On Sun 27 Apr 2008 06:25:30a, Mark Lloyd told us...

On Sun, 27 Apr 2008 02:31:02 GMT, Wayne Boatwright
wrote:

On Sat 26 Apr 2008 06:25:59p, Mark Lloyd told us...

On Sun, 27 Apr 2008 00:15:52 GMT, Wayne Boatwright
wrote:

On Sat 26 Apr 2008 04:43:43p, Tony Hwang told us...

Wayne Boatwright wrote:
On Sat 26 Apr 2008 04:21:56p, Tony Hwang told us...


Wayne Boatwright wrote:


This is a question of curiosity more than anything, as I don't
plan to make changes to the way I have installed outdoor outlets.

In several homes, including the present one where I am currently
installing outdoor outlets, this has been my method...

At a point opposite on the inside of the house where a receptable
already exists, I drill a hole in the outside wall (cedar), and
from the inside, push through a length of exterior grade "romex"
(the same guage as the interior wiring) through an existing
self-clamping opening in the interior junction box to the outside
and through the hole. I connect the inside wires to the existing
receptacle.

On the outside, I seal the hole around the romex with silicone
sealant, and mount an exterior weatherproof box (also sealed
behind it with silicone swealant. After the sealant has cured, I
connect a GFCI receptacle to the romex and mount it in the box. I
then attach an "always in use" hooded cover plate to complete the
installation.

While I know this has proven to be safe over all the years I've
used this technique, I wonder whether it is really according to
code, and if not, what exactly would the code require instead.

BTW, I currently live in Mesa, AZ, if that makes a difference.

Thanks for any responses.


Hi,
And better be on GFCI circuit.



The receptacle I install in the box is GFCI. I need more than
that?

Hi,
You are OK then. My exterior ones are daisy chained. And Jacuzzi tub
is the only one having it's own GFCI breaker.


Each of my exterior outlets is a one-off with an indoor outlet
(although some of these are on the same circuit in the main panel),
and each has its own GFCI receptacle. Back in OH when we had a
Jacuzzi tub, it also had its own GFCI breaker. I presently have no
GFCI breakers in my main panel. For now I don't think there's a need.
It's a brand new home, and every outlet that needs GFCI protection
has it's on protected outlet.

One flaw that I made in the first house where I installed exterior
outlets was replacing the interior receptacle with a GFCI, then
feeding the exterior outlet. It was inconvenient when something
outside would cause a fault and whatever was plugged in inside would
also go out. Lesson learned. :-)


I know someone around here who has 2 exterior receptacles wired to
interior ones, with the GFCI in the interior location. This makes it
easy to control holiday lights without having to go out in bad
weather.

Thanks for your comments...

Well, yes it does, if you don't mind tripping the circuit and not being
able to use the indoor socket when you want the holiday light off. I
need the full time use of the interior sockets. As far as holiday
lights, I have mine on weatherproof plug-in timers.

I use a series of solid-state relays so all the holiday lights are
controlled by ONE timer, and so go on and off at the same time. This
is a temporary setup That I put out in the middle of October (a few
Halloween lights). The individual outlets still have GFCIs.

Great idea... Are these anything like the X-10 devices? I used these in a
previous home for all interior lighting, either in wall switches or plug-in
modules.

I've also heard, though
unsubstantiated, that it's not a good idea to use the GFCI "test" switch
as an on/off switch. Apparently it wasn't meant for constant use as
such.



--
Wayne Boatwright
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