# Adding an electric outlet to an existing circuit. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 20, 2019, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adding-an-electric-outlet-to-an-existing-circuit/843684 "2019-11-20T02:20:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2019, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adding-an-electric-outlet-to-an-existing-circuit/843684/21 "2019-11-21T23:07:21Z")
> [@harmonicamoon](#): > > I was an electrician for over 30 years, mostly industrial. I know nothing about tile work. I wouldn’t do this gig. But, I am sure there are electricians that could do it. > > Good luck. Because you consider it unsafe? Or for some other reason? ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2019, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adding-an-electric-outlet-to-an-existing-circuit/843684/22 "2019-11-21T23:12:38Z")
> [@iamthewalrus\_3](#): > > Because you consider it unsafe? Or for some other reason? I don’t have the tools or experience working with tile. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2019, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adding-an-electric-outlet-to-an-existing-circuit/843684/23 "2019-11-22T00:27:29Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > There’s a lot of overlap in the different sections, but it basically comes down to all outlets in a bathroom have to be GFCI and **can’** be within 30 inches of your tub/shower. Can’t…that should say can’t. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2019, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adding-an-electric-outlet-to-an-existing-circuit/843684/24 "2019-11-22T02:14:57Z")
> [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](#): > > NEC in the US does not limit the number of outlets on a circuit in a residential setting. Canadian code apparently does. But you don’t want to have so many outlets that you create the likelihood of exceeding the breaker rating. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2019, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adding-an-electric-outlet-to-an-existing-circuit/843684/25 "2019-11-22T03:42:18Z")
Thanks for all of the input. The guy that I hope to have do the work is a retired electrician/maintenance mechanic that now does general handyman work so hopefully he’ll have some experience with tile. ---
**Author:** ![GMANCANADA](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gmancanada/32/2837_2.png) [@GMANCANADA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GMANCANADA)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2019, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adding-an-electric-outlet-to-an-existing-circuit/843684/26 "2019-11-22T04:54:58Z")
As most everyone notes it’s pretty trivial as long as the boxes are between the same wall studs. I did the same thing earlier this year except my wall was plaster. I’m handy, but I only do basic electrical (White to white, black to black). The tile should also be quite easy with the right tools. Hopefully your guy has an oscillating saw with a diamond coated tile blade on it. They give _very_ accurate cuts in tile. Easy-Peasy. I used a friend’s oscillating saw for my plaster cuts and was blown away by how well it worked. My first cut for the box was slightly too small and I was able to trim off a millimetre at a time on +60 year old plaster. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adding-an-electric-outlet-to-an-existing-circuit/843684.md?page=1)