[marbles135]

I'm trying to hang outdoor Christmas lights that shut down when sensing water, thanks to GFI breakers. Fine. Problem: a freezer hooked up to an inside outlet is also shut down. I cannot find a way to connect the freezer to any other outlets. Anyone have a solution?

[stanfortyman]

No legal permanent solution.

You can temporarily move the freezer or run a cord to it from inside.

[tkrussell]

A GFI breaker protects the entire circuit, as you have discovered. What you can do is remove the breaker and replace with a standard breaker, and install GFI receptacles where needed. You can use one GFI receptacle to protect standard outlets downstream, or just itself.By careful placement of GFI receptacles and allowing connection of either protecting or not protecting downstream, you can have both on a circuit.

If for example there are 3 outlets in the circuit before the freezer outlet, each would need to be a GFI device, and not protect anything downstream on the circuit, to allow non-GFI protection to the freezer. After the freezer, the next device can be a GFI and protect the remaining circuit.

If your not familiar with circuitry, this can be confusing. All depends on your abilities and knowledge. A qualified electrician can be called in and know how to trace out the circuit and install exactly what is needed.

If the circuit is for outlets required to be GFI protected, such as a garage or basement, the electrician should know that a receptacle for a stationary appliance, such as a freezer, can be non- GFI, but must be a single outlet, not a duplex.

[stanfortyman]

Actually, TK's idea is much better.
I'm still half asleep. I hate waking up this late.

[marbles135]

Thanks to both of you for taking the time to help.

TKRussell's solution is a very good one, but for the few weeks a year that I run Christmas lights, I don't know that it is worth reconfiguring GFIs. The temporary solution-running the freezer to an indoor socket-occurred to me, but getting the cord through the door that runs from the garage to inside the house is a barrier.

Again, my thanks to you both!

[tkrussell]

Whichever is easier for you. I, however, would never allow a freezer or refrigerator be GFI protected. Refrigeration compressors are popular for causing nuisance tripping, and if not noticed, loss of food.

Of course, when I install wiring, seems I end up owning any damage caused, so I need to be careful.

Since this is all yours, you may do as you like.