Exterior Christmas Lights

[TVH]

If exterior Christmas lights are connected to a GFCI is it safe and law full to use non-weatherproof connectors downstream of the GFCI receptacle (any voltage). Very common observation - what is safe? Comments appreciated.

 

[jumper]

In a nut shell:

590.5 Listing of Decorative Lighting.
Decorative lighting used for holiday lighting and similar purposes, in accor-
dance with 590.3(B), shall be listed.

The connections/connectors must be listed for the location. Non-weatherproof connectors probably are not listed for wet locations I would imagine.

 

[JFletcher]

If exterior Christmas lights are connected to a GFCI is it safe and law full to use non-weatherproof connectors downstream of the GFCI receptacle (any voltage). Very common observation - what is safe? Comments appreciated.

If the lights are listed for exterior use then they will have been tested as a factory assembly for such use. Personally, safety wise, using a properly operating GFCI breaker/receptacle and proper routing of the lights is safe. Running the lights in ways that they can be damaged* (like around handrails) or tripped on, or leaving them out year round, or using damaged/repaired lights would be unsafe imo. Running extension cords in unsafe ways (under doors, under windows) or overloaded to power the lights are also safety concerns.

Something like this:

http://www.target.com/p/pathway-lights-red-green-10-count/-/A-12558553

appears to have standard connections, and is UL listed for outdoor installation. *It also looks like a pretty bad trip hazard installed in the way shown.