[noderman]

I would like to run a new circuit from my breaker box to the front of my house to power a an exterior gfi outlet, which I would like to control with a switch, and then continue to power some exterior soffit lights. Running the lines is no problem. What I'm wondering is how do I run the power to the gfi first, allow it to be switched, and then continue to another switch for the exterior lights.

Thanks for any advice.

[InfoJunkie4Life]

You could branch off before the first switch. Then you would have steady power going to the second switch. I'm not sure about conductor per box code, but you may be able to branch off the incoming line right inside the first switch box.

[hkstroud]

There is at least six different ways to do this. How to best do it would depend on where things are relative to one another. You try to do it using the least amount of wire, therefore the least amount of work.

If the switches are in the same location and the switch box is closest to the breaker panel, run power to the switch box. If the outlet and the lights are in the same direction from the switch box, run a three wire cable (neutral, switch leg for the outlet and switched leg for the lights) from the switch box to the outlet box. Run a 2-wire cable from the outlet box to the first light.

If the outlet box is closest to the breaker panel, run power to the outlet box. Run 3-wire cable from the outlet box to the switch box. If the lights are closest to the outlet box that cable will be a hot to the switches and a switch leg back to the outlet and a switched leg for the lights back to the outlet box but connected to the hot going to the lights. If the lights are closer to the switch box, the 3 wire cable from the outlet to the switch box will be a neutral, a hot and a switch leg back to the outlet. From the switch box run 2-wire cable to the first light.

The same principles apply if the switches are not in the same location. Chose you route for cabling taking into consideration the amount of wire and the difficulty of installation.

Why not give us a better description of where things are relative to one another.

[Tim99]

I would just keep it simple and run your wire to a switch then to the GFI outlet. Period. When you want power to that outlet... turn the switch on.