Hey gang,
I have two circuits serving the "south 40"
"A" is a security lighting circuit currently switched from three locations with a 3-way switch at the final common work box. Power is GFCI protected at the panel
"B" is an unswitched dedicated 20A circuit with a GFCI outlet at the final common work box.
I decided after the fact (after conduit was covered) that I needed to have GFCI protected unswitched power at the light pole A. Since I had already run 12/3 WG to the light pole, and had an "extra" unused red wire, I thought that I could get a GFCI protected hot lead by connecting my "extra" red wire to the load side of my B circuit GFCI, then wired the common and ground back through the lighting circuit A.
I did it but as soon as I apply a load I throw the breaker or the GFCI (I can't remember which)
Is there a way to rewire to make this work without more wire/conduit?
That is, can I retain my switched lighting circuit "A" without creating a new branch circuit? (concerned about too much load on the circuit because I will have to walk up a steep hill to the panel in the house if the GFCI interupts or the circuit breaker throws )
If NOT, can I create an always HOT branch circuit by taking the HOT from my switched lighting circuit? (currently switched from three locations, including at the final work box)
Wouldn't that mean taking power feed from BOTH the black AND the red (traveller) at my 3-way switch at "A". I think that means the hot supply wire would change from being the black wire to the red wire every time a lighting switch was operated on circuit "A". That means the HOT would consist of a black and red cross connected. Don't think I can do that....
Any other ways to skin this cat?
TIA!
MT