Electrical – Is a 20A switch needed for a bathroom fan/heat/light combo unit

bathroomelectricalexhaust-fanswitch

I have a dedicated 20A circuit going to my bathroom that I plan to use to hook up a fan/heater/light/night light combo unit. I would like to use the compact combo 2 or 3 decora rocker switches. A quick search online only shows 15A switches. Do I need a 20A rated switch (specifically for the heater part of this unit)? If not, why not?

This unit does recommend a dedicated 20A circuit be used. The heater is 1500W.

Best Answer

Yes, if you have a 20A circuit for a 20A load, then you need a 20A switch. You can't put a 15A switch in there for the same reason you can't use 14 gauge wire - the conductor is to small, leading to a fire hazard.