GFCI, basements and receptacles (revisited)

whatrymes

Hey:

Just looking for your opinion here. A recent thread talked about GFCI receptacle requirements in basements and really got me thinking. My sump pump is on a dedicated circuit, not GFCI protected and I understand that was fine prior to 2008 NEC and is probably fine according to grandfather laws. However, I always felt leery that the pump was not protected but I followed the advice given back then (1999) not to use one because of phantom trips.

This thread mentioned that GFCI receptacles today are much better, that phantom trips are very rare and I should not worry about a sump pump using one. I would like to install one, what do you think?

Thank you.

hayewe farm

GFCI is not to protect the pump, it is to protect you. However, I would not put one on a sump pump because they can unknowingky trip with a power outage.

sirsparksalot

You're correct that the exception for a single dedicated receptacle in an unfinished basement was removed in 2008. New installations require GFCI protection.

My area is still on 2005 cycle, and I just recently put a single (not Duplex)receptacle in for my sump. It is not on a GFCI.