GFCI Amperage

[mattpatt]

In trying to get my power distribution panel in order. What amperage rating GFCIs do most people install? 15 or 20A?

Thanks

Matt

[LOR Staff]

Not enough information

What AWG do you intend to run from the GFCI to the outlets?

Are you going to use 15A or 20A outlets?

Are you going to use GFCI Breakers, or GFCI outlets?

Are you planning on running regular outlets downstream of your GFCI outlets (if you go that route)?

[mattpatt]

Sorry about that...

I have a 30A 220 dedicated circuit that I have ran to my front porch. From there I plan to mount a small breaker box where there will be two 110V breakers. There will be two 110V circuits coming out of this box to the GFCI outlets. I"m figuring 4 GFCIs with two on each circuit. My LOR boxes will plug into these outlets. I am 95% LED with only 5 mini trees that are incans.

Matt

[columbus27]

I have 32 ch with 2 dedicated 20a GFCI outlets. And I am pulling less than 40% power.

[viennaxmas]

I think there are a few more things to consider.

What is the total maximum load of the show (e.g. A 70 ct led string uses about 5 watt, an dumb RGB string can go up to 36 watt)

I would also never load. Circuit to more than 60% capacity which does provide a little bit of head room. So pretty much about 1000 w max on a 15 amp circuit.

Since you add a sub panel, you could have 4 15 amp circuits and max them

Out.

Leaves the number of GFCI question: since rain and humidity is a big factor in GFCI tripping, having more dedicated outlets actually helps minimizing the effect on the show. If one trips, only a small part is affected.

I am actually using the unused pool panel as a sub panel and will add four dedicated circuits for the show, each with one GFCI at 15 A. This will provide me with a total of 6 15 A circuits...

Last year I run a 15 tsd light show of a single 15 A circuit but I had two GFCI on it... All stayed fine.

With the low power draw of LED I think 15A is fine... I would rather add more 15 A than 20 A... Also AWG 12 extension cords are a pain in the cold and expensive. 15 A works fine with the ones you get at HD...

[Ken Benedict]

Sorry about that...

I have a 30A 220 dedicated circuit that I have ran to my front porch. From there I plan to mount a small breaker box where there will be two 110V breakers. There will be two 110V circuits coming out of this box to the GFCI outlets. I"m figuring 4 GFCIs with two on each circuit. My LOR boxes will plug into these outlets. I am 95% LED with only 5 mini trees that are incans.

Matt

Sounds like an excellent plan, but use an "in-use" GFCI cover like: http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=202188590&storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&MERCH=REC%2d%5f%2dproduct%2d1%2d%5f%2d202188592%2d%5f%2d202188590%2d%5f%2dN#product_description

[brownjm74]

Matt,

First...I have 10 - 20A GFCI on a 100amp Sub-Panel

For your case... do you want to be able to draw 15amp from all 4 of your GFCI's. If so this is what you will need to do:

Run a 14-3 gage wire (White color plastic cover with 4 wires inside, Black, Red, White, Bare Copper) note: [only if this is in the wall, if not use seperate wires in PVC conduit do not run Romex wire in PVC] from your box on the porch (sub-panel) to a box housing 2 - 15A GFCI's. In your sub-panel you will need two twin 15A breakers that hook up to each one of your 2 - Outlet boxes. Now for wiring it click on this link for my "How to" on this: http://www.brownchri...lectrical.html

You will also need to run a 10-10-10-8 wire (copper) 8-8-8-10 (aluminum) from your main breaker box to your sub-panel on your porch. This is also explained in the "How to".

Feel free to PM me if you have more questions about this and I hope this helps you out.

Jeremy Brown

Edited September 20, 2012 by brownjm74