Adding a gfci plug. Is this allowed by code?

[black00lightning]

I recently added a high lift conversion and added a LifyMaster 8500 door lift. The garage was wired for a conventional lift opener so I'm powering the 8500 from a lower wall plug.

I was going to run a wire up the stud cavity and extend the existing plug. However the plug is in the middle of a circuit loop. Can I add pigtails from either the incoming or outgoing lines to add an additional outlet? Thanks.

 

[rlitman]

Yes.

 

[black00lightning]

Is there a preference on whether I use the wires going in or out? I'll be using a gfci plug.

 

[checkthisout]

I recently added a high lift conversion and added a LifyMaster 8500 door lift. The garage was wired for a conventional lift opener so I'm powering the 8500 from a lower wall plug.

I was going to run a wire up the stud cavity and extend the existing plug. However the plug is in the middle of a circuit loop. Can I add pigtails from either the incoming or outgoing lines to add an additional outlet? Thanks.

Is there something special here that were missing? The wire terminates in the outlet so you're just daisy-chaining on another outlet like is done on any circuit right?

If you already have two wires coming in/out then yes you would need pigtails to add the third wire you are talking about. You might need to bump the box out in order to fit the size wire nuts in there that will be required.

 

[Mustang51js]

Is there a preference on whether I use the wires going in or out? I'll be using a gfci plug.

Have to hook up to the line side of the gfi if that's what your talking about.

 

[pattenp]

Since your post title says adding a GFCI outlet, I assume the outlet you are tapping off of is not on a GFCI protected circuit? If the outlet you are tapping off of is on a GFCI protected circuit you don't need to add a GFCI outlet at the opener. All outlets down stream of a GFCI outlet will be protected if wired correctly.

 

[rlitman]

Is there a preference on whether I use the wires going in or out? I'll be using a gfci plug.

Neither. You connect the wire coming in, with the two wires going out, plus a short pigtail that goes to the outlet all together under one wire nut. You may need to up-size that box to have enough space for all these wires now.

Since your post title says adding a GFCI outlet, I assume the outlet you are tapping off of is not on a GFCI protected circuit? If the outlet you are tapping off of is on a GFCI protected circuit you don't need to add a GFCI outlet at the opener. All outlets down stream of a GFCI outlet will be protected if wired correctly.

What he said. If it is downstream of the LOAD terminals of a GFI, you can just use a regular outlet, and apply one of the GFCI Protected Outlet stickers that come in the box with GFIs.

 

[BFBOB]

Is there a preference on whether I use the wires going in or out? I'll be using a gfci plug.

Are you confusing the terms "plug" and "outlet"?
There is such a thing as a GFI (or GFCI; different names for the same thing) plug. You commonly find them on hair dryers.

Are you saying your opener has a GFI plug attached to it? Or are you wanting to install a GFI outlet to plug the opener into?

Assuming you're actually talking about an outlet, the easy way is to replace the breaker on the circuit in question with a GFI breaker. Then, the whole circuit is protected, not just the one outlet, and it removes any uncertainty you may have about proper wiring for a GFI outlet. The added cost is very low.

But to answer the question I think you were trying to ask, there's nothing in the code that prohibits a mixture of GFI and standard outlets on a single circuit.

 

[BFBOB]

Since your post title says adding a GFCI outlet, .

Actually, the title says "adding a GFCI plug", hence the confusing answers.

And please, don't fall back on "Oh, you know what I meant". We're talking electricity here, with potentially fatal consequences of guessing wrong.

 

[black00lightning]

I should have said OUTLET rather than plug. I am adding a gfci OUTLET to a gfci circuit. I know it's redundant but so are the other gfci outlets the gc added, since the contractor also added a combination gfci/gfci breakers at the panel.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I should have said OUTLET rather than plug. I am adding a gfci OUTLET to a gfci circuit. I know it's redundant but so are the other gfci outlets the gc added, since the contractor also added a combination gfci/gfci breakers at the panel.

If its ALREADY GFCI protected then dont bother adding another. Youre just ******* money into the wind. Instead go buy a spec, commercial or proffessional grade outlet(depends on brand) with back wire clamping plates and be done with it!