better, GFCI protect the switch and therefore the light. Another option is just replace the existing switch with a combo switch/GFCi since you are likely doing this for free.

https://www.leviton.com/en/docs/GFSW1_Application_Note.pdf

 

[Sokoloff]

Wow. Never even thought that a GFCI-switch combo would exist. That’s surely the easiest and good enough option.

 

[MeentSS02]

Where would a GFCI protected lighting fixture be required? Any time I've ever tripped a GFCI, it's been because I've been doing something I shouldn't have been doing...if the lights had also gone out at the same time, that probably would have only made things worse.

It's certainly not a bad idea on paper, but I can't figure out if it passes the common sense test.

 

[Sokoloff]

Only thing I’m (only very slightly) worried about is touching the plumbing while changing a light bulb and taking a shock instead of darkness.

I’m leaning against, but figured I’d use the wisdom of GJ crowd.

 

[MeentSS02]

Only thing I’m (only very slightly) worried about is touching the plumbing while changing a light bulb and taking a shock instead of darkness.

I’m leaning against, but figured I’d use the wisdom of GJ crowd.

I could see that.

I'm genuinely curious...my house was built in the late 80s, and none of the lights in my bathrooms, kitchen, or laundry room where GFCIs reside are protected. Same for my garage. Just wondering if there was a recent code change, or if it was just considered a best practice.

 

[Greeny]

My 1986 home has the lights on the same circuits as the GFCI outlets. Pop an outlet and the lights are out as well.

 

[teamextreme]

Lights are not required to be on GFCI. If you do your plan of putting in a GFCI lower on the wall (not sure I'd do this as it's a strange arrangement for a bathroom to have an outlet mounted at that height) and are going to protect the lights too, you can't run a 12/3 as you suggested to it to make it work. It would need 2 runs of 12/2 as the neutrals have to be separate.

I would either enlarge the existing box to a 2-gang and install a regular switch and GFCI, no protection for lights, or install a second 1-gang cut-in box next to the existing switch with the same arrangement.

 

[Sokoloff]

Good catch; thanks!

Now I’m doubly glad I asked here rather than just diving in and having the GFCI probably trip every time I hit the lights and then not protecting them anyway...

 

[slow]

Does the light provide an outlet? I have seen that in many older homes.

 

[wssix99]

My question is: should I wire the lights on the load side of the GFCI (take a 12/3 down the wall) or leave the lights off the GFCI?

No. GFCI's trip from the appliances all the time. The last thing you want is a bad shaver to trip the GFCI and then also have it cut out your lights at the same time.

 

[dscheidt]

Where would a GFCI protected lighting fixture be required?

They're required on 120V lighting outlets (which is NEC for "light fixtures") in crawlspaces as of the 2017 code cycle. That's the only place I know of.

 

[75gmck25]

I saw a post in another forum that said the 2020 NEC revision added a requirement for GFCI lighting fixtures in garages, but I've never seen the actual reference. It will also be quite a while before any AHJ adopts the 2020 code.

Bruce

 

[Copymutt]

Be aware that adding light circuits to GFCI can false trip if you switch to some LED bulbs, just as your TV and FM radio reception can go south. RF interference.

 

[exranger06]

They're required on 120V lighting outlets (which is NEC for "light fixtures") in crawlspaces as of the 2017 code cycle. That's the only place I know of.

They're also required for light fixtures (and ceiling fans) located within 10 ft horizontally of a swimming pool, hot tub, or fountain.

I saw a post in another forum that said the 2020 NEC revision added a requirement for GFCI lighting fixtures in garages, but I've never seen the actual reference. It will also be quite a while before any AHJ adopts the 2020 code.

Bruce

I've read the 2020 NEC (and you can too here: https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/all-codes-and-standards/list-of-codes-and-standards/detail?code=70 ). There is nothing in there that says lighting fixtures in garages need GFCI.