GFI protecting outdoor floodlights

Donald

Donald

Joined
Mar 21, 2004
Messages
31,820
Location
Near the beach in Delaware
I have two LED floodlights mounted in the front yard with underground wiring going to a blank GFI.

The GFI has popped and will not stay ON when reset.

Took all the wires apart in the first box. So nothing is connected to anything. GFI still pops.

Disconnected feed wire at GFI and measured 100K resistance. Not sure why it's not infinity?

I think the feed wire is UF cable in conduit at least some of the way. Given the condition of the covers on outdoor box, there certainly could be water in the conduit.

Ideas to check next?
 
Donald said:
I have two LED floodlights mounted in the front yard with underground wiring going to a blank GFI.

The GFI has popped and will not stay ON when reset.

Took all the wires apart in the first box. So nothing is connected to anything. GFI still pops.

Disconnected feed wire at GFI and measured 100K resistance. Not sure why it's not infinity?

I think the feed wire is UF cable in conduit at least some of the way. Given the condition of the covers on outdoor box, there certainly could be water in the conduit.

Ideas to check next?
Click to expand...
try connecting the fixtures directly to the incoming power? if the breaker doesn't trip there are no shorts to ground. as mentioned possible faulty gfci. are these fixtures high enough out of reach that a gfci is not needed? my exterior lights are not gfci protected house built 2021.
 
Donald said:
I have two LED floodlights mounted in the front yard with underground wiring going to a blank GFI.

The GFI has popped and will not stay ON when reset.

Took all the wires apart in the first box. So nothing is connected to anything. GFI still pops.

Disconnected feed wire at GFI and measured 100K resistance. Not sure why it's not infinity?

I think the feed wire is UF cable in conduit at least some of the way. Given the condition of the covers on outdoor box, there certainly could be water in the conduit.

Ideas to check next?
Click to expand...
try putting a shopvac to the conduit and see if it is filled with water that can give you a nuisance trip
 
In some states, ( ex: New York ), it is electrical code to use " weather resistant" GFCI's" on ALL electric running outdoors. Although, I do admit, when I purchase a house, I do remove ALL exterior GFCI's., ( They are one hell of a PITA ), and replace them with 99 cent run of the mill outlets. Then, when I sell, I put the GFCI's back. LOL " :)......The circuit breaker catches everything anyway, that's my theory behind it. Now, if the circuit breaker keeps trippin for no reason, then I know there's a problem somewhere. But I DBC'd all my wiring just using plain old Chinese orange extension cords, and taped the connections. Didn't even go for the extra $$$$ for DBC cable.... I'll never find the problem anyway. Cut/ Cap/ leave in place. Real shoe maker electrical work.....but..still workin after 10 years !!!!!! I'll be moving again soon, so everything will get cut/capped. Ex: All the wiring to 2 sheds. There's no CO on them anyway, gotta go bye bye.
 
Donald said:
It's an outdoor flood light and outlet. Red is hot to floodlights and black is hot to outlet. In front yard. Blank GFI in garage powers both.
Click to expand...
did you inspect the receptacle? if its loaded with corrosion it'll trip the gfci. replace with a WR recep. its still possible you have a bad or failing gfci with a load on it. i would wire the floods to the line side of the gfci no need for them to be gfci protected.
 
Donald said:
I have two LED floodlights mounted in the front yard with underground wiring going to a blank GFI.

The GFI has popped and will not stay ON when reset.

Took all the wires apart in the first box. So nothing is connected to anything. GFI still pops.

Disconnected feed wire at GFI and measured 100K resistance. Not sure why it's not infinity?

I think the feed wire is UF cable in conduit at least some of the way. Given the condition of the covers on outdoor box, there certainly could be water in the conduit.

Ideas to check next?
Click to expand...
I don't believe circuits that only go to outside lights above a certain height, like 6 or 8 feet are required to be gfi when switched by an indoor light switch exactly because of this reason.
I've wired up a lot of outdoor lights and never put them on gfi breakers.
Outdoor light fixtures just getting wet can make gfi breakers trip.
 
oil pan 4 said:
I don't believe circuits that only go to outside lights above a certain height, like 6 or 8 feet are required to be gfi when switched by an indoor light switch exactly because of this reason.
I've wired up a lot of outdoor lights and never put them on gfi breakers.
Outdoor light fixtures just getting wet can make gfi breakers trip.
Click to expand...
I bought a house that had a down stairs bathroom. Full bath. But lights were GFCI. Total bover. Get outta here. I was able to grab power elsewhere as I recall

I agree with everyone saying nothing to be gained protecting lights and lots of downsides
 
50yr Street Mech said:
In some states, ( ex: New York ), it is electrical code to use " weather resistant" GFCI's" on ALL electric running outdoors. Although, I do admit, when I purchase a house, I do remove ALL exterior GFCI's., ( They are one hell of a PITA ), and replace them with 99 cent run of the mill outlets. Then, when I sell, I put the GFCI's back. LOL " :)......The circuit breaker catches everything anyway, that's my theory behind it. Now, if the circuit breaker keeps trippin for no reason, then I know there's a problem somewhere. But I DBC'd all my wiring just using plain old Chinese orange extension cords, and taped the connections. Didn't even go for the extra $$$$ for DBC cable.... I'll never find the problem anyway. Cut/ Cap/ leave in place. Real shoe maker electrical work.....but..still workin after 10 years !!!!!! I'll be moving again soon, so everything will get cut/capped. Ex: All the wiring to 2 sheds. There's no CO on them anyway, gotta go bye bye.
Click to expand...
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! Don't listen to him. :) 99 cent residential outlets are kryptonite, only use commercial grade outlets. Spend the $2.00 more per outlet, for some quality that can take a load. Those garbage outlet should be banned. :)
 
Ok, put the $ 2.00 outlets in. Whatever makes you happy. Anyway, my 2017 house, in New York State, came with 5 outdoor outlets. They were all WR rated GFCI outlets. Friggin useless. Had those fancy weather resistant covers on them. Did nothing. Looked up NYS electrical code on the Internet. Yep, they are required in New York State. You plug in some X-mas lights, and the GFCI trips the moment it rains or snows. Stupidest code in the world !!!!....So, I would just change the outlets and haven't had a problem. Don't use them much anyway. A few strings of X-mas lights in the winter,,, and a small vacuum to clean the cars.
 
I only use WR receptacles outdoors they have a nylon face that holds up better to uv have stainless yokes and lugs coated in either nickel or monel for corrosion resistance.
 
Donald said:
I have two LED floodlights mounted in the front yard with underground wiring going to a blank GFI.

The GFI has popped and will not stay ON when reset.

Took all the wires apart in the first box. So nothing is connected to anything. GFI still pops.

Disconnected feed wire at GFI and measured 100K resistance. Not sure why it's not infinity?

I think the feed wire is UF cable in conduit at least some of the way. Given the condition of the covers on outdoor box, there certainly could be water in the conduit.

Ideas to check next?
Click to expand...
Likely a faulty gfi box
 
oil pan 4 said:
I don't believe circuits that only go to outside lights above a certain height, like 6 or 8 feet are required to be gfi when switched by an indoor light switch exactly because of this reason.
I've wired up a lot of outdoor lights and never put them on gfi breakers.
Outdoor light fixtures just getting wet can make gfi breakers trip.
Click to expand...
These are about 1' above the grass.

PXL_20250718_230003390.webp
 
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