Outside receptacle

[rich000]

While looking at a condo (built in 1994).

The outside receptacle on the balcony is on the GFCI circuit for the bathroom outlets.

I am not sure when the code came into being that the bathroom receptacles had to be on their own circuit and nothing else.

Any old timers (yes, I know it's not that long ago) remember?

Also, the utility room houses the HVAC, water heater, and washer and dryer. The washer is connected to it's own single receptacle. There is another receptacle within 5 feet of the washer. I am sure this should be a GFCI receptacle due to the proximaty to the washer and also the fact that it is in a utility room (even though the utility room is finished).

Any thoughts please? Should they have to bring it up to code (1990 or 1993) if it is incorrect?

Thank you.

 

[russ]

Re: Outside receptacle

Doesn't sound like you have any violations.
I'm pretty sure that the 20 amp bathroom circuit is new to the 99NEC. There is no need for the laundry outlet to be GFCI, or receptacles in the utility room.

Russ

 

[rich000]

Re: Outside receptacle

Thank you.

Just checked my 2002 NEC and the 6 ft. requirement is for wet bar sinks. Odd that is not for washers? I guess they are normally closed.

Thanks for the 1999 NEC change on the outside receptacle.

 

[hurk27]

Re: Outside receptacle

Rich the reasone you dont put a washer on a gfci is the fill valve will trip most of them. this is because of the transiet voltage spike that a coil on the valve produces when it is de-enerjized. and also the NEC allows for fixed in place appliances to have a non gfci receptacle.
See 210.8

 

[hurk27]

Re: Outside receptacle

But the seprate receptacle could be for the requirment of having a gfci protected receptacle within 25' of hvac equipment as required in 210.63 unless there is a gfci already there.
but then this was a 2002 change and might not be enforcable on a older structure.

 

[curt swartz]

Re: Outside receptacle

210.63 does require a receptacle within 25' of HVAC equipment but it doesn't require it to be GFCI protected unless required by 210.8.

 

[a.wayne3@verizon.net]

Re: Outside receptacle

I don`t have it handy to check but i think it was in the 96 code change.....pretty sure that before that it was ok to tag off a circuit and put a line sided gfi in the bathroom.This was the start of bathroom gfci looping,also believe that same code change allowed a outside receptacle to be line sided off a general purpose circuit,or be part of house gfci circuit.....

 

[torint]

Re: Outside receptacle

I just bought a house that was built in '96. It has outside recepticals that are fed from bathroom GFCI's. When we put the christamas lights on and the wife uses hair dryer...breaker trips. I'm lucky that the snow won't trip the GFCI.