View Full Version : Christmas lights trip Garage unit when it rains
janethiggins
Dec 18, 2010, 11:52 AM
I have all my Christmas lights plugged into my garage. Whenever it rains the garage switch is tripped because of the safety wet thing. How can I keep my Christmas lights on when it rains. Everything works fine when its dry.. I see other house with all of their lights on when its pouring rain...
ma0641
Dec 18, 2010, 12:24 PM
The "safety wet thing" is a GFCI, doing what it is supposed to do. When the wires get wet, it reads a ground fault and trips. Code requires them in garages and other areas too. The only real solution is to use a non GFCI circuit. You may also have a wiring problem that is shorting when wet. A lot of the "light people" have the same problem but have used a wire from inside, through a window, for example.
tkrussell
Dec 19, 2010, 05:38 AM
Sorry, but using a NON GFI circuit for outdoor Xmas lights is not an option.
This would allow the Xmas lights that are tripping a GFI to remain energized, exactly what the GFI is preventing.
All outdoor devices must be GFI protected.
You need to determine exactly which string of lights is causing the tripping, and replace it.
Leaving a string of lights that has a ground fault when wet can potential energize the tree or whatever the strings of lights is attached to, and someone coming along can come in contact with it and receive a shock, at minimum.