Receptacles on 15A Circuit

[Do_it_yourself]

Hello All,
I have four 4 foot fluorescent hanging lights with power cords attached that I want to hang in my shop. I want to run emt with #14 thhn to the ceiling and install receptacles on a 15A circuit. These would be controlled by a wall switch. I know it's preferred to have receptacles on a 20A circuit. My question is: Does the NEC allow me to install these receptacles in the ceiling for lights on a 15A breaker? I assume the first receptacle in the series will have to be a GFCI? Thanks in advance!

 

[pattenp]

Yes, and yes the outlets need to be GFCI protected.

 

[CADPoint]

How high is the ceiling?
Are you going to be using the other side of the receptacle?

I'm assume you are going to be using duplex receptacles? You could use
a single receptacle/per.

You could run 14 AWG in pipe and 12 AWG, and break the clip, splitting
the receptacle, but that's a lot of work.

I would do anything in Garage 20 Amp, but that's me! Most tools are run around
12 amps now thats stretching 15 Amps...

Anything in Garage 15 or 20 needs GFCI protection. (by Code)

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Hello All,
I have four 4 foot fluorescent hanging lights with power cords attached that I want to hang in my shop. I want to run emt with #14 thhn to the ceiling and install receptacles on a 15A circuit. These would be controlled by a wall switch. I know it's preferred to have receptacles on a 20A circuit. My question is: Does the NEC allow me to install these receptacles in the ceiling for lights on a 15A breaker? I assume the first receptacle in the series will have to be a GFCI? Thanks in advance!

Since lights are considered continous load, youre allowed 80% of circuit ampacity which equates to 12a on a 15a circuit. I would just use a 20a circuit that way u have more room for expansion in case u ever wanted more lights. A 15a duplex recepticle can be put on a 20a circuit!

How high is the ceiling?
Are you going to be using the other side of the receptacle?

I'm assume you are going to be using duplex receptacles? You could use
a single receptacle/per.

You could run 14 AWG in pipe and 12 AWG, and break the clip, splitting
the receptacle, but that's a lot of work.

I would do anything in Garage 20 Amp, but that's me! Most tools are run around
12 amps now thats stretching 15 Amps...

Anything in Garage 15 or 20 needs GFCI protection. (by Code)

Huh?

 

[pattenp]

Huh?

I believe he's suggesting to have 2 circuits to the outlets by breaking the tabs and have half of the outlet for the lights at 15A and the other half at 20A.

 

[Do_it_yourself]

Thanks guys, I appreciate all of the input!!!

 

[alfredeneuman]

I believe he's suggesting to have 2 circuits to the outlets by breaking the tabs and have half of the outlet for the lights at 15A and the other half at 20A.

And to that would require a handle tie to connect the 2 single pole breakers together, and that only becomes more complicated when GFIs are involved.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

And good luck finding a handle tied breaker with a 15a and a 20a...

 

[alfredeneuman]

The handle ties are sold separately, and allow any single pole breaker to be connected to the other.

They aren't meant to be used as a 2 pole breaker, with their common trip mechanism, but they are perfectly acceptable as a method to connect the breakers in a multi-wire circuit such as this one.

 

[Speedy Petey]

Both the ideas of splitting the receptacles in the ceiling, and/or using single receptacles are silly.
-If you need power in the ceiling, run a separate power circuit where you need them.
-Single receptacles for plug in ceiling lights is a waste of money. Just use regular duplex. They all have to be GFI protected anyway.

 

[justsam]

Where will the GFCI be that is feeding all these light circuits?
If it is the first in a string, up on the ceiling, then I would not use a GFCI outlet, but rather a GFCI breaker. I would not want to get on a ladder to reset lights under the rare case of a GFCI trip.

 

[alfredeneuman]

I would not want to get on a ladder to reset lights under the rare case of a GFCI trip.

GFIs are required to be readily accessible, so using the ladder is out.

An alternative to the GFI breaker is to use one of these:

known as a "faceless GFI" or a "dead front GFI", which could be on the wall in the same box as the switch(es)

 

[sands35]

+1 on dead-fronted GFCI. You could also replace the cord with armored flex, hard wire the lights in and side-step the GFCI, but that would cost more than a dead-front GFCI and outlets.

If the run is complicated, then perhaps a GFCI breaker?

15 amps is plenty for most light circuits, but you should do the math on current draw.

 

[sberry]

Aint no problem outing a couple recepts on 15A circuits for lights in a garage. I wouldn't bother gfci.

 

[Mustang51js]

Wether it's right or wrong I have never put a outlet on the ceiling in a garage on a gfi, or the lighting circuit, and have never been questioned about it or failed from inspector. The way they understand it around here is since it's non readily accessible then it's not needed. Only the outlets in reach are gfi protected. I would check with local inspector and see what they say if your worried about it.

 

[sberry]

At first a guy wants to hard wire everything in sight but the longer I am at this the more I like a cord and plug, a 3 way and a power strip,,, hahaha

 

[Speedy Petey]

Wether it's right or wrong I have never put a outlet on the ceiling in a garage on a gfi, or the lighting circuit, and have never been questioned about it or failed from inspector. The way they understand it around here is since it's non readily accessible then it's not needed. Only the outlets in reach are gfi protected. I would check with local inspector and see what they say if your worried about it.

This has been code required for quite a while now. I am surprised your guys let you get away with that.

 

[Quijote]

This has been code required for quite a while now. I am surprised your guys let you get away with that.

Ugh. I didn't know that. Is it code that it has to be accessible? I don't mind reaching to reset it on my 10' ceiling, but adding the GFI on the wall would **** since my garage is finished. I'm going for final inspection in a week or so.

 

[pattenp]

One issue I see with an outlet on the ceiling not being GFI protected is its a common practice for cord reels to be hung from the ceiling using those outlets as the power source. You then end up with that reel cord being used with hand tools down on the floor or extended for outside use.

 

[sands35]

As I understand the code (sorry, I get flashes of Pirates of the Caribbean every time I say that. ), all 120 VAC outlets are to be GFCI protected, regardless of the location. There isn't even an exception for TR outlets in a detached garage. Your AHJ *may* let TR slide in a crawl space or someplace like that, but that is up to the AHJ.

Hardwire lights do not require GFCI, nor do 240VAC outlets.

 

[Quijote]

As I understand the code (sorry, I get flashes of Pirates of the Caribbean every time I say that. ), all 120 VAC outlets are to be GFCI protected, regardless of the location. There isn't even an exception for TR outlets in a detached garage. Your AHJ *may* let TR slide in a crawl space or someplace like that, but that is up to the AHJ.

Hardwire lights do not require GFCI, nor do 240VAC outlets.

I think the most painless but pricey option may be to just buy GFCI breakers if I get called out on it.

 

[Elmo4895]

I think the most painless but pricey option may be to just buy GFCI breakers if I get called out on it.

+1 on the GFCI breaker

 

[Mustang51js]

I never put outlets on garage ceiling for lights so that could be a reason why I never get questioned, only outlets I put on ceiling are for garage door openers and never on a gfi. Lighting circuit I never put on gfi but now it goes on an arc fault breaker anyway.