Hi Folks,

I'm having a problem with an outdoor GFCI receptacle. I have a 15 amp circuit that runs out of the house up to a duel rocker switch box on my deck. One switch operates the deck step lights and the other operates and GFCI receptacle in the garden that I use to power a fountain from Spring to Fall. At this time of the year I use an extension cord from this receptacle and connect a photocell dawn to dusk timer at the end of the cord and then plug a LED Christmas light into the timer for the front of the house. This has worked for several years. Yesterday I decided to move the photocell timer from the end of the extension cord to the receptacle and then plug the extension cord into the photocell timer and the light into the cord. I unplug the extension cord and plug in the photocell timer. I hear the dreaded "click". The GFCI receptacle has tripped. I try to reset but it is dead. Bought a new one today. Installed it and turned the power back on. The idiot light shows on so I think I have power. Tested a string of LED lights but they didn't turn on. Got out the circuit tester and tested the outlet. It showed "Open Hot". Serious issue. Turned off the power and rechecked my connections. White to line in neutral was tight. Dark to line in hot was tight. Ground was tight. Can't figure out what is wrong so removed the new receptacle and capped off the wires. Just seems weird to me that I go from a dead GFCI to an "Open Hot" position by unplugging one thing and plugging in another thing. Any input will be appreciated.