Installing outside electrical

12 years ago

I presently have an electrical box in my home which at one time contained a switch for some interior device. It is being fed by a 12/2 w/ grd NM directly from my loadcenter. This circuit is no longer being used.

I wish to feed (underground) some decorative lighting and an outdoor receptacle 125' away at the front of my property from this box. I want the lighting to be controlled by a switch in this box, but I wish the receptacle to remain live.

I own 250' of 12/3 UF which I hope to use. The receptacle will be a wet area GFCI.

Is it ok to create the switched circuit to the lights on one conductor and the unswitched circuit to the receptacle on the other while tying the neutrals together at the load end? Or...will this require me to run the 12/3 all the way back to the loadcenter to run off of a 2-pole breaker?

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Comments (9)

ionized_gw
12 years ago
I don't understand why you show two conductors being switched at the indoor junction box. All you need to do is run 12/3 from that box to your loads. Switch the red wire and connect to the lights. Leave the black unswitched and connect to the GFI. The neutral gets connected to both.
Jpous
Original Author
12 years ago
To: ionized
Sorry about that. This particular schenario would allow me to switch the receptacle when not in use, or for Christmas lights, etc. I may still go with this arrangement.

So you see no problems or other requirements with sharing the neutral such as with a multiwire branch circuit?

Thanks
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Ron Natalie
12 years ago
This is fine. You really only have one circuit here with two switched legs.
Jpous
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks, guys!
wertach zone 7-B SC
12 years ago
If I'm seeing things correctly, You are using the ground wire as a grounded conductor?

NOOOOOOOOOO!
Ron Natalie
12 years ago
I don't think you're seeing it correctly. 12/3 UF has three current carrying conductors as well as a ground. Similarly 12/2 NM has two current carrying conductors and a ground.

He just skipped drawing in the grounds.
Jpous
Original Author
12 years ago
To: wertach

I purposefully left the grounds off of the drawing so as not to clutter it up. I should have clarified.
Jpous
Original Author
12 years ago
To: wertach

I purposefully left the grounds off of the drawing so as not to clutter it up. I should have clarified.
ionized_gw
12 years ago
Leaving the grounds out of a drawing like that to simplify the drawing is typical. Sometimes people include that fact in a notation.