Hard-wired Lighted Bathroom Mirror Wiring
#1
04-21-19, 12:01 AM
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: United States
Posts: 3
Received 0 Votes
on
0 Posts
Hard-wired Lighted Bathroom Mirror Wiring
Hi everyone!
I hope this is the proper section to post this. I have a question about lighted mirror wiring I'm hoping someone would be able to answer.
I'm buying a new construction and planning to add a lighted bathroom mirror in the vanity area of the master bathroom. I've been trying to find out how these mirrors are powered but haven't been able to find something that explains it clearly.
If we add a GFCI outlet, would I be able to just remove the outlet and use the existing wires? Or would I need to have a junction box with wires going to a dedicated switch and leave the switch powered on? I'd prefer not to have a switch for it because I'd like the mirror to turn on by the button on the mirror only.
Thanks for the help!
I hope this is the proper section to post this. I have a question about lighted mirror wiring I'm hoping someone would be able to answer.
I'm buying a new construction and planning to add a lighted bathroom mirror in the vanity area of the master bathroom. I've been trying to find out how these mirrors are powered but haven't been able to find something that explains it clearly.
If we add a GFCI outlet, would I be able to just remove the outlet and use the existing wires? Or would I need to have a junction box with wires going to a dedicated switch and leave the switch powered on? I'd prefer not to have a switch for it because I'd like the mirror to turn on by the button on the mirror only.
Thanks for the help!
#2
04-21-19, 05:25 AM
Member
Hi, the bathroom needs a 20 Amp dedicated GFCI receptacle, the mirror should be on a lighting circuit, you can run a feed to the mirror location and just use the switch on the mirror for control, but I would probably install a wall switch and leave it on if I were doing it.
Geo
Geo
#3
04-21-19, 06:50 AM
Most lighted mirrors I've seen have a knockout in the back. Your electrician would leave the cable sticking out of the wall at an appropriate spot. Then it would be wired in and the connections made inside the mirror.
As Geo mentioned, I would probably add a second switch for it - nothing wrong with having all the lights on one switch, but I can picture walking into the bathroom and not wanting all the lights on.
It's something you could do after construction, but getting a cable from a switch or the existing lights to the mirror could require some drywall work. Nothing serious, but easier to get the mirror first with installation instructions and prep for it before everything is finished.
As Geo mentioned, I would probably add a second switch for it - nothing wrong with having all the lights on one switch, but I can picture walking into the bathroom and not wanting all the lights on.
It's something you could do after construction, but getting a cable from a switch or the existing lights to the mirror could require some drywall work. Nothing serious, but easier to get the mirror first with installation instructions and prep for it before everything is finished.
#4
04-21-19, 08:53 AM
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: United States
Posts: 3
Received 0 Votes
on
0 Posts
Got it. The builder has an option for "J-Box for Wall Mounted Fixture w/ Switch". That is what I would need, correct? Sorry if that's a silly question but I'm a total electrical newbie.
Thanks for the help Geo and Zorfdt.
Thanks for the help Geo and Zorfdt.
#5
04-21-19, 09:06 AM
Member
That’s it, I would suggest you have all the information on the mirror you plan on using so the electrician can get the cable/box in the correct location for the mirror feed.
Geo
Geo
#6
04-25-19, 08:01 PM
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: United States
Posts: 3
Received 0 Votes
on
0 Posts
I added the j-box with the switch, purchased the mirror, and measured out the space the mirror will go.
The problem now is I found out that you can only dim it from the button on the mirror. I'd rather not go through the hassle of returning it since I purchased it online and would pay shipping to return.
Would there be problems if the switch it is connected to is a dimmer switch? That is the kind of switch that the that the j-box is going to come with. Should I change the dimmer switch to a standard one?
The problem now is I found out that you can only dim it from the button on the mirror. I'd rather not go through the hassle of returning it since I purchased it online and would pay shipping to return.
Would there be problems if the switch it is connected to is a dimmer switch? That is the kind of switch that the that the j-box is going to come with. Should I change the dimmer switch to a standard one?
#7
04-25-19, 08:21 PM
Group Moderator
You could try leaving the dimmer all the way up on the mirror but there really is no guarantee that it will work correctly. Depending on the type of light maybe the dimmer can be bypassed in the mirror.
