Couple weeks ago we got called to a place in Redwood where a guy had been running extension cords from his garage out to the backyard for like 3 years. He had them zip-tied along the fence and everything - pretty elaborate setup actually. But winter rain had gotten inside one of the connections and it shorted out while he was using his pressure washer. Lucky it just tripped his breaker and didnt start a fire or shock him. We installed 3 proper weatherproof outlets around his yard that afternoon and he said he wished hed done it years ago instead of dealing with all those cords.
Thats pretty common actually. People make do with extension cords cause they think installing outdoor outlets is gonna be this huge expensive thing. But its usually pretty straightforward and way safer than running indoor extension cords outside.
Why You Need Proper Outdoor Outlets
If youve got a yard you probably need power out there at some point. Lawn mower, hedge trimmer, leaf blower, pressure washer. Christmas lights. Outdoor speakers or string lights for entertaining. Maybe a fountain or pond pump. Hot tub. Electric BBQ. Car washing gear. The list goes on.
Running extension cords from inside works til it doesnt. Extension cords sitting outside get damaged by sun, rain, lawnmowers running over them. They become trip hazards. Water gets in the connections. Indoor extension cords arent rated for outdoor use and break down fast in weather.
Plus constantly opening doors or windows to run cords through is annoying. Youre letting heat out in winter or cool air out in summer. Bugs get in through the gaps. Its just not a good solution.
Proper outdoor outlets are weatherproof, GFCI protected, and permanently installed right where you need them. Turn stuff on and off without messing with extension cords. Use multiple things at once. Way more convenient and way safer.
We did a house in Fendalton last spring where the owners wanted to set up their backyard for outdoor living. We installed outlets on the deck for speakers and lighting, outlets by the spa pool, and an outlet in the garden area for their fountain. They have people over all the time now cause everythings set up properly and easy to use.
Weatherproof vs Regular Outlets
You cant just stick a regular indoor outlet on the side of your house. Well you could but it would fail pretty quick and could be dangerous.
Outdoor outlets need to be rated for weather. They got special gaskets and seals to keep moisture out. The outlet boxes are weatherproof with drainage holes in case water gets in. The covers protect the outlet even when somethings plugged in - we call those in-use covers or while-in-use covers.
Regular outdoor outlet covers only protect the outlet when nothings plugged in. But if youve got Christmas lights or a fountain pump running all the time those dont help. In-use covers have a deeper housing that closes around the plug so everythings protected even during use.
All outdoor outlets need GFCI protection cause youre outside where its wet and youre standing on ground that conducts electricity. GFCI cuts power in milliseconds if it detects a fault. Could save your life if a tool has a short or water gets into something.
We use commercial-grade weatherproof outlets rated for New Zealand conditions. These things hold up to our Christchurch weather - rain, wind, sun, cold winters. The cheap ones from hardware stores sometimes fail after a year or two but quality outlets last decades.
Where to Put Outdoor Outlets
Location depends on what you use your outdoor spaces for but there are some common spots that make sense for most homes.
Front of house near the garage or driveway is good for car stuff, pressure washing, vacuum. Christmas lights. Inflatable decorations if youre into that.
Deck or patio areas need outlets for entertaining - speakers, lights, fans, outdoor heaters, phone chargers. If youve got an outdoor TV or projector setup youll want outlets there. We usually put at least 2 outlets on larger decks so people arent limited.
Garden areas might need outlets for water features, pond pumps, outdoor lighting. Some people have electric garden tools they use regularly and want power nearby instead of dragging cords across the whole yard.
Near the letterbox or gate is handy for security lighting, doorbell cameras, intercoms. We installed outlets by the front gate on a house in Merivale for their automatic gate system and security cameras.
Garage exterior walls are good spots cause the wiring can usually come from inside the garage pretty easily. People use these for yard tools, workshop stuff, car projects.
Pool and spa areas have specific code requirements about outlet placement - they need to be certain distances from the water and GFCI protected. We handle that stuff to make sure its compliant and safe.
How We Install Outdoor Outlets
Installing outdoor outlets isnt rocket science but theres details that matter. Done wrong they leak, fail, or become dangerous.
First we figure out where the power is gonna come from. Sometimes we can tap into an existing circuit inside the house or garage. Sometimes we need to run a new circuit from your panel. Depends on what else is on that circuit and how much load the new outlets will add.
We drill through the wall from inside to outside. Mount a weatherproof box on the exterior. Run the cable through the wall making sure everything is sealed up so water cant get in. Cable gets protected in conduit on the exterior where it might get damaged.
Wire up the outlet with GFCI protection. Test everything to make sure it works and trips when it should. Install the weatherproof in-use cover. Seal around the box where it meets the wall. Clean up and show you how to use it.
For outlets far from the house like in the middle of your yard or garden we might need to trench and run underground cable. That takes longer but gives you power anywhere you need it. Underground cable has to be buried deep enough to protect it from shovels and garden work.
Most single outdoor outlet installations take 1-3 hours depending on how far we have to run cable and what were mounting to. Multiple outlets in one visit obviously take longer but were already there so the per-outlet time goes down.
Different Types of Outdoor Outlet Setups
Theres different ways to set up outdoor power depending on what you need.
Single outlets work fine if you just need power in one spot. We mount them on the wall where you want them. Simple and cheap.
Double outlets give you two plugs in one box. Good for areas where you might use multiple things - like deck outlets for lights and speakers at the same time.
