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Subject Author Date
GFCI Breaker Question Amy L 06-09-2006
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Posted by Amy L on June 9, 2006, 10:37 pm
There was a lamp post in my front yard that the previous owners removed and
buried the cable. I am going to put the lamp post back in. When I traced
the electrical for the circuit that was previously used I found that the
cable is on the same circuit that also services the door light and several
outlets in my family room. The breaker in the panel for this circuit is
non-gfci. I intend to replace the existing breaker with a GFCI breaker.

1.) Is there any issue with having a GFCI breaker and the other outlets
including the lamp post on the same circuit?
2.) Also, if GFCI is so much safer than traditional breakers than how come
they are only used in specific places (Kitchen, Bathroom, Outside). Why not
use them everywhere? I assume the answer is probably cost, but when
building a home is it really that much of a cost difference when looking at
the larger total?

Amy



Posted by RBM on June 9, 2006, 10:50 pm
There is no problem in having the other outlets on a GFCI protector. They
are required in locations where a ground fault is more likely to be fatal,
which is essentially in damp and wet locations. Minor ground faults that
would cause the device to trip can be a nuisance, so they're generally only
used where required



> There was a lamp post in my front yard that the previous owners removed
> and buried the cable. I am going to put the lamp post back in. When I
> traced the electrical for the circuit that was previously used I found
> that the cable is on the same circuit that also services the door light
> and several outlets in my family room. The breaker in the panel for this
> circuit is non-gfci. I intend to replace the existing breaker with a GFCI
> breaker.
>
> 1.) Is there any issue with having a GFCI breaker and the other outlets
> including the lamp post on the same circuit?
> 2.) Also, if GFCI is so much safer than traditional breakers than how come
> they are only used in specific places (Kitchen, Bathroom, Outside). Why
> not use them everywhere? I assume the answer is probably cost, but when
> building a home is it really that much of a cost difference when looking
> at the larger total?
>
> Amy
>



Posted by Tony Hwang on June 9, 2006, 11:38 pm
RBM wrote:
> There is no problem in having the other outlets on a GFCI protector. They
> are required in locations where a ground fault is more likely to be fatal,
> which is essentially in damp and wet locations. Minor ground faults that
> would cause the device to trip can be a nuisance, so they're generally only
> used where required
>
>
>
>
>>There was a lamp post in my front yard that the previous owners removed
>>and buried the cable. I am going to put the lamp post back in. When I
>>traced the electrical for the circuit that was previously used I found
>>that the cable is on the same circuit that also services the door light
>>and several outlets in my family room. The breaker in the panel for this
>>circuit is non-gfci. I intend to replace the existing breaker with a GFCI
>>breaker.
>>
>>1.) Is there any issue with having a GFCI breaker and the other outlets
>>including the lamp post on the same circuit?
>>2.) Also, if GFCI is so much safer than traditional breakers than how come
>>they are only used in specific places (Kitchen, Bathroom, Outside). Why
>>not use them everywhere? I assume the answer is probably cost, but when
>>building a home is it really that much of a cost difference when looking
>>at the larger total?
>>
>>Amy
>>
>
>
>
Hi,
I wouldn't let ouside circuit share GFCI with other lights/outlets
inside. Most likely fault may occur from outside which will cause
power loss inside. This is inconvenient. My ouside circuits are through
two GFCI, front and back of the house. Bathrooms are also grouped into
two, upstairs, downstairs. This is done through sub-panels.

Posted by Salmon Egg on June 10, 2006, 12:43 am
On 6/9/06 8:38 PM, in article 19rig.5769$Mn5.5153@pd7tw3no, "Tony Hwang"

> Hi,
> I wouldn't let ouside circuit share GFCI with other lights/outlets
> inside. Most likely fault may occur from outside which will cause
> power loss inside. This is inconvenient. My ouside circuits are through
> two GFCI, front and back of the house. Bathrooms are also grouped into
> two, upstairs, downstairs. This is done through sub-panels.

To illustrate, I have a submersible pump that apparently has leakage to
ground. It has a typical three prong plug for hot, neutral and ground. I use
it for hydroponics where the nutrient solutions that splash around are
mostly salt water (not sodium chloride). I want good protection.

I have found that the leakage causes the GFCI to trip especially when the
pump is turned off. The inductive kick is what does it. The leakage is low
enough so that if I have a good protective ground connection, I do not
worry. Nevertheless, I avoid using that pump whenever possible.

Bill
-- Ferme le Bush



Posted by hallerb@aol.com on June 9, 2006, 11:39 pm

RBM (remove this) wrote:
> There is no problem in having the other outlets on a GFCI protector. They
> are required in locations where a ground fault is more likely to be fatal,
> which is essentially in damp and wet locations. Minor ground faults that
> would cause the device to trip can be a nuisance, so they're generally only
> used where required
>
>
>
> > There was a lamp post in my front yard that the previous owners removed
> > and buried the cable. I am going to put the lamp post back in. When I
> > traced the electrical for the circuit that was previously used I found
> > that the cable is on the same circuit that also services the door light
> > and several outlets in my family room. The breaker in the panel for this
> > circuit is non-gfci. I intend to replace the existing breaker with a GFCI
> > breaker.
> >
> > 1.) Is there any issue with having a GFCI breaker and the other outlets
> > including the lamp post on the same circuit?
> > 2.) Also, if GFCI is so much safer than traditional breakers than how come
> > they are only used in specific places (Kitchen, Bathroom, Outside). Why
> > not use them everywhere? I assume the answer is probably cost, but when
> > building a home is it really that much of a cost difference when looking
> > at the larger total?
> >
> > Amy
> >

you break the wire bettween the switch and where it goes out in the
yard, install box and gfci which can also be used as outlet.since your
replacing the underground wire this will be easy.

DONT concrete post in place just backfill dirt and tamp well. This way
if you ever need to relocate post or someone puses it over or leans on
it you can easily straighten it


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