Wiring a half hot outlet after a GFCI

[ovilla]

Code for my basement is that all outlets have to be GFCI protected. I have a wall where I want to place two outlets. One outlet will be a GFCI protected outlet and the second one will be a regular one, which I’d like to split into half hot - so one side is always hot and the other is switched. Hence half the regular outlet will be fed from the load side of the GFCI outlet and will always be hot. The other side of the regular outlet will also be fed from the GFCI outlet but it will go to a switch. So, in the end the regular outlet will always be protected since it’s connected to the GFCI outlet but half of the outlet will be powered by a switch. Basically I want both outlets to be GFCI protected, like the code states they should be, but one half of the regular outlet will also be switchable (while still always being GFCI protected). Note that I’m using a normal non-GFCI circuit breaker at the circuit panel. The only thing that is GFCI is the first outlet, which feeds the other outlet and the switch that gives GFCI power to the other half of the outlet. Anybody see any issue with this wiring plan?

Also, yes, I know that the switch will basically not work if/when the first GFCI protected outlet trips and that’s fine - and expected, as that would happen anyway if a switch was wired to a GFCI protected outlet anyways.

 

[Shiftless]

If I’m reading you correctly, that set up seems fine to me. But I am not a licensed electrician.

 

[Innovate1]

That seems like the way I would do it and should be fine. Both outlets are GFCI protected with one switched and one not switched. Since they are fed from the same GFCI you could leave the jumper between receptacles in place on the neutral side and just remove it for the hot side.

 

[rlitman]

That seems like the way I would do it and should be fine. Both outlets are GFCI protected with one switched and one not switched. Since they are fed from the same GFCI you could leave the jumper between receptacles in place on the neutral side and just remove it for the hot side.

Agreed. If you're wiring from GFCI -> outlet -> switch box, remember to run three wires to the switch box so it has a neutral in it.

 

[ovilla]

Agreed. If you're wiring from GFCI -> outlet -> switch box, remember to run three wires to the switch box so it has a neutral in it.

My conduit run goes from the basement ceiling down to a switch, to the GFCI outlet, and then over to the regular outlet.


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[wyliesdiesels]

My conduit run goes from the basement ceiling down to a switch, to the GFCI outlet, and then over to the regular outlet.


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Can you redo the conduit and put the GFCI before the switch?

Otherwise, you will need to have one wire coming from the GFCI going to the switch and then another wire coming from the switch feeding the hot switched side of the outlets.

How large is this conduit? Youre gonna have to feed in some more wires

 

[rlitman]

Can you redo the conduit and put the GFCI before the switch?

Otherwise, you will need to have one wire coming from the GFCI going to the switch and then another wire coming from the switch feeding the hot switched side of the outlets.

How large is this conduit? Youre gonna have to feed in some more wires

Or can you just find a place to fit in a GFCI before the switch, and use an ordinary outlet where you were planning to have the GFCI?

Otherwise, your conduit between the GFCI and switch will be very busy.

 

[Shiftless]

Or can you just find a place to fit in a GFCI before the switch, and use an ordinary outlet where you were planning to have the GFCI?

Otherwise, your conduit between the GFCI and switch will be very busy.

to this ^^^^^^^

That’s what so great about running conduit instead of wiring inside of finished walls.
Swap in a 4 inch square box where your switch is at the beginning of the run and put a GFCI receptacle and a switch in that box. Feed the switch from the GFCI. Then run 2 hots and a neutral from there.

 

[ovilla]

I already have the room drywalled so I need to work with what I have now, going from the switch box to the GFCI and then on to the regular outlet. The 1/2” conduit isn’t crowded at all. From the double gang switch box I have 4 conductors going down to the first outlet - one black, one white - going directly to the line side of the GFCI, and two orange (for my switch). The hot load side of the GFCI is pigtailed so I can connect to one side of my switch and to the constant hot of the regular outlet. Plenty of room in the box too.


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[Shiftless]

Great!
You already have a double gang box at the beginning of the run you are modifying! Sounds like an easy job.