I am looking to add an outdoor receptacle for my soon to be installed above ground pool. Obviously I want it to be a grounded outlet (GFCI) ... Do I need to install an GFCI breaker ? Or can I add a GFCI outlet off of an existing GFCI outlet and run it out to the pool area. I have already gone through the process of running outdoor wire through the proper external PVC connections, buried wire, bubble, insulted box. Just looking for the proper tie-in at this point. My circuit breaker main box is full at this point, but I have GFCI receptacles running into my unfinished basement close to the area I can connect to the external connection.

Hopefully - I've explained my situation. Thanks for your anticipated help!

ebaines

You do not need a GFI breaker, as long as you use a GFI outlet out at the pool.

However, you may have a code issue here: I believe the code requires that all outdoor branch circuits be on their own breaker, not tied in to an existing branch in the house.

HugoHark

Thanks !

Can I tie the unused GFI outlets in the basement to another (existing low load breaker) and then make a solo breaker available to the pool (outdoor branch circuit) ? and should that then be a GFI breaker and/or just a GFI outlet into a regular breaker ?

ebaines

Yes, but only as long as you can tie the basement outlet to another circuit in the basement. Don't try to connect it into a circuit that goes, say, to a bedroom or the kitchen.

For the pool, you can do either:
1. GFI outlet at the pool, run to a standard breaker, or
2. Standard outlet at the pool, tied to a GFI breaker

I like the first choice here best, as it is immediately obvious to anyone using the outlet at the pool that it's properly protected. Plus you can easily test it. And when it pops it's easy to reset.