Outdoor receptacles and GFCI protection: which statement is true?

• A. Outdoor receptacles require GFCI protection, typically.
• B. GFCI protection is not required for any outdoor circuit.
• C. GFCI protection must always be used on all 240 V circuits.
• D. GFCI devices are only for wet locations.

Answer: (A)

Outdoor receptacles are placed in wet locations, so they must have GFCI protection to reduce shock risk. A GFCI does what a regular breaker doesn’t: it monitors the current in the hot and neutral wires and trips in a fraction of a second if it detects any leakage to ground, preventing a shock. For outdoor outlets this protection can be provided either by a GFCI receptacle itself or by a GFCI breaker upstream in the panel, and it’s common practice to use weatherproof enclosures and covers to keep the outlet safe from moisture. The statement reflects the typical requirement for outdoor outlets, whereas the other options misstate the scope: GFCI protection is not limited to all 240 V circuits, and GFCI devices aren’t restricted to wet locations—they’re used to protect both wet locations and other scenarios where ground-fault protection is needed.