ask the electrician
Electrician Training Electrical Certification wiring recessed light fixtures Electrical Wiring Electrical Troubleshooting and Electrical Repairs wire outdoor light fixture Home Electrical Wiring Diagrams
wiring home generator and transfer switch wiring a 220 volt range cord outlet Wiring for GFCI Outlets Wiring Outlets and a Switched Outlet Wiring and Installing Ceiling Fans and Remote Controls wire dimmer switch wiring diagrams for switches wiring a dryer cord and 220 outlet circuit breaker panel
Electrical Wire and Cable


Bathroom Light Switch Wiring Diagrams


Where do all the wires connect to a light switch? Electrical Wiring for a Bathroom Light Switch with Wiring Diagrams.



Home Electrical Wiring Video

Hooking Up a Generator to the House Panel
Using a Circuit Breaker Interlock Kit
for Backup Power

NOTE: A List of All my Helpful Videos
Will Display at the End of This Video
So Keep Watching So I Can Help You Wire it Right!

Check out my YouTube Channel:
» AskTheElectrician «
and Subscribe!

Learn more about Home Electrical Wiring
with my online Video Course:
Basic Home Electrical Wiring by Example

How to Wire a Bathroom Light Switch
Electrical Question #1: Where do all the wires connect to the light switch?

I’m replacing a light fixture in a bathroom.

This electrical question came from Trudy, a Homeowner from Vernon Hills, Illinois.
Electrical Question #2:

This electrical wiring question came from Curt in West Bend, Wisconsin.

Dave’s Reply:
Thank you for your home electrical questions.

Electrical Wiring for a Bathroom Light Switch with Wiring Diagrams

Application: Wiring a Bathroom Light and Exhaust Fan.
Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced. This electrical repair project is best performed by a Licensed Electrical Contractor or Certified Electrician.
Tools Required: Basic Electricians Pouch Hand Tools and Voltage Tester.
Estimated Time: Depends on personal level experience, ability to work with hand tools and electrical troubleshooting skills.
Precaution: Identify the circuit, turn it OFF and then Tag it with a Note before performing any wiring or inspections or repairs.

The Following will assist you with your Bathroom Light Switch

Wiring Diagrams for Light Switches
wiring-diagram

wiring diagrams
home electrical

Wiring Diagrams Directory

You identified your project to be about Light Switch Wiring,
so you might find this information useful:

Light Switch Wiring
Light Switch Wiring

Wiring Bathroom Exhaust Fans
install-bath-exhaust-fan


The following may also be helpful for you:

Dave's Guide to Home Electrical Wiring:

» You Can Avoid Costly Mistakes! «

Wire It Right with the help of my Illustrated Wiring Book
Great for any Home Wiring Project.
  electrical wiring  

Complete Guide to Home Electrical Wiring

Perfect for Homeowners, Students,
Handyman, Handy Women, and Electricians
Includes:
Wiring GFCI Outlets
Wiring Home Electric Circuits
120 Volt and 240 Volt Outlet Circuits
Wiring Light Switches
Wiring 3-Wire and 4-Wire Electric Range
Wiring 3-Wire and 4-Wire Dryer Cord and Dryer Outlet
Troubleshoot and Repair Electrical Wiring
Wiring Methods for Upgrading Electrical Wiring
NEC Codes for Home Electrical Wiring
....and much more.


Learn more about Home Electrical Wiring
with my Online Video Course:
Basic Home Electrical Wiring by Example


Be Careful and Be Safe - Never Work on Energized Circuits!
Consult your Local Building Department about Permits and Inspections for all Electric Wiring Projects.

Electrical Tips to Help You Wire it Right

The Safest Way to Test Electrical Devices and Identify Electric Wires!

