GFCI outlet ceiling mounted?

[mobetta]

Hi all- so after some searching and googling, it looks like my GDO outlets need to be GFCI protected.

since I am a cheep a$$ and breakers cost 2X the cash as an outlet, is it ok to use a GFCI outlet in a 9' ceiling? resetting it would be a PITA, but it is a dedicated GDO branch, so nothing else would be effected by tripping. I do have 4 duplexes, so I an put in jackshaft openers if I ever get an extra $700 for a pair of 3800's.

I am already wired in, and though it would be possible to put 1 outlet at accessible height to gfci the circuit, but would rather not.

I am in Minneapolis proper. i am wiring new const. detached 2 car w/ 60 amp sub. panel.

thanks.

 

[mrb]

you can, but i wouldnt. just stick a box next to the panel with a deadfront gfci in it for the gdo circuit.

 

[racer12306]

It depends on if you have pulled a permit and when your jurisdiction implements the 2011 Code. In the 2011 Code all GFCI resets must be in plain reach which puts it at no more than 6'7" and can not be behind any equipment. This is not a requirement in the 2008 Code, so it's a big change for the 2011.

 

[dankicksass]

One GFCI per circuit, just put a GFCI outlet somewhere accessible on the line.

 

[dlewis]

It depends on if you have pulled a permit and when your jurisdiction implements the 2011 Code. In the 2011 Code all GFCI resets must be in plain reach which puts it at no more than 6'7" and can not be behind any equipment. This is not a requirement in the 2008 Code, so it's a big change for the 2011.

When I had my garage inspected 2 yrs ago the inspector had his tester on a wood pole for the door opener curcuit,and said I made it under the wire because the following year it would have to be gfci and now he would have to make a new tester up,and added that when it becomes effective a lot of people where going to get locked out of their garages from tripped circuits.

 

[nehog]

FWIW, I've had my door openers on GFCIs since I built the place and have had no problems at all... However, I do have a man door with a key... just in case!

As someone else mentioned, I put the GFCI on an outlet next to the sub-panel (actually there are a bunch of them there, one for the ceiling outlets, and one for the west wall outlets. A third will come when I put in more south wall outlets this winter. I just mark the GFCI outlets as to which string they control/protect.

 

[Norcal]

Nobody has adopted the 2011 yet, a # of areas will adopt it come January 1st.

 

[nate379]

WHY would you need a GFI outlet on a garage door opener? Can someone explain how the F you would have 8 or more feet of water in the garage and have to even worry about it??

I mean I suppose someone "could" get a ladder and plug an extension cord into it, but I mean come on. Can't we just let the 'tards zap themselves and thin out the gene pool??

I had GFI outlets in my garage and after I smoked 2 of them I replaced them with normal outlets. I did the same with the outside block heater plug as well. It kept tripping with the truck plugged in and it's real fun trying to get a diesel fired up at -25*

 

[oleguy]

you or your family gets hurt you will get smoked!!!!

 

[mrb]

WHY would you need a GFI outlet on a garage door opener? Can someone explain how the F you would have 8 or more feet of water in the garage and have to even worry about it??

I mean I suppose someone "could" get a ladder and plug an extension cord into it, but I mean come on. Can't we just let the 'tards zap themselves and thin out the gene pool??

I had GFI outlets in my garage and after I smoked 2 of them I replaced them with normal outlets. I did the same with the outside block heater plug as well. It kept tripping with the truck plugged in and it's real fun trying to get a diesel fired up at -25*

probably some fallout from that kid that got electrocuted when he touched a garage door (day laborers the EC had do the work used the ground in some existing romex that supplied a detached garage as a switched hot, and left it hooked to the ground in the rest of the romex in the garage, so when the light was on it energized the grounds in the garage including the GDO which then energized the door itself) but there are already rules in place which if followed would have prevented this....

 

[strnjss]

Everything I plug in in a garage are motor run. Motors trip GFCI's all the time. They seriously can't expect this to work!

Guess I'll be keeping my old 1920's 2 prong outlet with an ungrounded 3 prong adapter plugged in for the rest of the garage's life.

