On Fri, 28 Aug 2009 05:17:14 -0700 (PDT), stryped
wrote:

Inspector told me I need my outlets for lights and future garage door
opener in the ceiling GFCI protected. My 100 amp panel I bought comes
with 4 20 amp breakers as well as the 100 amp main breaker.

Obviously installign GCI outlets in the ceiling is out because if they
trip I would have to get a ladder to reset it.

Probably the best thing to do is to go and buy some GFCI breakers.

I also have the option on at least one circuit to install a GFCI
outlet along the wall and wire that to the ceiling outlets. But this
seems like it is not the "right" way to do it. Someone other than me
might not figure out if the ceilign outlets tripped, where to reset
them?

What would you do?

Check back with the inspector and gert a clarification - the ceiling
outlet for the Garage Door Operator is a "Dedicated appliance
receptacle" and should not fall under the GFCI or AFCI rules.

You might have to use a single receptacle and label it "Door Opener
Only!" to convince the inspector it is a dedicated outlet just for the
opener, but I just use a 49c standard duplex up there - it never gets
plugged and unplugged, so a cheapie should last forever.

Unles they changed something very recently or it's a local addition,
the GDO outlet on the ceiling should not need to be a GFCI - that is
for convenience receptacles that you (the resident) can easily reach
and would be using for power tools and extension cords going outside.
But it wouldn't be the first time that an inspector mis-interprets the
code to be overly cautious.

(Be VERY careful arguing subleties and discretionary items in the
Codebook with a guy who has the power to order you to tear the whole
place down and start over... You can't just be right, you have to be
140% right.)

In that case, you simply cave - put a wall mount GFCI and then run
the GDO reeceptacle off the "Load" connections on the wall GFCI, then
it is protected. And if the GFCI trips out, it's easy to reach.

Oh, you do know no exposed Romex in the garage, right? Where it is
exposed to damage, you have to use EMT, Flex or BX Cable. You can
cheat and run Romex inside Flex, but it's a pain to work with - go buy
some wire.

-- Bruce --