Well house - GFCI or regular?

[KTurner]

I'm rebuilding a small (3'x3'x3') well house for a shallow well to water the garden. Probably hasn't been used in 12 years and the 'roof' caved in, exposing the interior to the weather. The electrical box doesn't look real good, so I'm going to replace it. The existing outlet is not GFCI. On one hand, I can see it being added protection. On the other, you still have live wires inside the electrical box inside the well house going to the GFCI outlet so it's partial but not full protection. On the other other hand, I've read on the internet that well pumps will trip the GFCI on a routine basis under normal operation.

Thoughts?

Thanks
Keith

 

[Western]

I've had GFCI plugs in 2 well over the last 20 years, I have never had to reset them. FWIW

You could also use an exterior water proof receptacle box for extra protection

 

[whistlepig]

It's a personal choice. GFCI is a very good idea but I wouldn't trust my life to it. The same safety precautions apply to GFCI as does to a standard outlet. There are some situations that the GFCI can kick out when there is nothing wrong at all. They can sometimes be a pain in the butt.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

There are some things that it's not a good idea to have on a GFCI because you don't want the power to cut out in the middle of something. Refrigerators and computers are commonly listed. I'd think that a well pump would be another one I'd rather not have cut out when I don't want it to. I'd go with a well grounded system and leave it without the GFCI.

 

[techman]

If you have an outlet, it must be GFCI. If the well wiring is direct wired, no outlet, it does not need to be GFCI.

paul

 

[PILOON]

If a GFI sniffs water or even snow it'll kick out as happened with my tractor block heater plug in.
The inside of a pump house will always be humid so a GFI will probably kick out more often than you'd like.
My opinion would be to make all connections inside of those plastic sealed off boxes that are waterproof. Some have options for seale off switches as well.
If you have an outer utility power plug a GFI would be a good safety precaution to take.