Expert: Richard Taylor, AIA - 7/8/2009

Question
I am installing a large vanity, either 48" or 60".

I am intending to have two 2-gang electrical boxes installed, one on each side of the vanity top (6" center from end of vanity on each side).

One box will have double switch in one gang (vanity light and bath vent) and double receptacal in the other.

The second box will have two double receptacals.

That will be a total of 6 plugs on the vanity for a large vanity in main bath.

If 3 or 4 people use the bath, then 3-4 can be immediately gone for toothbrush charger, then you have rechargeable hair driers, even electric shavers, hair curling irons, and someone might just plug in a clock radio.  The dryer and iron draw energy, but the rechargables require little.

And we once thought a single receptacal in the vanity light was fine, while our needs keep growing.

The bottom line is that I figure 6 could be needed and more is better than less.

Someone else with an opinion thinks it's over-kill and there should be a max of 4.

What do you think?

And, NOTE.  This is a gutted room.  I can put any switches or receptacals anywhere I choose, with no limitation.

Thank you for your opinion.

Answer
David - thanks for your question!

The right number of outlets is as many as you think you need.  There's no "proper" number.

Couple of things to keep in mind, however. First, all must be on GFCI circuits (you know that already, right?).

Second, not all these appliances are likely to need to be plugged in all the time, so you might be able to cut down the number a little.

But you also don't want this bath to look like the appliance display at Best Buy, so you might want to try something that we've done many times - build cabinets next to the ends of the countertop (and/or put one in the middle between the bowls) and place some of the outlets INSIDE the cabinets.  That's a great place for shavers, toothbrush chargers, and other appliances that don't generate much heat.  Out of sight and out of the way!  In some cases, kitchen "appliance garages" work well for this also.

Hope this helps,

Richard Taylor, AIA
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