The Non-Contact Electrical Tester
This is a testing tool that I have had in my personal electrical tool pouch for years, and is the first test tool I grab to help identify electrical wiring. It is a Non-contact tester that I use to easily Detect Voltage in Cables, Cords, Circuit Breakers, Lighting Fixtures, Switches, Outlets and Wires. Simply insert the end of the tester into an outlet, lamp socket, or hold the end of the tester against the wire you wish to test. Very handy and easy to use.

The Quickest Way to Check for Faulty Electrical Wiring!

The Plug-In Outlet Tester
This is the first tool I grab to troubleshoot a problem with outlet circuit wiring. This popular tester is also used by most inspectors to test for power and check the polarity of circuit wiring.
It detects probable improper wiring conditions in standard 110-125 VAC outlets Provides 6 probable wiring conditions that are quick and easy to read for ultimate efficiency Lights indicate if wiring is correct and indicator light chart is included Tests standard 3-wire outlets UL Listed Light indicates if wiring is incorrect Very handy and easy to use.

Strip Off Wire Insulation without Nicking and Damaging the Electric Wire!

The Wire Stripper and Wire Cutter
My absolute favorite wire stripping tool that I have had in my personal electrical tool pouch for years, and this is the tool I use to safely strip electrical wires.
This handy tool has multiple uses:
The wire gauges are shown on the side of the tool so you know which slot to use for stripping insulation.
The end of the tool can be used to grip and bend wire which is handy for attaching wire onto the screw terminals of switches and outlets..

The wire stripper will work on both solid and stranded wire. This tool is Very Handy and Easy to Use.


More articles about Light Switch and Home Electrical Wiring:
« Previous Next »
Installing an Underground Electrical Service and Pull Box How to Install and Wire a Baseboard Heater


FAQs Frequently Asked Questions and Comments

6 Responses to “Bathroom Light Switch Wiring Diagrams”
  1. John Robinette says:

    How do i wire a bathroom exhaustfan/light to a 2 way switch? I want to be able to turn on the light & exhaust seperately. It had an old heater fan in the ceiling with one switch operating the heater only.

  2. Dave Rongey says:

    If there was only one switch for the original heater fan then an additional cable will be required for the second switch to enable independent switching capability.
    Dave

  3. Tommy says:

    OK here goes. I am changing a light fixture in my bathroom. in the box behind the light I find 4 sets of wires. I notice that when I turn the power off, it shuts down the the lights in my living room, dining room, and kitchen, how do I find and connect the right wire for just that bathroom light with all these other one meeting in that one place?

  4. Dave Rongey says:

    Hi Tommy,
    I always recommend that when changing out a light fixture that you only work with the wires that are connected to the existing light fixture, and then the wiring is straight forward. But if for some reason all of the wiring have been taken apart then a voltage tester will need to be used to identify what all of the wires are used for. What we typically discover is that there is only one cable that is the power source, one (or more) cables that travel out to the living room, dining room and kitchen, and then we discover that on cable may be used for switching to hot leg of the circuit for the light fixture. I would suggest taking a look at the wiring diagrams for light switches (as shown above) which will help you understand some of the different wiring scenarios.
    I hope this helps you,
    Dave

  5. Joe says:

    My bathroom has a wall switch with three rocker switches. One switch operates a light over tub, but also operates a light in the toilet room. The other two switches operate other lights in the bathroom. The toilet room also has a rocker switch that also turns on toilet room and light over tub.

    What needs to be done to just have the toilet room operate just the toilet room and not the tub light, and also the main wall switch so it just turns on the tub light and not toilet light?
    Thanks

  6. Dave Rongey says:

    Hi Joe,
    To change from two switches to a single switch to control a light the wiring configuration will need to be changed at both switch box locations. The exact wiring connections will depend on how the circuit is now configured. Therefore, the existing circuit power, and the wiring used for the switching process will all need to be identified before making the conversion to the new switch setup. Now doubt, this can be done as you have described, however the identification of the wiring must first be understood in order to make the wiring changes. Check out the Wiring Diagrams for Switches that I have provided to assist you further.
    I hope this helps,
    Dave