GFI's on outside walls/condensation issues?

[mtfallsmikey]

I have several GFI receptacles mounted in recessed boxes on the outside walls of my house, covers are old-style hinged, with a gasket on the lid. All receptacles are not wet location rated. I lifted the lid on one the other day to plug in a pressure washer, noticed some droplets of condensation on the face of the GFI. That receptacle worked, but there have been a couple of them that went bad, had voltage to them, was not able to reset. Is it possible that warmth coming thru the wall causing the moisture/condensation on or inside the receptacle would cause it to go bad? Do I need to convert to all wet-location rated? I probably should be changing all of these covers out to the in-use type... Thoughts?

 

[Chamuit]

Sounds like you need to create some type of thermal break...

 

[LarryFine]

I'm a big fan of GFCI-receptacle-inside-supplying-regular-receptacle-outside where possible.

If supplied from an inside circuit, the worst is the rest of the circuit is also on the GFCI.

If they're all supplied from a single circuit, a GFCI breaker costs less than a few GFCI receptacles.

 

[Frank DuVal]

I'm a big fan of GFCI-receptacle-inside-supplying-regular-receptacle-outside where possible.

Me too. Only objection is putting the GFCI where it is convenient (and can find it!) if you trip it. i.e GFCI on second floor for outside ground level receptacle sucks....

 

[hbiss]

I always put outside receptacles on a separate circuit fed with a GFI breaker. If you feed them from a GFI receptacle in the house nobody is going to know where to look. If something doesn't work the first place most people will look is the panel.

Then too, outside GFI protected receptacles can be prone to tripping as the OP notes. If it takes down receptacles in the house, now you have a situation that has to immediately be corrected vs waiting for a better time to do it- like after the 4 feet of snow melts.

Do I need to convert to all wet-location rated? I probably should be changing all of these covers out to the in-use type?

Yes, definitely. Use WR receptacles with a good in-use cover and make sure you seal around the top and sides with silicone where it sits on the siding.

-Hal

 

[drcampbell]

A water-vapor barrier between indoors & out is more important than a thermal break.

 

[LarryFine]

Me too. Only objection is putting the GFCI where it is convenient (and can find it!) if you trip it. i.e GFCI on second floor for outside ground level receptacle sucks....

The front foyer is a good place.