Outlet posts are freestanding posts with outlets on them. These work great for gardens or yard areas far from the house. We install a post with weatherproof outlets at whatever height makes sense. People use these for ponds, garden lighting, yard decorations.
Some folks want USB charging built into their outdoor outlets. We can do that - handy for decks and patio areas where people are hanging out with phones and tablets.
Timer outlets let you set when things turn on and off automatically. Good for landscape lighting or holiday decorations. Some have photocells that turn on at dusk and off at dawn.
Had a customer in Halswell who wanted outlets on his deck but didnt want them visible when not in use. We installed outlets with flip covers that lay flat and blend into the deck structure. You only notice them when you need to use them.
GFCI Protection for Outdoor Outlets
Every outdoor outlet needs GFCI protection. No exceptions. This is code and its for your safety.
GFCI protects you from ground faults - when electricity finds a path to ground through something it shouldnt, like through you. Outside youre standing on wet grass or concrete, handling tools, dealing with water for gardens or washing. All of that makes electrical accidents more likely.
We install GFCI outlets or put the outlets on a GFCI breaker at your panel. Either way if theres a fault the power cuts in like 25 milliseconds. Fast enough that you might feel a tingle but not fast enough to hurt you or cause your heart to stop.
GFCI outlets have test and reset buttons. You should test them monthly - push the test button, it should trip and cut power, then push reset to bring power back. If it doesnt trip its not protecting you and needs to be replaced.
Sometimes people complain their outdoor GFCI keeps tripping. Usually thats not the GFCI being faulty - its doing its job and detecting an actual problem. Could be moisture in the outlet box, could be a tool with a current leak, could be damaged wiring somewhere. We track down whats causing it and fix it properly.
Weatherproofing and Maintenance
Even weatherproof outlets need some attention to keep working right.
The gaskets and seals dry out over time specially in our Christchurch sun. We use UV-resistant materials but nothing lasts forever. If you notice the cover getting hard or cracked it should be replaced before water gets in.
Make sure the in-use covers close properly. Dont force cords that are too big or try to cram multiple plugs under one cover - you break the seal and moisture gets in. If you need multiple things plugged in we should install more outlets or a weatherproof power strip.
Keep the area around outlets clear. Plants growing over outlets trap moisture. Spider webs and bug nests inside the boxes can cause problems. Once a year open the cover and check inside - if you see corrosion, water damage, or bug nests give us a call.
Clean the cover and outlet face with a dry cloth now and then. Dirt and grime build up and can interfere with the seal.
Check the mounting screws. Weather and vibration can loosen them over time. Tighten if needed but dont overtighten and crack the box.
Common Outdoor Outlet Problems
Most outdoor outlet problems come from moisture getting where it shouldnt.
Outlets that stop working often have water damage inside. The outlet itself corrodes or the connections corrode. Sometimes we can clean it up and replace the outlet, sometimes the whole box needs replacing.
GFCI tripping constantly usually means moisture in the box or in whatever youve got plugged in. Or a tool with a fault thats leaking current. We test the circuit and the tools to find the problem.
Covers that wont stay closed are usually broken or warped from sun exposure. Replace the cover before moisture gets in and damages the outlet.
Outlets that spark when you plug things in might have loose connections inside or corrosion. Dont use them - call someone to check it out.
Had a customer in Papanui who said his outdoor outlet worked fine for years then suddenly died. Opened it up and found it full of water - the seal had failed and every time it rained a bit more water got in til finally everything corroded. Replaced the whole setup with better quality gear and its been fine since.
Outdoor Lighting and Outlets
A lot of times when were installing outdoor outlets people also want outdoor lighting done. Makes sense to do it all at once.
Deck lighting, path lighting, security lighting, landscape lighting - all needs power. We can run that off the same circuits as the outlets or set up dedicated circuits if the lighting load is heavy.
String lights for entertaining are popular. We install outlets specifically for those - usually up high on the house or deck structure so the cords dont hang down weird. Makes your string light setup look clean.
Christmas lights are a big one. Having outlets in the right spots means you dont have to run extension cords all over the place every December. Front of house, along the roof line, in the garden - wherever you put decorations.
We did a place in Cashmere where they wanted their whole yard lit up for entertaining. We installed outlets for landscape lighting, outlets on the deck for string lights, outlets by the outdoor kitchen. At night with everything on it looks like a resort. But during the day you barely notice the outlets cause theyre placed strategically.
Cost of Outdoor Outlet Installation
Price depends on where you want the outlet and how easy it is to get power there.
Simple installation on an exterior wall where we can tap into an existing indoor circuit - usually $250-400 per outlet including the weatherproof box, GFCI outlet, and in-use cover.
If we need to run a new circuit from your panel that adds to the cost. Or if we have to go through multiple walls or long distances. Or if were mounting on brick or concrete instead of weatherboard.
Underground runs to garden areas or yard outlets cost more cause of the trenching and conduit work. Usually $500-800 depending on distance.
Outlet posts in the yard run $600-1000 cause youve got the post, the underground work, and the weatherproof box setup.
Multiple outlets in one visit bring the per-outlet cost down cause were already set up and working. Did 4 outlets on a house in Riccarton last month for about $1200 total.
Outdoor Outlets for Specific Uses
Different outdoor uses need different outlet setups.
Hot tubs and spas need dedicated circuits with GFCI protection. Cant just plug them into a regular outlet. These are usually 15 or 20 amp circuits depending on the spa. We install the outlet near the spa but not too close - code specifies minimum distances from water.
Electric car chargers need heavy-duty circuits - usually 30-50 amps. