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+-- Thread: Do Garage Outlets Have to be GFCI ? (/showthread.php?tid=7333511)
Do Garage Outlets Have to be GFCI ? - DieselDennis - 09-25-2017
Do outlets in the garage have to be GFCI?
I had heard at one time that outlets in a garage had to be GFCI unless they were dedicated to an appliance (like a fridge or freezer). Last year I installed two 20A outlets in my garage and dutifully put a GFCI in the first one so they would both be protected.
Had a contractor show up last week to do some work and must have had a GFCI built into the tool. It was a masonry saw, and even though he was dry cutting, it must have had a GFCI because as soon as he pulled the trigger the GFCI would trip. I know enough to know that you can't have two GFCIs in the same circuit.
I removed the GFCI out of the circuit so he could run his saw, but before I put things back, what's the official code on this? Does it have to be GFCI?
*** responses to this thread are sought after and will be respectfully considered, but may not have deciding factor in what I decide to do ***
RE: Do Garage Outlets Have to be GFCI ? - TDKPE - 09-25-2017
Last I heard, the exceptions for appliances like fridges, and even loads not readily accessible, including ceiling receptacles for garage door openers, have been removed, meaning any and all 120V receptacle in a garage must be GFCI protected.
Edit: Since the 2008 code cycle.
RE: Do Garage Outlets Have to be GFCI ? - Roly - 09-25-2017
(09-25-2017, 12:35 PM)TDKPE Wrote: Last I heard, the exceptions for appliances like fridges, and even loads not readily accessible, including ceiling receptacles for garage door openers, have been removed, meaning any and all 120V receptacle in a garage must be GFCI protected.
Edit: Since the 2008 code cycle.
Agree with TDKPE all 120 v receptacles must be GFCI in garage. Roly
RE: Do Garage Outlets Have to be GFCI ? - Snipe Hunter - 09-25-2017
(09-25-2017, 12:56 PM)Roly Wrote: Agree with TDKPE all 120 v receptacles must be GFCI in garage. Roly
Unless they were installed prior to the municipality requiring them.
RE: Do Garage Outlets Have to be GFCI ? - EricU - 09-26-2017
motors will trip a gfci. That's why they had an exception for refrigerators. I am trying to think of a reason why you can't string a whole batch of gfci's in a row. Certainly, they have to truly be in series with no parallel current paths.
RE: Do Garage Outlets Have to be GFCI ? - Roly - 09-26-2017
(09-26-2017, 07:29 AM)EricU Wrote: motors will trip a gfci. That's why they had an exception for refrigerators. I am trying to think of a reason why you can't string a whole batch of gfci's in a row. Certainly, they have to truly be in series with no parallel current paths.
Newer GFCI's are a lot better with false tripping as far as motors. If the GFCI's in a string are wired as you said with no parallel paths (including neutrals) it is just a matter which one will trip first. There have been some issues with the new self testing gfcis failing shortly after installing but I am not familiar with them. They are supposed to just check the electronics but not trip during self test. Roly
RE: Do Garage Outlets Have to be GFCI ? - EricU - 09-26-2017
I imagine the cost engineering has something to do with early failures. There's a computer in there, at least there is in an AFCI