DIY Home Improvement Forum banner

Post Lamps - Holiday lights and GFI?

1412 Views 8 Replies 4 Participants Last post by  Skelleyman
Hello all,

Hope everyone had a safe and happy Thanksgiving?

So last year, I replaced my lamp posts that were wood and rotted to the core after we purchased the house. I got the idea from my brother for a 4 ft sonatube cut it half, filled with concrete, leveled it off and used a 3" PVC in the center. The 3" lamp posts sold at big box stores slide right in and out. Just made a hole and put a 1" PVC through to stop the lamp from sliding into the ground. Used a hand hole J-Box and spliced off that with silicone/waterproof wirenuts and taped around those. 15A circuit. However, this circuit controls several of my outside lights, porch, driveway, spot lights and 2 post lamps.

I wired the receptacles that came with them. I paid like $30 per post with the outlet. My question, if we use the outlets for a 1-2 amp two prong Christmas garland lights, is this okay or should the circuit be GFI protected? I know the outlet meets UL specs when closed I imagine but don't want anyone to get electrocuted. Naturally, the outlet only works when the post light's are turned on. Any thoughts on this?

Thanks,
~S
1 - 4 of 9 Posts
Okay, thanks. Next question, I can swap out the breaker they're on with a GFCI breaker. However, the pigtail neutral on the GFCI will not reach the neutral busbar. Is it code or legal to put breaker pigtail into wirenut, then run a white copper wire to the busbar?
So is it then as simple as just swapping the breaker for a GFCI breaker? This breaker powers:

Lamp Posts w/ non-GFCI receptacles at the moment
Porch light
Driveway Light
Spot/flood lights on the corners of my house

The Driveway light only has one switch as does the porch light. The Lamp posts have one switch in which when on, they both go on as do the receptacles since they are tied in as well.

The Flood lights however have multiple locations where those can be turned on or off on 3-way switches. However all tied to same circuit. Can I just swap the breaker, is it that easy and simple on me?
Thanks. Yeah, Christmas lighting is fun and can be enjoyed by all.
1 - 4 of 9 Posts
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top