Deck Outlet

9 years ago

We have a new deck off the back of the house and want to add an outdoor outlet to one of the deck posts. We currently have a single GFCI outlet about 100 feet from the house on a dedicated 20 amp breaker; it is wired with 10 gauge wire rather than 12 gauge, I assume because of the length of the run. The 10 gauge wire runs underground in conduit through the plate into the basement, where it conveniently enters a junction box and connects to 10 gauge wire that runs to the breaker box. (The circuit is annotated "20 amp max inside the breaker box".) For my new deck post outlet, I have installed 3/4" conduit (with several twists and turns) from the box to the basement, so snaking 10 gauge wire will be a challenge.

Is there any reason I can't/shouldn't use 12 gauge wire from the new outlet box to the junction box (about 15 feet) and connect the 12 gauge wire to the 10 gauge wires for this branch circuit? Thanks in advance for your feedback!

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Comments (3)

randy427
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
The 12 gauge wires are adequate. I'd tag the wire in the breaker panel to ensure someone doesn't change out to a 30 amp breaker in the future. How much twisting and turning are you dealing with. (Individual THWN wires rather than NM cable, right?) There is a limit of 360 degrees of accumulated bends allowed between access points.
rneydl thanked randy427
PRO
The Shock Doctors
9 years ago
Dear Meydl:

I see no
reason that you can’t connect your new outlet as you have described. The
20 amp breaker will protect the 12 gauge wire properly and there will be minute
voltage drop.

Make sure
you use a 20 amp T-slot GFCI outlet.

You must
take out a permit and file a request for inspection for this project from your
local inspection authority (in Ontario it is the Electrical Safety
Authority). I would contact the inspector once you have pulled your
permit and just confirm that your plan is to Code.

Hope this
is of value to you.

Terry Carman

www.theshockdoctors.ca
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Ron Natalie
9 years ago
Make sure you use a 20 amp T-slot GFCI outlet.

Can't vouch for Canada (the poster didn't imply where he was), but in the US the above is not required for two reasons. First, he can extend the circuit protected from the LOAD side of the first GFCI. Second, it is acceptable to put 15A receptacles (GFCI protected or not) on 20A circuits as long as there's more than one.