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Adding a light from a receptical

Ran58

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Jul 19, 2019
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162
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Georgia
I want to add a light in a outdoor shed. There is already a GFCI receptical in the shed and I was going to use this a the power source for the light. I know there is no issue with a non GFCI but would like to confirm that there are likewise no issues in in using a GFCI receptical for the feed is there?

Thanks
 
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BreeStephany

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May 19, 2012
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Oregon
Is the wiring at the box exposed, in conduit, behind sheetrock or plywood? Is this on the interior or exterior of the shed? Is this a finished shed, does it have a dirt floor floor? Is the environment in which the circuit in considered a dry environment or damp/wet environment?

The basics of the wiring, based on what you have described is that you have a non-GFCI protected circuit entering into the shed that is then protected by the GFCI receptacle. You can run conductors in conduit if exposed or subject to moisture, or in NM-B (romex) if not exposed (i.e. behind sheetrock, plywood, paneling, etc.) to a single gang box for a switch and then from the switch box to a round box for the light fixture. Pigtail the conductors at the GFCI receptacle and connect the receptacle, pigtail the ground at the switch and connect to the grounding screw on the yoke of the switch, wirenut your neutral conductors together at the switch and connect your line wire and switch leg wire to the switch.

Pretty simple, but it is important to understand the environment of installation so that the installation is done to current NEC code standards. Your conductors throughout the circuit MUST be rated to the minimum ampacity of the circuit protection device (fuse or circuit breaker) that they are connected to.

Based on the vagueness of the question, there are a lot of things that must be taken into consideration in running the circuit.
 

PCustoms

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I want to add a light in a outdoor shed. There is already a GFCI receptical in the shed and I was going to use this a the power source for the light. I know there is no issue with a non GFCI but would like to confirm that there are likewise no issues in in using a GFCI receptical for the feed is there?

Thanks
Perfectly fine to power a light fixture from the load side of a GFCI.
 

sparky 1971

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It's fine. I fit's a hard wired fixture, pigtail the wires at the GFCI and feed the light from there from the line side. If you power it from the load side, when the GFCI trips, the lights will go out. Feeding from the line side, it can trip all it wants and the lights stay on. If it's a plug in light, it is supposed to be GFCI protected, so feed from the load side of the GFCI.
 
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PCustoms

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The lights stay on if the GFCI trips. Unless it's a plug in fixture, there is nothing saying it has to be GFCI protected.
I almost commented on it, but stuck to answering the question at hand.



Side note, and correct me if I am wrong, per current code if the light fixture has a plug (i.e hanging shop light) it MUST be GFCI protected.
 
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sparky 1971

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I almost commented on it, but stuck to answering the question at hand.



Side note, and correct me if I am wrong, per current code if the light fixture is a plug in shop light it MUST be GFCI protected.
If it's in a shed or garage, then yes it is supposed to be GFCI protected. Not because it's a shop light, but because the brain trust at the CMP decided that all receptacles need to have GFCI protection.
 

PCustoms

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If it's in a shed or garage, then yes it is supposed to be GFCI protected. Not because it's a shop light, but because the brain trust at the CMP decided that all receptacles need to have GFCI protection.
EDITED my post for clarity.

I agree with how you phrased it. The brain trust here (me!) has decided overhead receptacles won't be GFCI. Glad my house isn't subject to inspection, I can skip some requirements.
 

Norcal

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Mar 16, 2008
Messages
13,767
My shop lighting receptacles are all Twistlock®, a few are just locking type, if they are a standard 5-15 receptacle they should have GFCI protection though.
 
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