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2 votes
1 answer
518 views

Outdoor outlet on round box

I have 2 of the following round boxes at my home hidden behind a cover: Now I'd like to mount an outlet on it, and I'm trying to understand what the right things to use are. To my understanding, this ...
1 vote
0 answers
82 views

120 outlet in an outdoor electrical cabinet

I have an existing 110V outlet behind a weatherproof cover in my side yard, on the exterior wall. Above it the backyard patio company has installed a small metal outdoor electrical box (6”x12”x5”) ...
0 votes
2 answers
558 views

How can I install an outlet in a disused hot tub breaker panel?

I removed the old hot tub in my backyard and I would like to know how to reuse the existing electrical setup to put an outlet there instead. The first picture shows the electrical panel that was ...
0 votes
1 answer
77 views

GFCI for outdoor outlet?

I’m looking to add an outlet outside. The circuit I’d like to tap into currently has a gfci 2 outlets “up” line from where I’d add on. It’s a small circuit without a lot of real load draws. Can/should ...
0 votes
1 answer
1k views

Exterior surface mount outlet w/ conduit through soffit

I'm looking into mounting a TV on my patio on the exterior wall of my brick home. Only problem is, the best place for it is the exterior of a masonry fireplace/chimney, so I can't drill through the ...
4 votes
4 answers
16k views

What is the proper way to flush-mount an outdoor electrical outlet?

There are many outdoor electrical outlet boxes such that the entire box is mounted to the surface and then a wire comes in from the back. ... but what is the proper way to mount a box behind an ...
14 votes
4 answers
12k views

Why not use a plastic receptacle box for an outdoor outlet?

This answer says "... it should be possible to cut into the wall and install a metal box (don't use plastic, please) [for an outdoor outlet]." What are the problems associated with using a ...
9 votes
3 answers
4k views

White stuff growing in an outside electrical outlet

What is this white, pasty stuff growing in my outside electrical outlet? It has shorted our the circuit
1 vote
1 answer
2k views

Do I need an GFCI Breaker if my outdoor outlets are GFCI

I am building an outdoor kitchen and have Alcan 3/c 12awg insulated and shielded wiring running underground from the house to the outdoor kitchen (This was left over from a previous gas heated hot tub)...
1 vote
0 answers
120 views

NEC code requirements for clearance of outdoor receptacle

I'm planting full-grown trees from a nursery along the perimeter of my property. There is an existing outdoor receptacle on the concrete barrier dividing my property line about 6-12" above the ...
4 votes
1 answer
2k views

Grounding for Outdoor Outlet

I have an outdoor outlet about 60' from my house. It is properly wired using an underground cable with ground. It is in a plastic box with plastic conduit protecting the stub-up. Recently a tree ...
0 votes
1 answer
238 views

Do outdoor outlet covers have standard sizes / screw placement?

Do outdoor outlet covers have standard sizes / screw placement? I would like to replace the cover pictured below (preferably without having to replace the whole box). The cover has BWF on the front, ...
1 vote
1 answer
3k views

How to extend an outdoor single gang electrical box to a 2 gang electrical box

I have a single gang electrical box on an outside wall of my home. I need to expand it so it can house two GFCI outlets on separate circuits. I have been looking for an extender with an opening in the ...
4 votes
1 answer
13k views

NEC code requirements for exterior outlet

Are there any code requirements with regard to the position of an electrical receptacle on an exterior wall? Such as distance above the ground, distance from a corner, distance down from a roof ...
4 votes
4 answers
3k views

Nema 6-15 to nema 5-15 (hot hot ground)

Let me preface this by saying i did my research, i got an electric car and the charger is limited to 12A draw internally, but it is designed to handle both nema 6-15 and nema 5-15 specs. If you run it ...
1 vote
1 answer
210 views

Two outdoor outlets not functioning..what is the most likely cause [closed]

I have two outdoor electrical outlets that are not working. They are both GFCI and close to each other. 10 feet above one is a floodlight receptacle that is controlled by an interior switch inside the ...
8 votes
2 answers
8k views

What do you mount an outdoor electric box to when it's not near your house?

