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Posted By: Admin Receptacle Control for Christmas Lighting - 12/19/07 02:33 AM
Quote
Here's a solution I came up with to GFCI protect the receptacles on a second story eave for Christmas lighting.

A GFCI module and a simple light switch so the HO can simply turn the lights on and off. What do you think?

Matt

[Linked Image from electrical-photos.com]

[Linked Image from electrical-photos.com]
Posted By: leland Re: Receptacle Control for Christmas Lighting - 12/19/07 02:43 AM
Good idea.
Posted By: KJay Re: Receptacle Control for Christmas Lighting - 12/19/07 03:02 AM
Neat.
Is that a Cooper dead front gfci?
That looks a lot cleaner than the Leviton and P&S I normally use. cool
[Linked Image]
Good concept. Just carious though. Is that you on an aluminium ladder doing electrical work? smirk
In both my home and my brothers home, I installed a 2 ckt time switch next to the breaker panel. All receptacles on the front of the house, including those under the porch eves, are wired thru the switch. I also wired the center porch light thru the switch (there are 3 small can lights) I also mounted 2 sp switches below the time switch. During the Christmas season the switches are left off. All the receptacles are controlled by the timer. The rest of the year, they are on bypassing the timer, making all the receptacles hot, allowing use of tools and such. Robert
Posted By: Matt_G Re: Receptacle Control for Christmas Lighting - 12/19/07 05:23 AM
Don't remember the manufacturer of the GFCI module, it came off the Lowe's shelf.

Yes that's an aluminum ladder, HOWEVER she (my wife, business partner, and licensed apprentice) was working on de-energized 12-2wg, simply making the pigtails and installing the cut-in boxes and receptacles.

The circuit runs to the GFCI, the neutral continues from load side of GFCI to the receptacles and the hot runs (from load side of GFCI) through the switch and on to the receptacles.

Concerning the ladder, I do have a picture of me doing a tie-in from hot triplex to service pole. Ofcourse that's from a fiberglass ladder.

Should have seen my wife's face the first time I said "Watch this". Showed her the circuit for a light ficture was hot, was standing on a 6'fiberglass ladder (making sure not to be grounded), and touched the hot conductor. PRICELESS!

Matt
I see, you use the fiberglass ladder and the wife uses the aluminium... wink
Posted By: Zapped Re: Receptacle Control for Christmas Lighting - 12/21/07 02:17 PM
Funny thing sparkyinak, that's exactly what I was thinking...
Posted By: Redsy Re: Receptacle Control for Christmas Lighting - 12/22/07 01:17 PM
[Should have seen my wife's face the first time I said "Watch this". Showed her the circuit for a light ficture was hot, was standing on a 6'fiberglass ladder (making sure not to be grounded), and touched the hot conductor.] PRICELESS!

One time I "made sure" I wasn't grounded, and my knee touched a control cabinet while I was working on a 480 volt system. Hello 277, goodbye dirty underwear!
I like that idea with the GFI right beside the switch like that.. Sure beats going out to reset a GFI in the cold and wet!
At my parents place I have all their outdoor lighting and outlets for festive lighting controlled off a photo control that drives a contactor in the basement.. Works well... GFI's are in the basement too..

A.D
Leviton makes a combi GFCI/Switch. It requires only 1 gang.

Leviton 8299

You may have to special order it.
I have seen those and I think my old place of employment stocks them.. the ONLY problem with them is the switch is rated at something like 600 - 800W MAX... Not ideal for Christmas lighting unless of course its all LED!


A.D
The switch is rated at 1000 Watts per Leviton's catalog.
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