My garage had a GFCI outlet in a single gang box. The power to the box also supplied unswitched power to an exterior flood light (with a photoelectric switch in the fixture) and to another box that had the switch for the interior garage light. When the wall was recently removed for an unrelated renovation project, I had the opportunity to replace the single gang with a triple gang box, move the switch and add a switch to the exterior light. I wired the line to the GFCI and the 2 switches to the GFCI's load. (the original switch location became a junction box). All grounds were wired together as were the neutrals. The 2 switches were wired together with a lead from the load of the GFCI. When either switch was turned on, the GFCI tripped. The GFCI worked fine and was checked that it was wired correctly. I solved the problem by wiring the switches directly to the line "behind" the GFCI switch, though I wonder if I am giving up something safety wise by doing so. Was my original wiring incorrect? Am I OK wiring it as is? Thanks.

Although sometimes lights are connected to a GFCI via a receptacle (most commonly in a bathroom) the primary use for a GFCI is protection at the receptacle in wet locations. A GFCI circuit is not required for lighting circuits.

Not sure I follow your post.


I wired the line to the GFCI and the 2 switches to the GFCI's load.

That statement gives me concern.

The line terminals are the connection for the power source. The load side is for any outlets of other devices down stream from the GFI.
The line side has a silver terminal on the left for the line neutral (white wire). It has a brass terminal on the right for the line hot (black wire). Most GFIs have two sets of load terminals. One set is GFI protected, the other is not. Usually the set in the center is not protected and there is a yellow warning tape that must be removed to use. The unprotected terminals are just another way of connecting load to the line. It is equalivent to wire nuting the two together.
Light are not required to be GFI protected, only outlets.
If you chose to use the GFI protected terminals to power the switches to the lights and the GFI trips when you turn the switch on, that means something is wrong with the wiring. If it happens when you turn either switch on, the problem is probably in the way you wired the switches. If the GFI trips when you turn just one of the switch on, the problem is probably in the wiring to that light.

Post back giving specific wire connections.

If the light switch is fed from the GFI Load side, then the lights neutral needs to be on the load side as well.
A load needs to be Either on the Line side OR Load side(hot and neutral).
Your GFI is working fine.
I wouldn't use the load side, If GFI trips, it would leave you in the dark.