Help with adding circuit breaker to main panel

[Rhizome]

I'd like some feedback regarding this electrical project. I want to add a circuit breaker to the main panel to feed a exterior receptacle in the backyard for low-voltage lighting (planned for 300 W transformer, so 2.5 amp draw at max load). I've already ran 12-3 UF-B wire in conduit buried 2 feet underground to right below the main panel. The run is about 90 feet.

The electrician who wired the main panel left a "courtesy" junction box that opens into the garage and has a blue conduit connecting to the main panel. It sits below the main panel, to the right of the ground stake. The garage wall is finished with sheet rock.

This is my tentative plan:

1. Run conduit up to the location of the "courtesy" junction box on the exterior of the house. Attach a conduit body (like this one) to the wall. Secure conduit and body to the stucco wall and seal the point of entry into the wall cavity.

2. Run the wire through conduit -> conduit body -> courtesy box into main panel.

3. Here is where I have question. At a minimum, I need a GFCI circuit breaker. Or should I put in a AFCI circuit breaker such as this one?

Anything wrong with this plan? Feedback is much appreciated.

 

[Stuart in MN]

You should mention what state or country you live in, but in the USA you use a GFCI for an outdoor receptacle - an AFCI is not required.

As for the GFCI, you can either use the type that's integrated with a circuit breaker that goes right in the panel, or you can use a GFCI receptacle with a regular circuit breaker in the panel. This second method is generally less expensive.

 

[Rhizome]

Stuart, good point. I live in the dry state of California.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Pics help. On circuits that run outdoors, away from buildings, I prefer (but it is not code) to use a circuit breaker with built in ground fault. This protects the entire wire run. Using a GFCI receptacle only protects what is plugged into it. Its just a personal preference. On receptacles that are on the exterior of the building I am OK with GFCI receptacles (weather resistant rated of course). This whole GFCI/AFCI/WR thing is getting quite expensive, and beyond the GFCI, which is proven technology, I'm not so sure that it is really needed.

Charles

 

[pattenp]

Why did you run 12-3? You only needed 12-2.

 

[Rhizome]

I lean toward the GFCI circuit breaker also. It might be the more expensive option, but it protects the entire circuit as stated above.

Here is a picture of the main panel before the sheet rock went up. It is located in the NE corner of the garage. I can access the ground stake from the exterior because it has a gang box and cover. The "courtesy" gang box is opened to the interior of the garage only, but it has "knock-outs" at the back. As you can see, that is the easiest route up to the location of the circuit breakers.

By 12-3, I meant to note a wire with one neutral, one hot, and one ground wire.