[coffeebean]

Our front yard light post has an outlet in the post which is located about 3 feet off the ground level. Anyone know if our front yard light posts are connected to a GFI outlet? I checked the power to my light post early this morning when it was dark out by tripping both of the GFI outlets in my garage which turned off the power to those circuits. The post light still was lit up which tells me that the post light circuit is not on either one of the GFI outlets in my garage. To my knowledge I do not have any other GFI outlets anywhere in our home that can be tripped and reset.

So.......back to the original question: Are our light posts connected to a GFI outlet?

Thanks.

[Ecuadog]

Mine is connected to a circuit breaker in the panel. I believe it can be replaced by a GFI/GFCI circuit breaker.

[MrFlorida]

My light post is connected to a circuit breaker that controls the garage outlets.

[villagetinker]

Originally Posted by coffeebean

Our front yard light post has an outlet in the post which is located about 3 feet off the ground level. Anyone know if our front yard light posts are connected to a GFI outlet? I checked the power to my light post early this morning when it was dark out by tripping both of the GFI outlets in my garage which turned off the power to those circuits. The post light still was lit up which tells me that the post light circuit is not on either one of the GFI outlets in my garage. To my knowledge I do not have any other GFI outlets anywhere in our home that can be tripped and reset.

So.......back to the original question: Are our light posts connected to a GFI outlet?

Thanks.

Code requirements would require the post light to be connected to a GFCI breaker or a GFCI receptacle. There may be another GFCI in your garage, we have 4 in ours. It is possible (but unlikely) that the post light is connected to a bathroom GFCI receptacle. You can get an outlet tester that has a push button to test GFCI devices for less than $10. Plug this into the receptacle on the post lamp, cover the electric eye with black tape, and when the post light turns on press the test button. Both the light and the receptacle should turn off. Then your mission (should you decide to accept it) will be to fine the GFCI breaker or receptacle that tripped.

[photo1902]

Originally Posted by villagetinker

Code requirements would require the post light to be connected to a GFCI breaker or a GFCI receptacle. There may be another GFCI in your garage, we have 4 in ours. It is possible (but unlikely) that the post light is connected to a bathroom GFCI receptacle. You can get an outlet tester that has a push button to test GFCI devices for less than $10. Plug this into the receptacle on the post lamp, cover the electric eye with black tape, and when the post light turns on press the test button. Both the light and the receptacle should turn off. Then your mission (should you decide to accept it) will be to fine the GFCI breaker or receptacle that tripped.

Not the case. Depending on where in The Villages you live, some post lights are not GFCI protected.

This is completely separate from adding a receptacle to the pole.

[villagetinker]

Originally Posted by photo1902

Not the case. Depending on where in The Villages you live, some post lights are not GFCI protected.

This is completely separate from adding a receptacle to the pole.

OK, good point, I was thinking of the newer building codes, but you are correct, if this is an older house, there may not be a GFCI involved. In that case I would immediately replace the outdoor receptacle with a GFCI unit. Thank you for pointing this out.

[Wildc4ga]

If you have an older home and there hasn’t been a problem, don’t make one.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by villagetinker

Code requirements would require the post light to be connected to a GFCI breaker or a GFCI receptacle. There may be another GFCI in your garage, we have 4 in ours. It is possible (but unlikely) that the post light is connected to a bathroom GFCI receptacle. You can get an outlet tester that has a push button to test GFCI devices for less than $10. Plug this into the receptacle on the post lamp, cover the electric eye with black tape, and when the post light turns on press the test button. Both the light and the receptacle should turn off. Then your mission (should you decide to accept it) will be to fine the GFCI breaker or receptacle that tripped.

So........there are actually GFI breakers on the breaker panel in the garage? Not all GFI protected outlets are outlets with a reset button? Interesting.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by photo1902

Not the case. Depending on where in The Villages you live, some post lights are not GFCI protected.

This is completely separate from adding a receptacle to the pole.

OP here. I live in Mallory Square. The outlet on the light pole looks like the pole came with the outlet. It does not look like the outlet was added after the pole was installed as it is flush with the pole and does not have a "box" that sticks out.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by Wildc4ga

If you have an older home and there hasn’t been a problem, don’t make one.

Our home was built in 2007 so I guess that is considered to be an older home.

[Gpsma]

Our front light post has gone out a number of times. Its connected to a GFI that also will blow out all the outlets in the garage and on our lanai.

The idiots that built our house sunk the pole outside and didnt run the wire thru the hole in the pole. They ran it underneath. Over the years, the pole sank, cut the wire, and shorted out the whole GFI curcuit.

Lenhart Electric finally fixed it...dug up around the pole, totally insulated that wire, its been fine since then

One thing I learned...that pole light needs to work. Dont know if its a deed restriction but Lenhardt said they have had customers fined.
Guess im not alone with problems with wiring to that light.
They said, ifwe cant fix it, many people put a solar bulb on the light.

[villagetinker]

Originally Posted by coffeebean

So........there are actually GFI breakers on the breaker panel in the garage? Not all GFI protected outlets are outlets with a reset button? Interesting.

Our (2013 vintage house) has GFCI breakers, AFCI breakers, and regular breakers, as well as several GFCI receptacles. In any case, and IMHO, all outside receptacles should be protected by GFCI, and this is a very easy fix for a single receptacle.

[Decadeofdave]

After testing before removal and replacement I found it was connected to kitchen circuit (gfi, makes sense) so I re-marked panel breaker after I replaced the post and light myself.

[villagetinker]

Originally Posted by Decadeofdave

After testing before removal and replacement I found it was connected to kitchen circuit (gfi, makes sense) so I re-marked panel breaker after I replaced the post and light myself.

Thank you for the update.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by villagetinker

Our (2013 vintage house) has GFCI breakers, AFCI breakers, and regular breakers, as well as several GFCI receptacles. In any case, and IMHO, all outside receptacles should be protected by GFCI, and this is a very easy fix for a single receptacle.

I'll take a look at our breaker box in the garage. Will the GFCI breakers be marked vs the regular breakers?