What circuits do exterior receptacles go on?

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JoeNorm

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I am asking a preference from experience question here.

Should the outdoors receptacles on a residence have dedicated circuits or be pulled off of nearby circuits. I see merits to both.

Think 2000 square foot home with crawlpace
 
From my experience of this forum, they don't teach the fundamentals of electricity, you may want to google search it or hire a professional, sorry .. to much liability involved.
 
My $0.02, just having finished installing two exterior outlets last week:
There should be a dedicated circuit (or a few if it makes sense) for outdoor receptacles. I prefer to protect them with a GFCI breaker or a blank face GFCI located indoors. When the receptacle needs replacement due to getting damaged by someone yanking the extension cord, the receptacle is cheaper to swap. Keeping the GFCI electronics warm and dry also makes them last longer.


SceneryDriver
 
SceneryDriver said:
My $0.02, just having finished installing two exterior outlets last week:
There should be a dedicated circuit (or a few if it makes sense) for outdoor receptacles. I prefer to protect them with a GFCI breaker or a blank face GFCI located indoors. When the receptacle needs replacement due to getting damaged by someone yanking the extension cord, the receptacle is cheaper to swap. Keeping the GFCI electronics warm and dry also makes them last longer.


SceneryDriver
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I agree. We always run dedicated for exterior receps. Primarily anticipating tools. And we now put all of our GFCI and AFCI protection in the panels for cost and easier homeowner troubleshooting. However I've often wondered how irritated a landscaper or contractor working outside with the doors locked would be if the breaker tripped and they couldn't get inside to reset it.

Rob
 
Depends on the intended usage if known. The one that I almost always tap from an inside receptacle is the one for the required receptacle near/at the HVAC unit. It's usually outside a bedroom and can easily jump from there to outside. since the bedroom requires AFCI I will use a dual function AFCI/GFCI breaker.
If its on a front porch it's easy to do the same as the bedroom. Back deck or near a garage I usually put those on a separate circuit due to tools that might get used there.
If its a spec house, the easiest way to get outside!
 
Another C10 said:
From my experience of this forum, they don't teach the fundamentals of electricity, you may want to google search it or hire a professional, sorry .. to much liability involved.
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JoeNorm is an experienced electrician from Washington. Please look at his past posts.
 
When I started 40 years ago, GFCIs were expensive, $35, so I would use one and fe7ed others from it. Last rewire of small house, ran sep circuit, as with old work boxes limited to 2 12-2 nms, not able to come off on middle of run. This house is on busy public street, put front GFCI on switch to prevent recp used by homeless.
 
I'll tap off an interior circuit and sleep fine that night.
I will typically ask the home owner or builder what they prefer and what they plan on using the outdoor receptacles for and go with that.
 
What about the switch for the Christmas lighting?
What ever the customer will pay for, spec house down n dirty, custom gets custom.
 
I think I agree they should be on a dedicated circuit if possible. Thanks for the input. Of course it will depend on the situation, as most things do.
 
I like to use a separate circuit to avoid afci. Every receptacle that is used outdoor that is on an afci I have seen trip from carpenters saws. Maybe that is a good thing, I don't know but it is a real PITA
 
JoeNorm said:
Should the outdoors receptacles on a residence have dedicated circuits or be pulled off of nearby circuits. I see merits to both.
Click to expand...
Sorry Joe, Didn't realize your were an electrician simply asking for input .. Anyhew .. as you mention it does depend on design. In California typically the exterior outlets on new residential work could be 1 circuit, typically a 20 A. supplying either front or back porch or patio areas while feeding through the baths ,usually starting at a garage GFI. I see that design 75% of the time. Or obviously a dedicated circuit is better for future growth of yard lighting, fountains or patio add ons etc ...
 
marmathsen said:
I agree. We always run dedicated for exterior receps. Primarily anticipating tools. And we now put all of our GFCI and AFCI protection in the panels for cost and easier homeowner troubleshooting. However I've often wondered how irritated a landscaper or contractor working outside with the doors locked would be if the breaker tripped and they couldn't get inside to reset it.

Rob
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Which is a problem anyway if it trips from overload and not ground fault protection function.
 
There are some circuits that can't be used. Kitchen SA, Bathroom, Laundry.
I had some "old timer electricians" tell me back in the 70s when GFCIs first came out, they would put one in, get an inspection, and move the GFCI to the next house.
 
JoeNorm said:
I am asking a preference from experience question here.

Should the outdoors receptacles on a residence have dedicated circuits or be pulled off of nearby circuits. I see merits to both.

Think 2000 square foot home with crawlpace
Click to expand...
Sometimes I take the outside receptacles off the panel service receptacle. or just give the outside receptacles it’s own circuit.
 
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