Outdoor receptacle detached block building?

[madosta]

So I redid some of my wiring this weekend and haven't talked to my electrician yet to see if he had any outdoor receptacle boxes and covers, so I haven't done anything outside.

In the pic, the recepts highlighted in red, directly behind them outside is an old romex fed receptacle. I wouldn't mind keeping it, but are my boxes full? I have 5 grounds already in one box.

Can I bring romex in from the outside through the block?
Using stranded THHN in the counduit now.
What kind of outside surface mount box is favorite?
Do I need a GFCI outside as well?

Maybe I should pigtail it behind the gfci currently in place and have another GFCI outside?

 

[pattenp]

NEC does not allow for the use of NM (Romex) in wet or damp areas or its direct placement within masonry.

 

[madosta]

NEC does not allow for the use of NM (Romex) in wet or damp areas or its direct placement within masonry.

Perfect. That answers one of my questions. With that being said, the proper method would be to drill a big enough hole to put EMT through it and pull THWN?

I would rather not go out the back of the existing boxes. I wonder if EMT or PVC down and out would be a better idea. Hmmm...

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Wow, thats a lot of stuff crammed in those boxes. How many circuits do you have supplying those receptacles and lights thru those boxes?

I would seriously consider running another conduit out of the box, possibly just above the existing boxes, and run it thru the wall into the back of a proper weatherproof box (such as a Bell box) with the proper cover, on the outside. You might have to mortar closed a few holes from the old box, but that would be the neatest thing. Use a GFCI receptacle on the outside.

Charles

 

[madosta]

Wow, thats a lot of stuff crammed in those boxes. How many circuits do you have supplying those receptacles and lights thru those boxes?

I would seriously consider running another conduit out of the box, possibly just above the existing boxes, and run it thru the wall into the back of a proper weatherproof box (such as a Bell box) with the proper cover, on the outside. You might have to mortar closed a few holes from the old box, but that would be the neatest thing. Use a GFCI receptacle on the outside.

Charles

The bottom only has one one 20amp circuit (GFCI) 12ga, then the switches have one 15amp 14ga stranded pulled to them and a common 12ga green ground.

I agree, there's no room for any more IMHO to keep it neat.

I think that's what I plan on doing, just don't know about the THWN and PVC vs EMT through the block to a weatherproof surface mount box with an in-use cover and a new GFCI.

 

[VHF]

NEC does not allow for the use of NM (Romex) in wet or damp areas or its direct placement within masonry.

Is it permissible to place UF within masonry?

 

[Charles (in GA)]

A piece of rigid (essentially water pipe) will screw right into the back of a Bell box and on the inside you can use a threaded LB and either rigid to the panel, or a EMT connector screwed into the LB.

You won't have the bulkiness of a EMT connector on the back of the Bell box that way.

Charles

 

[madosta]

A piece of rigid (essentially water pipe) will screw right into the back of a Bell box and on the inside you can use a threaded LB and either rigid to the panel, or a EMT connector screwed into the LB.

You won't have the bulkiness of a EMT connector on the back of the Bell box that way.

Charles

Good idea.

Can I use an EMT pull elbow at the rigid through the wall?

 

[pattenp]

Is it permissible to place UF within masonry?

It would need to be in conduit. NM can pass through masonry if placed in a protective sleeve/conduit. Neither can be placed directly within masonry or concrete per the NEC.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Good idea.

Can I use an EMT pull elbow at the rigid through the wall?

EMT fittings will not directly fit on the threads (or smooth part) of rigid conduit. That is partly why I suggested the LB made for threads.

Charles