External Receptacle While In Use Covers

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terryb

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I understand the 2005 NEC required external receptacles to have While In Use covers where the receptacles are supplying unattended equipment. Does this mean ALL external receptacles have to have While In Use Covers.
I have just seen the older type of covers on one external receptacle on a brand new house.
Thanks.
 
15 and 20 amp 125 and 250 volt receptacles in wet locations need a bubble.

406.8(B) Wet Locations.
(1) 15- and 20-Ampere Outdoor Receptacles. 15- and 20-ampere, 125- and 250-volt receptacles installed outdoors in a wet location shall have an enclosure that is weatherproof whether or not the attachment plug cap is inserted.
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Does this mean ALL external receptacles have to have While In Use Covers.
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Not ALL external covers require the "in use" type. If you look at Bob's post you'll see the requirement for wet locations. Damp locations do not require the "in use" type of covers.
 
If the outdoor receptacle is under some sort of substantial porch roof or similar, then you can still use the ordinary flipper lid covers. I've been using Arlington's "In Box" since they hit the market. The builders LOVE them. Much more attractive when compared with a traditional bubble cover.
 
External GFCI protection in Screen Porch Addition.

External GFCI protection in Screen Porch Addition.

I see many receptacles which would originally have been exterior, but have now been covered by the addition of a rear screened porch, and are therefore no longer exterior as such. Do they still need GFCI protection ???
 
I guess that would depend on your idea of outside.

210.8 Ground-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection for Personnel.

(A) Dwelling Units. All 125-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere receptacles installed in the locations specified in (1) through ( 8 ) shall have ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection for personnel.

(3) Outdoors

Exception: Receptacles that are not readily accessible and are supplied by a dedicated branch circuit for electric snow-melting or deicing equipment shall be permitted to be installed in accordance with the applicable provisions of Article 426.
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Exactly my point. The receptacle in a screened porch addition is no longer external, and if broken, i often wonder whether it should be replaced with another GFCI receptacle. The Receptacle would still, in most cases, serve portable equipment being used in a wet location. Am i looking at this the right way, it seems a bit of a grey area. Thanks.
 
Locations

Locations

. The NEC draws a fine line between wet and damp. Flip covers are fine on exterior residential GFCI recepts. Exclude pools/hot tubs etc. A recept hanging out on a porch or under eaves etc is not a wet location.

The problem is that on a hot month of July I plug whatever I want into a flip cover GFCI on the side of my house, in Texas or Michigan.

Or for Christmas lites etc. It is not a wet location. It is sometimes damp.

Thus flip covers are acceptable.

In a monsoon, well maybe a bubble. Lets not over think the obvious. If so then what are flip covers for? And regard as to their listing etc.
 
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I have just done a Home Inspection on a house only 3 months old. The Rear Screened Porch has a bubble cover (within the confines of the porch), and the external outlet under the eaves has the flip type. I have told the Buyers to ask the Builder to put a Bubble type to the exterior under eaves receptacle. I am starting to get really confused. Does anyone have any more thoughts. Appreciate your time guys.
 
terryb said:
I have told the Buyers to ask the Builder to put a Bubble type to the exterior under eaves receptacle. I am starting to get really confused. Does anyone have any more thoughts. Appreciate your time guys.
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Is gravity different in your neck of the woods? In my area, it almost never rains upside down. A receptacle under the soffit can't get water in it no matter how it rains.
 
Sorry, i think i misunderstood the term "under eaves". I agree that a receptacle installed into the soffit itself would be okay with a regular flip cover. I am referring to receptacles in the usual place 2 feet above grade, which have bubbles all the way around the property, except in one place at the same level, which has a flipper. Why. Thanks
 
terryb said:
Sorry, i think i misunderstood the term "under eaves". I agree that a receptacle installed into the soffit itself would be okay with a regular flip cover. I am referring to receptacles in the usual place 2 feet above grade, which have bubbles all the way around the property, except in one place at the same level, which has a flipper. Why. Thanks
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Some inspectors were not pushing it on the one required for the AC.Easy fix that i dought would stop a sale.Also when inspecting you need to know what year code was used.Personally i think the bubbles are cheap garbage that break in a year but we still put them on.
 
terryb said:
Exactly my point. The receptacle in a screened porch addition is no longer external, and if broken, i often wonder whether it should be replaced with another GFCI receptacle. The Receptacle would still, in most cases, serve portable equipment being used in a wet location. Am i looking at this the right way, it seems a bit of a grey area. Thanks.
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If you were sitting on this porch and bugs started to bite ,would you go INSIDE ? So where were you,OUTSIDE ?
 
Gmack,
Flip covers are fine on exterior residential GFCI recepts.
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No, they are not. Receptacles installed on outside walls of dwelling units are in a "wet location" and require "bubble covers" per 406.8(B)(1)
Location, Wet. Installations under ground or in concrete slabs or masonry in direct contact with the earth; in locations subject to saturation with water or other liquids, such as vehicle washing areas; and in unprotected locations exposed to weather.
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Don
 
210.52(E) Requires : Outdoor Outlets For a one-family dwelling and each unit of a two-family dwelling that is at grade level, at least one receptacle outlet accessible at grade level and not more than 2.0 m (6 1/ 2 ft) above grade shall be installed at the front and back of the dwelling. For each dwelling unit of a multifamily dwelling where the dwelling unit is located at grade level and provided with individual exterior entrance/egress, at least one receptacle
outlet accessible from grade level and not more than 2.0 m (6 1/ 2 ft) above grade shall be installed. Hopefully the screen does not get in the way of this requirement.
 
Don

Don

.

Explain the difference between a protected and unproteced "outdoor location"

If its outdoors?

Then explain the use of the "flip cover" as used for say 20/30 years on exterior applications long before "bubble came along.

Where and why would we use a "flip" except on exterior with a very few minor "indoor" exceptions.

The flip is listed for "outdoors"

I dont follow your reasoning.
 
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Don

Don

You are in error on the article/section you quoted.

Many uses are permitted for a outdoor "flip" recep in damp or wet that are "attended"
 
Gmack said:
Many uses are permitted for a outdoor "flip" recep in damp or wet that are "attended"
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Your right....if the receptacles are "other" than 15- and 20-ampere, 125- and 250-volt receptacles.

So when you install a 30 amp receptacle outdoors that will only be used while attended you will not have to install a bubble.
 
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