I have a new 100W Towel Warmer to be installed in the bathroom. The towel warmer is a plug-in type but can apparently be converted to a hard wired model.
I want to install it within reach of the shower, and control it with an electronic timer near the bathroom door (6' from the shower). Power would come from the GFCI outlet next to the sink to the switch then to the towel warmer.
Questions:
- I think the location of the towel warmer being within reach of the shower is code compliant as it is outside the footprint of the shower/tub. Am I correct in thinking that this is code compliant?
- Any issues with pulling power from the bathroom GFCI to the electronic timer then to the towel warmer?
Best Answer
The code is a bit nit-picky on this, with a likely unintended consequence. First a little clarification of definitions in the NEC, a Receptacle means a receptacle, an Outlet is any point of connection of utilization equipment (fans, wall heaters, towel warmers).
NEC 210.11(C)(3)Bathroom Branch Circuits...at least one 120-volt 20-ampere branch circuit shall be provided to supply the bathroom(s) receptacle outlet(s). 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 210.21(A)(1) and (A)(2).
210.21 (A)(1) Cord-and-plug-connected Equipment Not Fastened in Place. ...not exceed 80%...
210.21 (A)(2) Utilization Equipment Fastened in Place. The total rating of utilization equipment fasted in place, other than luminaires, shall not exceed 50% of the branch circuit ampere rating...
So you could install a receptacle off the old receptacle circuit, no problem. But when you want to hard wire it then it becomes an outlet, not a receptacle outlet. So then you have to rely on the exception, the circuit has to feed just that bathroom, and total fastened in place can only total 50% of 20A, so 1200w. 100w added load probably isn't a problem.
I think the code writers probably weren't trying to make your 100w towel warmer such an issue, they were probably thinking things like baseboard heaters.