What am I missing in this wiring configuration?

[jpcjguy]

Hi all,

So I added 2 new outdoor lights on trees for the driveway. I also added a 2-gang outside receptacle box (two GFCI outlets) on the front the of the house and 2 switches inside.
The thought is one switch will control power to one outlet - this is for front of house christmas lights.
The other outlet is always hot and acts as the neutral for the outdoor lights which are controlled by the other switch. The lights are motion sensor, but I still like to have the ability to control them with a "master switch".

Here is a simple wiring diagram I put together to show what I mean:

I left the grounds out of the picture for clarity, but they all join together.

My issue is the GFCI do not appear to work properly. If I hit the test button, it does not reset.

I feel like I am missing something? Am I doing something wrong?
Any help appreciated!

Thanks
Joe

 

[jkwilson]

Your right outlet seems to have two power sources.

 

[nadogail]

The GFCI is looking for equal line and neutral current loads, a unbalanced (currents not being equal) GFCI will shut down. The GFCI assumes the lack of balance means that the GFCI has assumed that electrical energy has "leaked" and might be shocking somebody.

 

[jpcjguy]

Your right outlet seems to have two power sources.

You mean if the switch is on, correct? Good point.

I did some searching online and found this diagram:

Should I run a single "white" wire from the neutrals of the lights back to the junction box and add it to the source "neutral"?

 

[jpcjguy]

Something like this:

Basically a new wire that goes from the light neutrals(yellow circle) to the source neutral. This way the right side GFCI has only a hot an neutral from the source - no piggybacking.

 

[Mustang51js]

Take the neutral and use a wire nut with two tails,one to each outlet

 

[Mustang51js]

And also make sure your going into the line side of the gfi,with power and load side to the lights

 

[Mustang51js]

Are you running the lights off the gfi or bypassing the gfi and wire nutting them through

 

[jpcjguy]

Are you running the lights off the gfi or bypassing the gfi and wire nutting them through

The lights are "powered" by the red line from the switch -they are joined by a wire nut in the outlet box - not going through the GFCI. I thought I could then join the light neutrals with the right side GFCI outlet neutral, since they all go back to the source.....