DIY Project – GFCI – Outside

When I ran underground wire for our front post light, I installed a GFCI box where the wire came out of the house.  The GFCI outlet never worked.  I did some troubleshooting initially, but I could not solve the problem. That was 34 years ago.  Yes, 34 years ago.  I walked by that GFCI for 34 years and never made another attempt to fix it, until today.  Earlier in the year, I put the GFCI on my to-do list.  Last week I removed the old GFCI.  The box was leaking, as there was rust around the box.  I noted what I needed: a new cover and GFCI.  Then it started to rain, so I waited until next week.

The day before, I went to the local home improvement store and purchased the cover and GFCI.  Efiwym. my wife, laughed at the receipt.  It cost about $20 to hopefully fix the problem.  I just shrugged my shoulders, and I said, “I know.”

Today, the weather was not great.  Damp and cold.  I did not anticipate being out that long, but electrical projects are never straight forward.  I gathered the tools I needed and sat down next to the box. I tore off the plastic bag off the box.  Last week, I drilled out the screws to get the old outlet off.  Now I had to find a way to remove the remaining screws.  I removed the rusted brackets that held the old GFCI in place, and I was done with that part.  I was worried I would not have anything to screw the outlet to, but after lining the outlet with the box, the cover holes lined up perfectly.

Before I would remove the wire nuts, I went downstairs to turn off the circuit breaker.  Since the post light was on that circuit, I flipped the switch and hence, no light.  I never checked if the bulb was burnt out, but my voltmeter verified that there was no power.

I first installed a ground (white) lead that I cut off to remove the old GFCI.  I screwed down both wires into the GFCI.  (I had to check the world-wide-web to see what wire goes on which screw.  Hot – brass, ground – silver.)  I went back downstairs to turn the circuit breaker back on.

I returned back upstairs, and the post light was now lit.  I got my voltmeter and check the outlet for power.  120 volts!  It was working.  I was ready to put the cover on, but I could not get the rubber gasket around the outlet.  Back downstairs to turn off the circuit breaker.

Back upstairs, I removed the wires from the GFCI.  I put the gasket on the box, reinstalled the GFCI and installed the cover.  Back downstairs to turn the circuit breaker back on.

I checked the outlet again.  Yea!  120 volts.  I needed to find a way to attach the GFCI to the house.  When the siding was replaced 15 years ago, they did not reattach the box to the house.  Maybe next week.

I gathered my tools and I put them back into the toolbox.  I told Efiwym I was done being cold and went inside.  34 years later, I finally fixed the GFCI outside.

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