gfci lighting circuit

Clutchcargo

I replaced my basement lighting. I added outlets to the new junction boxes on the ceiling that connects the lighting circuit together. The first junction box has a GFCI protected outlet and in turn makes the lights GFCI protected as well. If an actual ground fault event happens, the lights go out too. Is any of this a code violation?
TIA

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johnny331

if it'll leave you in a dangerous, dark situation... then it's probably a code violation.

are all the lights on one gfci circuit? or multiple?

Clutchcargo

All the lights are on one circuit. I was planning on just wiring up the lights and then got the idea to add recepticals in the junction boxes on the ceiling.

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johnny331

I would leave the lights behind the GFCI in the circuit, that way only the receptacle will trip, not the lights as well. I don't see any reason to put the lights themselves on a GFCI, are they permanently on the ceiling?

Clutchcargo

The only reason I have the lights on the GFCI is because I wanted to feed a couple more downstream outlets. Otherwise, if I pigtail all the outlets, I would have to spring for 2 more GFCI outlets.

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RippySkippy

Is the framing still open?

If it is, you could replace the wire from the gfci to the lights with a 12-3, the black could be protected through the first outlet, the red pigtailed into the source before the gfci.

At the first light, the black is wire nutted, while the red powers the light. At the outlet the red is wire nutted and the black (protected) feeds the outlet. At the next light the black is wire nutted, and the red powers the light. From the last light switch, continue on with a 12-2 black to black (still protected), and the rest of the outlets on the circuit would be protected.

If you don't have the wire or if this would cause you to purchase a roll, it may be cheaper to get a box of 3 for $11 @ the BORG.

Rip

Clutchcargo

This is a 15A circuit using THHN. I'm at 3 conductors in the conduit, 1 hot, 1 neutral, and the returning switched hot for the lights. Adding one more hot would require derating, correct?

I'm thinking maybe the only practical way to do this is to swap out the standard outlets and pigtail GFCI outlets in.
What's the BORG?

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HouseHelper

Yes, but it won't affect the size of the breaker until you get to more than 9 conductors, so you can still use the 14ga wire and 15A breaker. Seems like replacing the standard receptacles with GFCIs might be easier though.

RippySkippy

BORG = Big Orange Retail Giant (Home Cheepo) Check out this thread on google groups

jwhite

The fact that a GFI tripping would leave someone in the dark is not a NEC issue at all.

It may be a local code issue, but it is likely that it would only apply to commercial or industrial facilities.

Leave the lights as they are if you are comfortable with the results.

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Master Electrician