ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area GFI outlet in conjunction with GFI breaker??

that's another problem locating a tripped device that usually gets blocked by shelves and furniture

I prefer having GFI receptacles because if you trip the GFI it is easier to reset right there. You don't have to go all the way back to the first GFI device.

OTOH if someone gets thrifty and the GFI receptacle is behind the fridge or in the garage a breaker would be a lot easier to find.

They tried to address some of this by requiring the GFCI be readily accessible in the 2011 cycle but once the user moves in, anything goes.

I believe you're only allowed 3 to 4 receptacles downstream from the GFI's, Load Side .. in california anyway .. the breaker is the best way to cover the whole branch circuit .. just make sure the circuit to protect isnt a multiwire ..
ex: 14/3 .. 12/3

Mark:
To the best of my knowledge, there is no restriction on the quantity of downstream devices.

There may be local requirements.

Hmm. maybe the code has changed recently, it use to be up to 4, but maybe that was just california .. I'll have to check the code for the heck of it ..

just looked it up online, dang it ranges from 2 to 5 to 8 to as many as ya want, to resistive factoring .. crazy

I suppose I should finally invest into a new code book .. I'm behind about 12 years .. granted I seem to keep passing inspection.

I know ... get with the program

You can go back to 110.3 (b) (mfg instructions). We had a thread on this subject back somewhere.

As you said, it could be a local requirement.

If you follow careful wiring practices you can have a butt load of stuff behind a GFCI.
My whole pool deck is on one (14 lamp holders of lighting and a couple receptacles) along with several motion lights.

I don't know how much wire in pipe I have but it is a bunch.

It never occurred to me it was a bad thing until someone told me.
I keep thinking I will split it up but I am leaving it until I have a problem.