Do you guys normally install yard lights on a GFI protected circuit?
If yes, do you have a NEC code citation?
Thanks
lek
Do you guys normally install yard lights on a GFI protected circuit?
If yes, do you have a NEC code citation?
Thanks
lek
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Replies
You talkin' the low-voltage lights with transformer, or standard 120V lights?
"Hardwired" 120V light fixtures don't need GFCI protection except perhaps in a pool area or other outdoor bathing area. (I've never dug into the requirements for those areas.)
Low-voltage lights don't need GFCI protection either, but an outdoor outlet installed to supply the transformer will generally fall into the category of needing GFCI. If the transformer is installed indoors, or is "hardwired", there would be no GFCI requirement (save again for the bathing area issues).
Thanks. I was referring to 120V.
The question arose because I was asked to install a yard light and its mounting post came with an outlet. The customer had plans of plugging Holiday lights in the outlet of the post, which I thought would require GFI protection.
I did the job-- tied it into a GFI circuit-- and during a rainstorm (she had Holiday lights plugged in) the GFI tripped and the lights went out. Now she thinks I did something wrong. putty and paint, make it what it ain't
I think this is a common problem. The outlet technically needs to be GFCIed, but not the light. And you want them on the same switch, with just one wire running out to the post. And the outlet is a single, not enough room to replace with a duplex GFCI. And every rainstorm is gonna blow into the outlet and knock out any GFCI.Kinda screwed, more or less.Your legal choices, close as I can see are to put the whole thing on a GFCI, put the unswitched (or separately switched) outlet separately on a GFCI, or disconnect the outlet.
Half of the harm that is done in this world is due to people who want to feel important. They don't mean to do harm but the harm does not interest them. --T.S. Eliot
Does the GFCI have a weatherproof-while-in-use cover? These covers are usually clear plastic and look kind of like butter dishes, they allow you to plug something in and flip the cover back down to keep out the weather. One of them may help prevent (but not necessarily eliminate) nuisance trips.
Stuart,
No, this just has a simple flip-up cover. As DanH noted in his previous note, there is really no good solution when it comes to the outlet.
If she (customer) wants to hire someone to change the circuit, she's free to do that. But I hope if she talks with other electricians they tell her it's for her own safety and leave it as is. The reason it bothers me is I'm in a small town and reputation/word-of-mouth is important
lekputty and paint, make it what it ain't