Safe wiring requires UL certified wire and wire nuts.
Most building codes require bathrooms to have exhaust fans to vent moisture from showers and bath tubs, plus noxious gasses that can sometimes leak around faulty drain pipes in sinks, tubs and toilets. Heat lamps, on the other hand, are a luxury some prefer to help dry the air and warm the room when stepping out of the shower. Wiring both is best done at the same time in what is called a "gang box," which controls all electrical items in a room.
Instructions
Preparing heat lamp, fan and switch box openings
1. A heat lamp requires a special bulb with a large filament.
Determine the rough opening to cut in the drywall by consulting installation instructions for the heat lamp and fan assemblies. Measure and mark holes to be cut between wall studs with a pencil. Vent fans typically are installed above or just outside shower stalls or tubs. Heat lamps usually are installed above sinks or vanities.
2. A gang box can hold two light switches in one panel.
Mark on the wall where the gang box and switches should be installed. Most building codes require the switches to be 4 feet from the floor and within 32 inches of a bathroom door. Trace the outline of the gang box on the drywall, adjacent to the existing wall stud.
3. Half-inch bits usually are called "spade bits."
Drill a 1/2-inch pilot hole in each corner of all three openings. Keep the holes inside the marks or drywall patchwork will likely have to be done later.
4. A hand-held jig saw also works for cutting wallboard.
Grip the drywall saw firmly and cut along the lines marked for the gang box and heat lamp and fan assemblies. Remove the drywall scraps and discard them.
Install coated wire
5. Uncoil sheathed wire and push one end through from the vent fan into the ceiling or attic.
6. Enter the attic and pull through a generous length of wire.
7. Cutting through shielded wire requires a lot of force and can take a couple tries.
Push wire back down through the wall where the switches will be installed. Usually light is visible where the hole for gang box has been cut.
Cut the wire, leaving at least 6 inches of wire hanging through hole in bathroom wall.
8. Example of wire strippers that don't specify wire gauge
Grip the wire cutters and cut back 2 inches of plastic shielding around wire bundle.
Locate No. 14 gauge on wire strippers. Place end of white wire into hole no more than 1/2 inch from then end. Close strippers and twist around the wire several times. Repeat for black wire.
Do this to both ends -- at gang box and vent fan openings.
9. Repeat Steps 1 through 4 for heat lamp assembly.
Install heat lamp and vent assemblies
10. Insert the vent fan assembly into the ceiling according to the manufacturer's instructions. Anchor it with screws or nails, according to the manufacturer. Connect it to the pre-installed exhaust vent.
Depending on manufacturer, there often is a mechanical unit and a decorative cover.
11. Pinch together the white wire from the sheathed wire running through the attic and the white wire installed on the fan assembly. Twist the two wires together.
Place wire nut over exposed wire, and apply downward pressure while turning clockwise. Continue turning until snug.
Repeat this step for the black wires.
12. Repeat Steps 1 and 2 for the heat lamp assembly. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions on installation.
13. At the switch box, route sets of wire from both heat lamp and fan through a hole in the gang box.
Place the gang box in the rough opening flush with back of wallboard. Secure gang box against wall stud with a nail. If no nail is included, a single screw will hold the box flush with the stud.
14. Locate the house breaker or fuse panel and flip the breaker to "Off" position for the bathroom.
15. Unpack the light switches. Keep the box because installation instructions often are printed on back.
16. Push the exposed end of the black wire into the top receiver of the switch. Some switch assemblies require a screw to be turned clockwise to clamp down on the .
Locate the existing wire for bathroom electricity and insert the exposed black wire into the bottom of switch assembly.
Pinch all three exposed white wires together and place a wire nut over the bundle. Apply downward pressure and turn clockwise until the nut is secure and all three remain in place.
17.Bridge light switches together by placing a 3-inch black wire from bottom of the fan assembly switch to the bottom of the heat lamp assembly switch. This will bring power to the heat lamp switch from the same source.
18. Match machine screws included with both light switches to holes in the gang box. Hold the machine screw against the hole with one hand and turn the screw clockwise with the screwdriver in the other hand.
Repeat for second switch.
Install switch plate with four small machine screws, and turn breaker back on.
Tags: heat lamp, black wire, light switches, heat lamp assembly, lamp assembly, rough opening, white wire