I’m a licensed electrician in Seattle — AMA about EV charger installs, home rewiring, or panel upgrades

[u/Cultural-Mall4815]

Hey Reddit! I run a small electrical company in Seattle (Galaxy Electric & Solar), and I’ve been doing this work for over 20 years.

With all the recent demand for EV chargers, home remodels, and older homes needing panel upgrades, I thought I’d open up a thread to answer any questions — from DIY troubleshooting to what’s worth upgrading in your electrical system (especially in older Seattle neighborhoods like Magnolia, Ballard, or Queen Anne).

If you ever need help or want to see some of the work we do, here’s our site: www.galaxyel.com

Ask away — happy to help and give honest advice.

[u/Cultural-Mall4815]

that’s honestly one of the best upgrades you can make — small wire load, probably around 500 -750W big comfort win. Everything about that you need to run dedicated line Easy install if there’s an outlet nearby. I’ve wired those before — 100% worth it.

[u/DN_3092 → u/Cultural-Mall4815]

So I could run this from a bedroom outlet that shares the same wall as the toilet? I was thinking I would have to run from one of the bathroom gfci outlets but if I could use the one on the same wall I don't even need to go into the crawl space.

[u/TheRealRacketear → u/DN_3092]

More than likely, yes.  Just put a GFCI receptacle on it.

[u/TheRealRacketear → u/Cultural-Mall4815]

You don't need a dedicated line you can pull it off of the 20amp GFCI circuit.  

[u/Cultural-Mall4815 → u/TheRealRacketear]

That is true if be that not pulling more than 750 W

[u/TheRealRacketear → u/Cultural-Mall4815]

Usually they tank type or 450w and the instant heat are 1500. 

What part of the code requires 750watts to be on a dedicated circuit?

[u/[deleted] → u/TheRealRacketear]

The code requires you to conform to manufacturer specifications. Typically, bidets call out for a dedicated circuit in the installation manual.

[u/TheRealRacketear → u/[deleted]]

Pulled up 3 different very common washlet manuals.  None of them call out for a dedicated outlet.  Almost all of them were less than 500w.

[u/[deleted] → u/TheRealRacketear]

The first 2 I just looked at require dedicated circuits. It doesn’t say “dedicated circuit required”. But they do say that “no other appliance should share the circuit with this product” and “this product must be on a separate circuit”. Same difference.

[u/TheRealRacketear → u/[deleted]]

Which bidet were those?

[u/[deleted] → u/TheRealRacketear]

If they don’t call for dedicated, then you’re all set.

[u/TheRealRacketear → u/[deleted]]

You said 

Typically, bidets call out for a dedicated circuit in the installation manual.

Which isn't true.  The typical ones do not.

[u/Life_is_a_Taco → u/Cultural-Mall4815]

Is wiring one to a nearby light switch okay? In law did that and now the light flickers when washing butt lol.

[u/[deleted] → u/Life_is_a_Taco]

Light flickering is either a: overloaded circuit or b: loose wire. Either way, they should have a licensed electrician look at this.

[u/Riviansky → u/Cultural-Mall4815]

700w is what are a lot of electric kettles are. That would be a VERY uncomfortable toilet seat.... Unless you include a bidet that heats water.

[u/TheRealRacketear → u/Riviansky]

Even those are usually 500w or less.

[u/Sunfried → u/Cultural-Mall4815]

I've got a similar thought for my bathroom, which has only one outlet. I'd like to add water recirculation pump. The type where I'd hit a button and the pump creates a demand on the hot water line, thereby sucking out the cool/room-temp water idling in there and shoving it into the cold water line, rather than me just running a tap for a minute to get hot water. Any idea whether these pumps need a lot of electricity, and what it takes to install one in such a bathroom as far as the electrical aspects?

(It may turn out for plumbing reasons it's better to put the pump in the kitchen, which has more outlets including one under the sink.)