Wiring for an Outdoor Light and Outlet
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How Can I Wire an Outdoor GFCI Circuit for Outlets and Lighting: Install an outlet on a lamp post near the driveway: GFCI Wiring Connections for Outside Outlet and Lighting |
Outdoor Lighting and GFCI Wiring
Electrical Question #1: I need help with an outdoor circuit for an outlet and light fixture.
- Years ago, I wanted to install an outlet on a lamp post near the driveway.
- Rather than trying to find a GFCI outlet to put in the pole, one was installed in the house and the wiring run off of load side of the outlet in the house to the lamp post outlet.
- This worked fine for years.
Now I’m installing an outlet on the front porch. I ran the wiring off of the same load side of the GFCI in the house that worked for the lamp post outlet but any time anything is even plugged into the porch outlet, it trips the GFCI outlet in the house. - What am I missing?
Originally had used the same common wire for the lamp post outlet and the light in the post and it wouldn’t work. I ran a separate common and that worked fine. - The one for the porch outlet is separate cabling all together run off of the same load side of the GFCI in the house.
Background: Tom, a Homeowner in Wisconsin.
Electrical Question #2:
- I ran an outside light(used a pre made metal clad service cable from switch to light) with an added dusk to dawn sensor and attached the line to an existing receptacle inside of the house.
- The receptacle was the only item on the original line. Everything worked fine until I decided to change to a GFCI receptacle, the GFCI will not set.
- I have tried two separate GFCI’s, same result. #1 – Do I need a GFCI at all. #2 The green grounds appear to be the problem, how do they relate to the bare ground wire?
This electrical wiring question came from Virginia.
Dave’s Reply:
Thank you for your electrical questions.
How to Wire an Outdoor GFCI Circuit for Outlets and Lighting
- Application: Install Outdoor Light Fixture.
- Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced. This electrical project is best Installed by a Licensed Electrical Contractor or Certified Electrician.
- Tools Required: Basic Electricians Tool Pouch of Electrical Tools, and Voltage Tester, Fiberglass Ladder.
- Estimated Time: Depends on personal level experience working with electrical wiring, the number of lights that will be replaced or installed and access to the light fixtures.
- Precaution: Identify the lighting circuit or power source, turn it OFF and Tag it with a Note before working with the electrical wiring and light fixture connections.
- Notice: Installing additional electrical wiring for outdoor lighting should be done according to local and national electrical codes with a permit and be inspected.
GFCI Wiring Connections for Outside Outlet and Lighting
Tom, check your electrical wiring connections as follows:
- Make sure of your LINE and LOAD connections at the GFCI Outlet.
- Check the wiring of the other devices that are using the circuit.
- Is the original electrical cable going to the post light protected, or is it leaking voltage.
More about GFCI and Outdoor Electrical Wiring
Wiring Outlets
Wiring Electrical Outlet for the Home
Home electrical wiring includes 110 volt outlets and 220 volt outlets and receptacles which are common place in every home. See how wiring electrical outlets for the home are done.
Home Electrical Wire
Electrical Wire for the Home
Complete listing of electrical wire types and parts used for home projects with electrical code information serves as selection guidelines.
For more information about GFCI Wiring
GFCI Wiring
Wiring GFCI Outlets
This list of articles will help you learn about the features and benefits provided by GFI and GFCI Receptacles and how they are wired.
This link is helpful as a Homeowner
Do-It-Yourself Electrical
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Be Careful and Be Safe - Never Work on Energized Circuits!
Consult your Local Building Department about Permits and Inspections for all Electric Wiring Projects.
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I’m installing a photo eye sensor on a pole light that also has an outlet. After I connected everything, I still have a Green wire from the outlet and a Ground wire from the light topper. Do these two wires get connected along with the white wires or do they get wired together just by themselves?
Hi Jim, Great Question,
A green wire or bare copper wire are ground wires which are connected together with the ground wire of the circuit which provides the power. The outlet at this outdoor location should be GFCI protected as well.
I hope this helps,
Dave