bathroom outlet and lights

15 years ago

I have a rental appartment that has those floresent vanity lights with the "convience outlet" on each side od the mirror. The tenant has let the bulbs burn out and put a lamp in the bathroom on the toilet. He never said anything that the lights don't work and a lamp on a toilet seems like a shock hazard. Replacing bulbs would be on him anyhow but now the borough had to inspect and it failed of course. they want me to repair or replace the lights and install a GFCI outlet. I am not sure how to best do this. I looked for new light fixtures with the outlets and thought I would get a GFCI breaker but can't find them.

so now I want a simular light bar. it needs a switch in it. Then can I wire off the circuit the lights are on and install a 15 amp GFCI? anyone know where to find a light like I want?

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Comments (3)

spencer_electrician
15 years ago
You have to hire a licensed electrician since it is a rental apartment. You can not add a gfci outlet off of the existing wire to the vanity light unless it is a 20 amp circuit and only powers that bathroom (I highly doubt that is the case) Since your not allowed to just leave it alone, you're basically forced to do it all to code now. A 20 amp circuit has to be ran to the panel for a GFCI receptacle. You might be able to buy a cheesy wall sconce with a switch built in but at that point you might as well add a switch (perhaps on the plate with the GFCI) and power the light that way.
mike_73
Original Author
15 years ago
intresting why the inspector told me to do it that way. I did get two wall sconces at Lowes that have switches on them..... they are a nice antique brass with a nice glass shade and weren't expensive and don't look bad at all. I have them in my place and don't mind them at all. I do like the Idea of adding in a switch next to the GFCI outlet.

I do know all the breakers are 20 amp seimens breakers in a 100 amp panel so there is a possablily it is on its own. Nothing in the panel is labled so I would have to start flipping them till the right one is found and see if that's all that is off when I find the right one.
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spencer_electrician
15 years ago
You mentioned a 15 amp lighting circuit so make sure it is not actually 14 gauge 15 amp wiring over-fused with a 20 amp breaker. I still believe it wouldn't be wise to do much more than swapping the fixture without a licensed electrician. This is an actual requirement, not just my opinion. Things are much different when it is not your own home and other people live in it. It wouldn't hurt to go ahead and figure out what is on the same circuit.