We'll be laying out several new driveway slabs for our daughters to park on when commuting to college, and need a couple of NEMA 14-50 outlets near those slabs as they both want Nissan Leafs. We will ...
1 vote
1 answer
739 views

Why does an remote indoor switch control a outdoor power outlet

I moved in a house and found it very odd that an outdoor outlet is controlled by an indoor switch that is quite far from it. There are two switches in the picture, one controls lights on the deck, the ...
-2 votes
1 answer
887 views

Can I create an outlet from patio light but always powered on

I am trying to provide an main source for security system. I don't have any socket outside but I do have lights. Could it be possible to construct an outlet or drive a main from this lights so that I ...
0 votes
1 answer
180 views

Indoor switch for outside outlet

According to the NEC, if I have an outside power outlet, like on my deck, that is part of a bigger circuit with other outlets, do I have to have an indoor switch that controls that outlet so that I ...
-1 votes
1 answer
317 views

Replacement outdoor GFCI has also stopped working

I moved into a house with an outside GFCI receptacle. The outlet didn't seem to work and the reset button had no effect. No other outlets around or outside the house appeared to be tripped. I pulled ...
0 votes
0 answers
33 views

Wiring issue need help

Ok...so I have an electrical issue that I am having some difficulty figuring out. I have 3 lights in the perimeter of my property with 2 being on the problem feed. The 1 light on the other side of ...
2 votes
2 answers
3k views

Best solution for outdoor outlet with permanent connection?

I have a circular junction box on my deck (outside) where I can presumably attach an outlet, and it is connected to a switch. I have string lights I'd like to permanently connect to to this outlet (...
7 votes
3 answers
2k views

How to cover old Red Dot outdoor outlet for constant use?

Here's the current outlet. I need to leave a cable connected constantly. Is there a snap-on cover for this type of thing? (Can I gaff tape a quart baggie over it?) tia...
1 vote
1 answer
1k views

NEC Rules for Placing Outdoor Receptacles (Residential)

What are the rules for where you can place an outdoor receptacle on your home? I read somewhere (can't remember where) that you are not allowed to tap power from inside a kitchen or laundry/utility ...
1 vote
2 answers
5k views

Underground electrical box?

The picture shows the spot in my front yard where an outlet used to be. There is a fourth wire not visible in the picture. We have since brought the grade down about two feet and it no longer makes ...
0 votes
3 answers
285 views

Can I place a receptacle entirely inside a box and close it up?

There is a metal junction box sticking up 6" out of the ground mounted to the top of a piece of conduit. There is a rubber gasket and metal cover screwed to the box. Inside the box is simply six ...
6 votes
2 answers
12k views

What conduit and wire for an outdoor outlet directly to outdoor breaker panel?

I would like to add an outdoor receptacle directly to my outdoor breaker panel for some simple string lights. The idea would be to install new breaker, run flexible conduit from knockout on bottom of ...
0 votes
4 answers
20k views

Converting an outdoor light socket into a light socket and outlet

I've just moved into a new apartment on the top floor of an old home. It's got a balcony / porch area big enough to put some seating out on, and the whole place is surrounded by tall trees. What I'd ...
0 votes
0 answers
50 views

Outdoor outlet lost power

Christmas decoration lights were plugged into outlet while sprinklers were running. Came to find out lights were out, outlet had no power, and all other outdoor outlets around the house lost power. ...
1 vote
3 answers
1k views

Add outlet to existing outdoor UF cable

I'm looking to add an outdoor outlet to the back of my house. There's an existing UF cable line that runs from the exterior basement wall to the exterior first floor wall, entering directly behind a ...
2 votes
2 answers
3k views

Regarding greases for outdoor connections: Noalox for general use (not necessarily for aluminum)? Dielectric grease for outdoor receptacles?

I've googled this already and found many people saying that Noalox is only for copper to aluminum connections. I know that Noalox stands for "no aluminium oxidation" but brand names often change ...
2 votes
2 answers
728 views

Code requirements for adding several outdoor outlets around my garage

I have been doing some reading and feel just about ready to add some more outlets to my garage. I would like to add 2-3 more outlets, 1 on one side at the top (maybe under the roof overhang) for ...
1 vote
2 answers
1k views

Can I wire a Pump Start Relay to an outdoor GFCI outlet?

I have an existing outdoor GFCI outlet. Can I wire a pump relay to the existing outlet, and put another GFCI outlet after the relay? The goal is to have the second outlet only powered when the relay ...
1 vote
1 answer
947 views

Using existing outdoor outlet to run underground supply to fountain

[![I would like to run a 25' underground uf cable to power a fountain. The closest outdoor GFI outlet is pictured below. As the existing outlet is flush with the aluminum siding, I would like to ...
2 votes
1 answer
1k views

How do I wire a switch to control 2 outlets (all outdoor)?

I have an existing outdoor outlet and want to put move it to another location but I want to add a switch to control the relocated outlet plus add a new outlet in another location (both controlled by ...
1 vote
1 answer
455 views

How should I hang a receptacle on a rim joist?

So I am wiring my cabin, and here I have a crawlspace which I will button up with some mesh & skirting, but for all intents & purposes, I am considering it open to everything (dogs, rodents, ...
0 votes
4 answers
1k views

Tripped GFCI protected receptacles

NEW USER: so this has probably been covered but every situation is different and I've found some inconsistent work done by the original contractor. Here's the jist: -Using an electric Pressure washer,...
1 vote
0 answers
629 views

Is it legal to piggyback an existing indoor outlet to a new outdoor outlet?

I just had a deck installed and wanted to install an outdoor outlet from the inside outlet. It is just on the other side of the interior wall where it would be installed. Is this legal?
0 votes
1 answer
1k views

Outdoor outlet tripping all other outlets when used

As of about two days ago (admittedly a heavy storm) if I connect any device to my outdoor outlet, it'll trip not only that socket but also the only other outlet attached to this circuit. The main ...
2 votes
1 answer
2k views

How can I protect an electrical box embedded in rough masonry from weather?

Yesterday I had a fuse blow 3 times and I eventually tracked it down to an outdoor outlet that wasn't so watertight. The outlet had an outdoor cover on it but after opening it it was obvious that ...
1 vote
1 answer
351 views

Adapting an outside wall outlet to suface mount conduit?

This was a previous question with some great answers. How can I adapt a wall outlet to suface mount conduit? One answer was: "There are collar boxes available that have conduit KO's (knockouts). Just ...
16 votes
4 answers
115k views

How do I install an outdoor receptacle box on vinyl siding?

Any tips for adding an outdoor receptacle box onto a house with vinyl siding? Shouldn't the box be attached to a stud? How do I seal around it? J Channel? How can I accomplish this without tearing off ...
1 vote
1 answer
217 views

Dug up an outlet- how to safely fix it?

I bought a house from an older lady last summer with a pretty elaborate backyard. I noticed in the evenings, lights would turn on around the perimeter and shine on some of the trees. Then after a few ...
1 vote
2 answers
8k views

Wrap indoor USB adapter into plastic bag for outdoor usage?

I spliced 120V AC wires coming to the lamp so that I would have electricity for the USB adapter that would power USB camera (USB is used only to power the camera. The actual data transfer happens over ...
1 vote
2 answers
483 views

Troubleshooting outdoor electrical outlet

I bought a new house and noticed the outdoor electrical outlets are not working. I checked the electrical panel and all the switches are on (the outdoor outlets are labelled on the panel and I turned ...
4 votes
3 answers
23k views

Can a receptacle be added to a lamppost?

I'm adding a post and a post-mounted light fixture in the backyard. Some posts have an outlet at the bottom, but they appear to always have a "decorative ladder rest" (with plastic golden balls!) that ...
1 vote
3 answers
9k views

What NEC requirements apply to installing receptacle next to a tree?

I will install a receptacle next to a tree. I know it must be protected by a GFCI and weatherproof. But my concern is about how to support it and how high it should be from the ground. Where in ...
3 votes
3 answers
2k views

Do I need to plug my snow thrower to GFCI outlet?

I bought a snow thrower with 13.5A power. One area of my house is close to a GFCI outlet but the other side of the house is not. It's just a regular outlet. So I am not sure it can be safe to use with ...