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gfci receptacles and lights on same circuit, not in kitchen

3 years ago

I am adding receptacles in my garage, but I’m running low on circuits and not ready to add a subpanel until we finish our basement, which won’t be for a while. The house is just a couple of years old but we’re short a few garage receptacles. I’m adding a dedicated receptacle for my miter saw, as it keeps tripping the breaker. I’m also adding 3 receptacles above a work desk on a separate circuit. They aren’t for actively using tools, but for charging battery packs for my drill and impact driver, and to plug in my phone and charge the headphones I use when I’m out there. I sometimes plug in my laptop while I work. I would like to tie in some kind of task lighting, like under cabinet lighting, to the same circuit as the 3 receptacles, if possible. when I try to find code relating to this what I find is for gfci’s and small appliance circuits in kitchens, and it says no lighting on the same circuit. Could someone please direct me to the applicable code and recommendations as how this might apply in a garage setting?

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Comments (5)

Ron Natalie
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
All 15 and 20A 120V receptacles in a garage MUST be GFCI protected.

There's nothing that says garage circuits can't be shared with other things. There are certain circuits that serve receptacles that are barred from being shared: kitchen, bath, laundry. Other circuits are fair game for sharing (look for the words "no other outlets" in the code).

The requirement for GFCI is found in Art. 210.8.

The requirements on circuit sharing is found in 210.52.
DavidR
3 years ago
I see no problem with putting the receptacles and lighting on the same circuit.

However, will your existing panel accept tandem breakers?
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Remember a GFCI does not trip due to an excess of current, it trips when it detects current (what's a standard one here, around 50ma?) going to ground, so it doesn't carry a 'load' per se. I also like the receptacles because you see and KNOW that circuit's protected, when I first bought my house and saw a regular receptacle in the main bathroom, I assumed it was unprotected (former owners had done so many dumb things already) and bought a protected outlet...now I'm trying to decide where I'll put it, probably in my kitchen where I have outlets near the sink that don't comply with the current BC electrical code - I've assumed it's a 'grandfather clause' but I'd still prefer the protection.
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I appreciate all the suggestions and information and will pass them along to my friend who is currently without internet access. The permit inspector came out for a field check and gave him several different options but would not say which is better, just what would be acceptable, so we're just doing some resarch. bigbird: Good tip on keeping the fridge etc. off of the GFCI. Nothing like waking up to melting ice cream and warm milk. billhart: interesting information. The AFCI breakers will only go on the bedroom circuits as per code requirement here. homeinspector: not sure if I'm understanding you correctly but this will be an interior application. Not sure if the GFCI breaker would still be more sensitive here and make a GFCI receptacle unnecessary. peter racer: sorry for not being clearer. The GFCIs and AFCIs are separate breakers, not the combos. This is an old house with Siemens breakers.
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Thanks Spencer, you just gave me an idea... since the 1/2 BA butts up against the back wall of the garage I can just reroute the existing GFCI protected line that currently runs to the BA and connect it to a new single receptacle on the back wall of the garage... then switch that line to the LINE output side of the GFCI. This is easy to do because the drywall has been removed from the wall with the GFCI due to recent Earthquake strengthening. Since I need to keep power to the upstairs baths during this reno I can temporarily connect the new home run line to the existing garage GFCI since its only a couple of feet from the panel. It will get routed to the panel when the rest of the new circuits are added.
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Ron Natalie
3 years ago
Yes, lighting and receptacles go on the same circuit all the time. Again, it's restricted only in places like the bathroom, kitchen, and laundry.

One thing though, if you have a circuit you're frequently tripping, I'd avoid putting the sole lighting for the room on it :)
mtvhike
3 years ago
Lets say you have only one circuit in a garage. What about putting the lighting wiring before the GFCI receptacle and all the rest of the receptacles downstream from that?
EvaElizabeth
Original Author
3 years ago
I’m adding one of the circuits to prevent tripping from the miter saw, I actually only recently realized it’s on the same circuit as the internet router and other home electronic hardware and it’s easier to add another circuit rather than relocate any of those things. Hopefully it will resolve the breaker tripping

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