GFCI in the garage

[BobSch]

I just had a sub panel put in the garage and the electrician refused to put in outlets that weren't GFCI protected.

[kbkreisler]

picture this

100~200 milliamps of electicity is generally lethal if it follows a path to ground across your heart for a few "cycles". Since in the United States power is generated at 60hz or 60 cycles per second that doesnt leave very much time to let go of whatever is shocking you before recieving enough amperage to be fatal. One 15amp circuit is enough to kill 150 times over. This is where a gfci comes into play it turns off the power virtually instantly when it senses any ground current (current not traveling back through the common wire).
Although electricity may not conduct well through concrete, have you ever noticed how much moisture condensates on the average concrete slab, the slab also retains moisture internally. The moisture is the conductor here. Dry skin is a good insulator as well, but get a little sweat on your palms and it becomes a conductor.
The peace of mind I get knowing that myself or a member my family wont be electrocuted plugging in a malfunctioning tool or shop vac or grabbing a bad spot in an extension cord as it is pulled across the shop is well worth the $15 paid for the receptacle.

[LCHIEN]

So maybe after the discussion here, I should get GFCIs for the circuits in the garage. If nothing else an inspector can't complain when I sell the house.
So for 20A circuits I have 15A outlets (since I don't really have any tools drawing 20 A) so my options are for 15A GFCI with a 20A pass through capability and 15A outlets (parallel blades) or a 20/20A GFCI with the T-slot and 20 A pass through.

I guess I need four or five. Whats a good price and what brand? Any recommendations?
Amazon has some for as low as $7 and as high as $20+.

[chopnhack]

Loring, go the big box and actually look at some before you decide to order. You may be suprised at the differences in quality.

[Tom Slick]

So maybe after the discussion here, I should get GFCIs for the circuits in the garage. If nothing else an inspector can't complain when I sell the house.
So for 20A circuits I have 15A outlets (since I don't really have any tools drawing 20 A) so my options are for 15A GFCI with a 20A pass through capability and 15A outlets (parallel blades) or a 20/20A GFCI with the T-slot and 20 A pass through.

I guess I need four or five. Whats a good price and what brand? Any recommendations?
Amazon has some for as low as $7 and as high as $20+.

you could just install a GCFI circuit breaker.

[kbkreisler]

loring,
I am a bit confused, how many outlet circuits do you have in your shop?
It is not uncommon to have multiple receptacles on one circuit, and you only need one GFCI receptacle to protect the entire circuit.

For example in my garage I have four 20A circuits for outlets, 1 for the wall the bench is on with 6 outlets, one dedicated circuit with only 2 receptacles(miter, and table saws) 1 circuit is for the 8 convenience outlets on the north and east walls of the garage,
and one more dedicated circuit with one receptacle for a compressor.
and so with 15+ receptacles I used 4 gfcis.
you could use gfci breakers, but they are generally quite a bit more expensive and really dont offer many advantages over an annually tested GFCI outlet that I am aware of.

One other thing, if your circuit breaker is 20A all the wiring and receptacles really should be rated for 20A as well, though unlikely, there is potential for an electrical fire, and an inspector would have a problem with it if he noticed. *also unlikely for a post constructoin inspector to dig that deep.

I assure you I am not trying to be a pain in the arse, just trying to raise awareness.
If I can be of any assistance please feel free to e-mail or pm me.

[ironhat]

you could just install a GCFI circuit breaker.

For my app it would be far easier to do this than install a GCFI recep. I did this for the swimming pool pump circuit but the downside is the $34 -38 price tag.

[dlminehart]

I tried the GFCI in my garage only to find that it was incompatible with my garage door opener. Apparently the opener has some capacitor or other component that triggers the GFCI. Had to rewire to put the opener on a separate circuit. I think that there's an exception from the GFCI requirement for overhead receptacles dedicated to light fixtures or door openers.

[LCHIEN]

loring,
I am a bit confused, how many outlet circuits do you have in your shop?
It is not uncommon to have multiple receptacles on one circuit, and you only need one GFCI receptacle to protect the entire circuit.

For example in my garage I have four 20A circuits for outlets, 1 for the wall the bench is on with 6 outlets, one dedicated circuit with only 2 receptacles(miter, and table saws) 1 circuit is for the 8 convenience outlets on the north and east walls of the garage,
and one more dedicated circuit with one receptacle for a compressor.
and so with 15+ receptacles I used 4 gfcis.
you could use gfci breakers, but they are generally quite a bit more expensive and really dont offer many advantages over an annually tested GFCI outlet that I am aware of.

One other thing, if your circuit breaker is 20A all the wiring and receptacles really should be rated for 20A as well, though unlikely, there is potential for an electrical fire, and an inspector would have a problem with it if he noticed. *also unlikely for a post constructoin inspector to dig that deep.

I assure you I am not trying to be a pain in the arse, just trying to raise awareness.
If I can be of any assistance please feel free to e-mail or pm me.

I have five circuits in my garage, recently added four to the one the builder installed.

I suppose the 20A circuits are rated to carry 20A thru and the 15A sockets are rated to carry 15A thru although I have a hard time believing that the 15A sockets won't carry 20A thru OK... I don't have the outlet portion of any carrying mroe than 15A.

[ragswl4]

Of course this probably doesn't apply to all regions but in California all receptacles in the garage (under current code) require GFCI. Just went through the inspection. I have four receptacle circuits (total of 12 recpts) with one GFCI recpt feeding the downstream non-GFCIs. Good to go!

[Tom Slick]

Unless you are using cheap receptacles you are fine with 15A recpt. on a 20A circuit. The main reason for the difference is to keep the opposite situation from happening, 20A appliance on a 15A circuit. think of it like a lock and key; wrong key won't fit the lock. From what I have seen the parts/materials on the inside of quality recpt. with either rating are identical other then the sligtly different design to allow either to fit.

To clairfy my original post. unlike building codes that vary widely by area and are loosely based on the UBC, the NEC is the standard used by almost every muncipality. If I talk about NEC electrical code and I'm in Calif. it will be the same in almost anyone's neck of the woods. Everyone plays by the same rule book.

[Crash2510]

just to add another idea to the mix.

we always install gfci protection in the garage except for equipment. If you plan to use any type of dedicated equipment for the circuit you may not want to use gfci protection. We have seen many fridges and freezers full of food spoil because gfci were used. GFCIs can also trip under motor loads especially power tools.
I know the manufacturers say this doesn't happen, but I have seen it time and time again. So loring you might reconsider changing all of your outlets to gfci because you may just change some back.