GFCI and basement utility sink

[Lou N]

All,

I have recently installed a utility sink in my unfinished basement. I need a receptacle near the sink ( approx. 4' away) to power the sinks drain pump. I installed a GFCI outlet as per code (within 6' of any sink I believe).

Since it's an unfinished basement, my understanding is all outlets need GFCI protection.

Does the GFCI protection for the receptacle near the sink need to be a dedicated GFCI or can it be a standard receptacle connected on the load side of an upstream GFCI on the same circuit?

Not a big deal if I need two on the same circuit, I just wasn't sure about needing a dedicated GCFI within 6' of the sink. Hope that makes sense.

Lou

 

[redidbull]

You would have to check the code in your area. I had never heard all need to be GFCI in an unfinished basement. You could also put in a GFCI breaker and put all the outlets on it. Jim

 

[theoldwizard1]

One 120V 15A/20A GFCI will protect all downstream outlets if properly wired.

 

[larry4406]

New construction guy here and non-sparky.

All outlets in unfinished spaces in our homes are gfci in my area. YMMV.

I would make your sink pump outlet dedicated to divorce it from others. Pumped drains have a habit of making a mess when power is out. You don’t need some other device creating a problem.

 

[jeffmattero76]

I have never heard that the outlet needs to be "dedicated", and that would not make sense. As long as the outlet is GFI protected, it makes no difference if it is dedicated(the only outlet on the circuit) the first outlet on the circuit, or the last outlet on the circuit. In all of those examples you are within code as far as I know.

Sent from my SM-G530T using Tapatalk

 

[JRC3]

All,

...can it be a standard receptacle connected on the load side of an upstream GFCI on the same circuit?

To me that's safer because the feed and box itself is protected too.


Around here, before GFCI breakers became the norm, it's not uncommon for the first outlet nearest the panel on a circuit in a garage or basement to be a standard GFCI outlet and feed all the outside, bathroom and garage receptacles.

Or as we used to just call it, GFI. I still can't say GFCI in conversation.

 

[teamextreme]

No requirement for it to be dedicated, but all outlets in an unfinished basement are required to be GFCI. That's a code requirement that applies everywhere. You can feed it off the load side of your existing GFCI.

 

[walta]

One 120V 15A/20A GFCI will protect all downstream outlets if properly wired.

One 120V 15A/20A GFCI will protect up to 7 downstream devices if properly wired.

very small change.

Walta

 

[TRWham]

To me that's safer because the feed and box itself is protected too.


Around here, before GFCI breakers became the norm, it's not uncommon for the first outlet nearest the panel on a circuit in a garage or basement to be a standard GFCI outlet and feed all the outside, bathroom and garage receptacles.

Or as we used to just call it, GFI. I still can't say GFCI in conversation.

I'd be careful with that. The required garage and bathroom receptacles must be on circuits that are dedicated to those spaces (multiple bathrooms can be on the same branch circuit). Additional receptacles should be okay to share a circuit, but you never know how a particular inspector will see it.

 

[Lou N]

Thanks for the replies. I'll just put in one GFCI at the first receptacle and protect everything downstream.

 

[exranger06]

In the 70s and 80s, it was common to put the bathroom outlets, garage outlets, and outside outlets all on the same circuit since, at the time, those were the only outlets that required GFCI protection. So they would install a GFCI breaker, put all the outlets on that breaker, and they were done. That's not code anymore. Bathroom outlets need their own circuit, and I believe (not positive) two bathrooms cannot be on the same circuit. If a person in each bathroom were using a hairdryer at the same time, you'd trip a breaker. So each bathroom needs its own circuit. Garages now need at least one circuit that's dedicated to garage outlets, one outlet per parking space.

