Brand new house, when I test the GFCI in the bathroom, all the lights and fan go off. When I reset the GFCI they all come back on. Is that normal?
-
1What make and model is the bath fan, and is it mounted over the shower/tub?– ThreePhaseEelCommented Sep 5, 2020 at 23:45
-
Hello, and welcome to Home Improvement. If an answer is helpful, please click the large check mark next to it to accept. And, please take our tour so you'll know the details of contributing here.– Daniel GriscomCommented Sep 6, 2020 at 2:44
Add a comment
|
4 Answers
A GFCI receptacle has line and load connections. This is different from an ordinary receptacle that has two sets of screws that are functionally identical (as long as the magic tabs are not removed).
This may have been deliberately installed this way. But it is quite possible it was a retrofit GFCI (which is a good idea - they are important safety devices for bathrooms) and the installer didn't understand that GFCI line/load is not the same as a regular receptacle's two sets of screws.
The one catch is that if ant of the lights or the fan are above the tub/shower then they must also be GFCI protected. Assuming that is not the case:
- Turn off the breaker and make sure power is out (receptacles dead and lights/fan won't turn on)
- Open up the box and pull out the GFCI/breaker. Take pictures, in case anything goes wrong.
- Disconnect the wires from the line and load sides.
- Connect all the hot wires (these are wires that were on brass or black screws, should be black wires but not always) together with a wire nut and add a short 12 AWG black wire as a pigtail and connect that to the hot line screw.
- Connect all the neutral wires (these are wires that were on silver screws, should be white wires but not always) together with a wire nut and add a short 12 AWG white wire as a pigtail and connect that to the neutral line screw.
- Put everything back together and turn on the breaker.
- Verify that the GFCI TEST/RESET buttons work.
- Verify that the receptacles work.
- Verify that lights/fan work and that GFCI TEST does not shut off the lights/fan.
answered Sep 6, 2020 at 1:17
manassehkatz-Moving 2 Codidactmanassehkatz-Moving 2 Codidact
131k13 gold badges139 silver badges363 bronze badges
-
2If the OP's just moved into the brand new house, it might be better if he contacts the builder for any changes instead of him doing it himself.– JACKCommented Sep 6, 2020 at 14:27
-
1@JACK You're right, I didn't catch that it was a new house. A lot depends on the builder though. Plus, the builder could argue "this is to code" - i.e., valid even though "crazy". Commented Sep 6, 2020 at 14:57
-
1We don’t know if there is a switch leg where the white is a hot! That code is still allowed in many states if you don’t believe me check the NEC adoption map and notice how many states are 2 code cycles back or don’t even use the code so stating an absolute could cause a short circuit.– Ed BealCommented Sep 6, 2020 at 16:39
No, that's not normal. Usually the lights are on a separate circuit that's not GFCI protected and the outlets are on a dedicated, GFCI protected circuit.
-
2It is legal for the lights to be on the sam circuit and lights are not required to be on a GFCI . But I agree with Jack it is not normal.– Ed BealCommented Sep 5, 2020 at 23:54
-
The phantom down voter strikes again without any comments. The OP's problem is allowed but not normal in a brand new house.– JACKCommented Sep 6, 2020 at 14:04
-
The internet only electricians is my guess I have been getting many on code backed references even on answers a year old.– Ed BealCommented Sep 6, 2020 at 16:35
-
-
1Not a big deal it’s nice to get recognized, I have been reversing down votes with no explanation for a long time unless really bad– Ed BealCommented Sep 6, 2020 at 17:34
It depends what you mean by "normal".
A "GFCI" isn't just a stupid-expensive receptacle. It's actually a zone of protection that can protect other parts of the circuit.
For instance a GFCI circuit breaker protects the entire circuit.
A GFCI recep obviously has the 2 sockets in the zone of protection (kinda the whole point, eh? :) But it can also protect other parts of the circuit, the way a breaker can.
Doing this is a good thing, generally. It means one GFCI is protecting more stuff than just the 2 sockets. It is efficient use of not-so-cheap assets.
However, protecting lights inside a bathroom is "a bit overkill". Bathroom lights don't generally benefit from GFCI protection (unless they are in the shower, then yes, they do). Losing the lights when the GFCI trips is annoying and even dangerous if it's a hot curler! So those are good reasons not to put lights/fan under GFCI protection. Manassehkatz covers the basics of wiring to select whether a load is inside our outside the GFCI protected zone.
answered Sep 6, 2020 at 5:52
Harper - Reinstate MonicaHarper - Reinstate Monica
310k27 gold badges294 silver badges761 bronze badges
In answer to your question is it normal? As Harper has pointed out "it depends".
NEC 210.11(C)(3) Bathroom Branch Circuits. Such circuits shall have no other outlets. Exception: Where the 20-ampere circuit supplies a single bathroom, outlets for other equipment within the same bathroom shall be permitted to be supplied in accordance with 210.23(A)(1) and (A)(2).
If your Bathroom circuit meets this requirement it is allowed. Otherwise it should only service the bathroom outlets.
If you want to change it because you don't like it then follow manassehkatz's suggestion.
Good luck
answered Sep 6, 2020 at 13:28
-
The OP's not asking if it's allowed, only if it's normal. It's not normal for all the lights to go out when testing a GFCI in a brand new house.– JACKCommented Sep 6, 2020 at 14:10
-
@JACK - I disagree, it is normal if the contractor wired the bathrooms per 210.11(C)(3). In fact I have seen more bathrooms wired this way than the latter. Commented Sep 6, 2020 at 20:24
-
1Maybe it's regional because in the four states I've worked in, I've never seen a bathroom go completely dark when testing a GFCI installed in the bathroom.– JACKCommented Sep 6, 2020 at 20:41