xmas lighting receptacles

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I am installing receptacles in the 2nd floor outside soffet in my sisters house
for christmas lights. do i need to gfci them and have in use cover?
 
210.8(A)(3) requires GFCI protection and 406.8(B)(1) requires the in use cover if the receptacle is in a wet location. Your installation may be in a damp area and not a wet area and if so, it would require a cover that is weatherproof when the receptacle is not in use.
 
BTW, I just found out about this recently but they are now making GFI receptacles rated specifically for outdoor use. They have a "w/p" stamped on the face. Has anyone heard of or have info on these ?
 
please remember, it has to be GFCI protected, not a GFCI receptacle in that location.
 
Pierre, wouldn't one of those continuous use plastic or metal covers make the gfi weatherproof, or has that changed. 2nd Q: if the gfi is supposed to be a 'wp' gfi, do we still need a contiuous use cover or would a flap cover work? Thanks

Well, I just re-read 406.8 and it pretty much takes care of this question. Can't figure out how to delete the above so I guess I'll leave it.

Do weather-resistant recepts have some special code stamped on them to help me know which is which?
 
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goldstar said:
BTW, I just found out about this recently but they are now making GFI receptacles rated specifically for outdoor use. They have a "w/p" stamped on the face. Has anyone heard of or have info on these ?
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Sure. Required in the 08 NEC, but the marking is WR for weather resistant. And its not just GFCI receptacles but any receptacle in 406.8
 
or the like

or the like

It seems to me that the AHJ can decide if your "in the 2nd floor outside soffet " location is acceptable under the "or the like" definition of damp location in 408.6A. A 12 inch eave/soffit does not offer a lot of protection. I heard somewhere a local interpretation that defined the protection to be the area under the eave within a 45 degree angle of the roof edge. If I read this section correctly the AHJ could make you use an in-use cover unless it's an open porch area, mezzanine, or canopy.
 
w_d_anderson said:
It seems to me that the AHJ can decide if your "in the 2nd floor outside soffet " location is acceptable under the "or the like" definition of damp location in 408.6A. A 12 inch eave/soffit does not offer a lot of protection. I heard somewhere a local interpretation that defined the protection to be the area under the eave within a 45 degree angle of the roof edge. If I read this section correctly the AHJ could make you use an in-use cover unless it's an open porch area, mezzanine, or canopy.
Click to expand...


I don't see how the underside of a soffit can be classified as a wet location given the definition in Article 100 of Location, Wet.
 
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