 

[TRWham]

In the 70s and 80s, it was common to put the bathroom outlets, garage outlets, and outside outlets all on the same circuit since, at the time, those were the only outlets that required GFCI protection. So they would install a GFCI breaker, put all the outlets on that breaker, and they were done. That's not code anymore. Bathroom outlets need their own circuit, and I believe (not positive) two bathrooms cannot be on the same circuit. If a person in each bathroom were using a hairdryer at the same time, you'd trip a breaker. So each bathroom needs its own circuit. Garages now need at least one circuit that's dedicated to garage outlets, one outlet per parking space.

210.11(C)(3) says "bathroom(s)" so it is "legal" to have more than one bathroom on the required 20 A circuit, but I agree it would be better to separate them. The change to add a dedicated bathroom circuit was made in the 1996 NEC, when Articles 210 and 220 were rewritten to make it easier to understand what the requirements were. Before that, 210 called out the required receptacles and 220 called out the required circuits.

 

[JRC3]

I'd be careful with that. The required garage and bathroom receptacles must be on circuits that are dedicated to those spaces (multiple bathrooms can be on the same branch circuit). Additional receptacles should be okay to share a circuit, but you never know how a particular inspector will see it.

"Before" was the key word in what I said. I can recall dozens and dozens of homes I've been in that were built in the 70s, 80s, 90s being that way. Looking at the GFI requirements seems anything built between 1971 and 1996 could be that way.

 

[TRWham]

"Before" was the key word in what I said. I can recall dozens and dozens of homes I've been in that were built in the 70s, 80s, 90s being that way. Looking at the GFI requirements seems anything built between 1971 and 1996 could be that way.

Yes, I completely agree it could have been done as you say and been acceptable, but people can read something on here and run with it. Thus, I just meant to point out that it should no longer be done that way if you are wiring a house now.

 

[JRC3]

Yes, I completely agree it could have been done as you say and been acceptable, but people can read something on here and run with it. Thus, I just meant to point out that it should no longer be done that way if you are wiring a house now.

Yeah, sometimes people do have the ability to pick and choose what they want to.

 

[alfredeneuman]

The Code for unfinished basements having GFI protection for all receptacles first appeared in the 1987 NEC

 

[larry4406]

I have an ejector pump in the basement for toilets and sinks. It’s on its own dedicated GFCI. Pumped drains make a mess when power is tripped especially by unrelated devices.

Yes I could share it with other devices but why? I’m not interested in effluent discharged in my basement needlessly by a tripped unrelated device.

 

[alfredeneuman]

I’m not interested in effluent discharged in my basement ....

For "sensitive" issues like that they make a GFCI outlet with an audible alarm.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Leviton...VhK_ICh29vgFEEAQYASABEgLLQPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[JRC3]

For "sensitive" issues like that they make a GFCI outlet with an audible alarm.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Leviton...VhK_ICh29vgFEEAQYASABEgLLQPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Well, moreso, don't put important pumps on a circuit with anything else (GFI or not). In that regard, Larry's reply was just apples to oranges.

 

[alfredeneuman]

Well, moreso, don't put important pumps on a circuit with anything else (GFI or not). In that regard, Larry's reply was just apples to oranges.

I didn't post it exclusively for Larry's situation, more a general thought that they were available with an alarm feature.

 

[gahrajmahal]

I am messing with the utility tub (just plumbing right now) and came across this thread with a search. My question on this subject is what is your particular preferred GFCI to purchase for all projects. I rarely go to the electrical store and the big box stores have many varieties, brands and connection options.

Links or photos appreciated!

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I have never heard that the outlet needs to be "dedicated", and that would not make sense. As long as the outlet is GFI protected, it makes no difference if it is dedicated(the only outlet on the circuit) the first outlet on the circuit, or the last outlet on the circuit. In all of those examples you are within code as far as I know.

Sent from my SM-G530T using Tapatalk

having a dedicated GFCI outlet for a pump does make sense if one doesnt want a flood in their basement when the GFCI is tripped by another piece of equipment protected by the same GFCI.....

One 120V 15A/20A GFCI will protect up to 7 downstream devices if properly wired.

very small change.

Walta

Is there a code that limits the number of outlets on a GFCI circuit?