GFI Outlet ... is outside

[CitadelBlue]

I have to keep replacing the GFI outlet outside my front door. After a couple of years I can't reset the GFI outlet. Not sure WHY the builder put the first one in the run OUTSIDE, but it kills all of the outlets in the garage. Was wondering if I could find the run from the breaker box and relocate the GFI outlet in the crawl space under the house ?

 

[Teken]

I have to keep replacing the GFI outlet outside my front door. After a couple of years I can't reset the GFI outlet. Not sure WHY the builder put the first one in the run OUTSIDE, but it kills all of the outlets in the garage. Was wondering if I could find the run from the breaker box and relocate the GFI outlet in the crawl space under the house ?

This would be more productive if you simply replaced the breaker with a GFCI unit.

Clearly the elements / environment is not conducive to long term reliability at that location.

Is the weather cap on that outlet sound?

Teken . . .

 

[RickP]

Do you have one of the old style covers on it? I had this happen repeatedly in my old house, and eventually the cover had to be replaced. With an in-use cover, it doesn't happen that often.

Amazon in-use cover

 

[justsam]

I have to keep replacing the GFI outlet outside my front door. After a couple of years I can't reset the GFI outlet. Not sure WHY the builder put the first one in the run OUTSIDE, but it kills all of the outlets in the garage. Was wondering if I could find the run from the breaker box and relocate the GFI outlet in the crawl space under the house ?

Personally I would not want to go into the crawl space to reset a GFCI that has been legitimately tripped. I would agree that if the environment is not conducive to GFCI survival, than protect it more, or replace with a regular socket, and use a GFCI breaker.

Your original builder would have taken the shortest wiring path so if the outdoor socket was the closest to the breaker, than that became first in line to then feed the other downstream sockets in your garage.

 

[Kevin C]

One option is to use a weather resistant gfi combined with a decent in use cover.

 

[Tripp2012]

Garage outlets must be protected by GFCI. This would explain feeding the garage outlets on the load side of that outlet.

 

[1/2 Cup]

This would be more productive if you simply replaced the breaker with a GFCI unit.

Clearly the elements / environment is not conducive to long term reliability at that location.

Is the weather cap on that outlet sound?

Teken . . .

Totally agree, we always have issues when an Earth leakage/socket outlet combo (GFCI in your part of the world) is installed in the elements, even with a cover and IP 66 rated.

 

[sparky36000]

Pigtail the outside GFI and wire to line side only then go to next outlet inline inside the garage, remove regular receptacle and replace with a GFI. Wire incoming to line side and outgoing to the rest of the recps to load side. Problem solved, outside outlet is protected and garage outlets are protected and reset button is inside garage.

 

[CitadelBlue]

One option is to use a weather resistant gfi combined with a decent in use cover.

Yep ... did that ... and cover was OK ... but like the idea of the GFI breaker too ,,,,

 

[Gary S]

I'm surprised your GFI receptacle gives you problems. I've have 10 of them outdoors in boxes around my house, garage, and yard. Three of them are there 25 years, and the remaining 7 for 10 years with no failures.
I'm using the basic metal outdoor box with outdoor covers.

 

[wssix99]

I have to keep replacing the GFI outlet outside my front door. After a couple of years I can't reset the GFI outlet. Not sure WHY the builder put the first one in the run OUTSIDE, but it kills all of the outlets in the garage. Was wondering if I could find the run from the breaker box and relocate the GFI outlet in the crawl space under the house ?

Is it in a brick wall? I just had a similar problem in a masonry wall. The contractor used an interior box installed in the wall. Water was weeping in from behind the brick and bathing the outlet in water. (Evidently, they don't like that.)

If you have this situation - I sealed up all the holes and inside corners of the box with silicone and the outlet is still going strong after 7+ years.