GFCI and T8's

[Kapn]

I'm wiring lights in the ceiling and the circuit will first pass a gfci outlet that splits into two other outlets. The lights will be controlled with a switch that controls them via a loopback.

My question is, do I put the lights downstream of the gfci outlet? Or will this be a problem?

 

[tfi racing]

You may not have a problem with the GFI tripping,but why risk it?Keep the lighting portion of the circuit on the line side and avoid any potential conflicts.

 

[Kapn]

Thanks,
I've done this stuff before (honestly) but I was always a follower, not the leader.

 

[nate379]

I wouldn't wire the lights with the outlets either. I had a garage that was like that and I owned a compressor that would trip the breaker once in a while. Was not fun at all trying to walk around a pitch black garage to get to the breaker panel. Dangerous at times even.

 

[Kapn]

It's just going to be two outlets on that run, one in the ceiling to have a windup coil handheld light for auto work and one on the wall between the garage doors. If I do blow the circuit, there will still be the two incandescent bulbs that are already installed on their original circuit. I just figured it had to be protected with a gfci to meet the code for a garage.

 

[kbs2244]

I think the GFI/garage code is only for outlets, not lights.
The code may like the lights on a seprate circuit breaker however.

 

[burtonbl]

The lights need to be on there own circuit!
GFCIs are for outlets only.

Putting outlets on lighting circuits is a Bad practice

 

[Norcal]

The lights need to be on there own circuit!
GFCIs are for outlets only.

Putting outlets on lighting circuits is a Bad practice

Agreed, but in a garage it's not against code to place them on the same circuit. Codes are nothing more then a minimum standard.

 

[drsifu]

i read as long as there is a neutral wire (white wire), you cold turn a light switch into a power outlet.

i recently switched out a light switch that was in the middle of a circuit in the garage and added a GFCI/switch receptacle. The GFCI protects only that receptacle. I did not connect anything on the load side of the receptacle.

 

[walrus]

The lights need to be on there own circuit!
GFCIs are for outlets only.

Putting outlets on lighting circuits is a Bad practice

A switched outlet in a bedroom is bad practice?

 

[Norcal]

A switched outlet in a bedroom is bad practice?

If that is the only lighting outlet vs: a overhead light, it's a sign of a cheaply built house,where every corner that can be cut, was.....

 

[walrus]

If that is the only lighting outlet vs: a overhead light, it's a sign of a cheaply built house,where every corner that can be cut, was.....

Some people want just a switched outlet and no overhead light. So doing what your customer wants is bad practice? I understand what you said is a general statement so it may be generally correct but not always. Myself I prefer an overhead light but others do not

 

[Falcon67]

If that is the only lighting outlet vs: a overhead light, it's a sign of a cheaply built house,where every corner that can be cut, was.....

I seem to recall the HGTV "design trend" where every time they went into a house with a ceiling fan in a room, the fan hit the trash can. Without switched outlets in a room with no overhead, you have to wander across the room in the dark to knock over the lamp to get some light. If I was going to be "lazy" I sure wouldn't go to the trouble of wiring up one side of an outlet for switching.

On the OP - I would wire your lights now on a separate run from the plugs. You will probably add more lights and plugs, and you'll already be on the right track when you do. All my outlets in the shop run through a GFCI and I've had no issues with anything I plug in - drill presses, lathes, sanders, etc. I have some new T8s over temporary benches that plug in for use and none have had an issue being on a GFCI circuit. It's actually kinda handy - if you need to work on a plug downstream, you just hit the TEST button and the rest of the circuit is dead.