 

[MrMark]

probably some fallout from that kid that got electrocuted when he touched a garage door (day laborers the EC had do the work used the ground in some existing romex that supplied a detached garage as a switched hot, and left it hooked to the ground in the rest of the romex in the garage, so when the light was on it energized the grounds in the garage including the GDO which then energized the door itself) but there are already rules in place which if followed would have prevented this....

What a crazy story!@ And that was the motivation for GFCI on garage doors? BTW, I hope you have completely recovered from getting shocked.

 

[mrb]

go here to see the 3d rendering of what happened (its boring and dumbed down for 12 people who werent smart enough to get out of jury duty, but it explains what happened) http://isaacslaw.org/media.htm

 

[MrMark]

Seems that short in the box that energized the grounds should have caused the breaker to trip. But maybe the grounds did not go back to the panel just leaving open circuit energized grounds? The video wasn't clear on that, it did show some grounds interrupted under the house. Also, I guess the GFI in the lawn was missing too.

 

[Norcal]

Seems that short in the box that energized the grounds should have caused the breaker to trip. But maybe the grounds did not go back to the panel just leaving open circuit energized grounds? The video wasn't clear on that, it did show some grounds interrupted under the house. Also, I guess the GFI in the lawn was missing too.

GFI's & GFCI's are not the same thing. 1 is required for 1000 ampere & larger wye services w/ a voltage over 150 volts to ground & GFCI's are for personnel protection.

 

[nehog]

WHY would you need a GFI outlet on a garage door opener? Can someone explain how the F you would have 8 or more feet of water in the garage and have to even worry about it??
...

In my case, the same string that the openers are plugged into also has some outlets that are accessible from the floor... I didn't make a dedicated opener circuit. The ceiling outlets go along the ridge and down to a single outlet on the wall, through the wall, to an outlet on the outside. The far wall (with its one outlet) is basically a dead wall: fully covered with floor to ceiling shelves and storage. But I wanted one outlet there 'just in case'.

 

[mrb]

GFI's & GFCI's are not the same thing. 1 is required for 1000 ampere & larger wye services w/ a voltage over 150 volts to ground & GFCI's are for personnel protection.

GFI and GFCI are used interchangably. What you are thinking is GFP or GFEP (also used interchangable) which is ground fault protection which can range from 30ma trip 20 amp single pole breakers (such as for heat tape on your roof) to 20,000 amp 480v breaker with a few hundred amps of ground fault trip setting.

 

[mrb]

Seems that short in the box that energized the grounds should have caused the breaker to trip. But maybe the grounds did not go back to the panel just leaving open circuit energized grounds? The video wasn't clear on that, it did show some grounds interrupted under the house. Also, I guess the GFI in the lawn was missing too.

had no path back to the panel....this is a good example for all those who think a ground rod provides safety because its 'grounded'

 

[dlewis]

FWIW, I've had my door openers on GFCIs since I built the place and have had no problems at all... However, I do have a man door with a key... just in case!

As someone else mentioned, I put the GFCI on an outlet next to the sub-panel (actually there are a bunch of them there, one for the ceiling outlets, and one for the west wall outlets. A third will come when I put in more south wall outlets this winter. I just mark the GFCI outlets as to which string they control/protect.

I mentioned the getting locked out part because me and the wife enter thru the garage and used to keep the storm doors locked now I keep the front one unlocked just in case never thought about getting locked out myself.

 

[mobetta]

Thanks for all the info- I am not even gonna start wondering why they want this or that- I just want to get everything SAFE and also up to current code.

which brings up another question- i know that on a residential 20 amp circuit we can use regular 15 amp outlets- I assume we can therefor use a 15 amp GFCI on a 20 amp circuit?

I do have a dedicated 15 amp run for the GDO's, but the rest of my outlets are on 20 amp runs.

 

[Greatbear]

Most 15 amp GFCIs are rated for 20 amps passthrough.

 

[Goobzilla]

I was required by the inspectors to put a GFCI in for my garage door outlet when I had the final inspection on my pole barn in Jan of this year. Silly to me, but you do what you gotta do to get signed off.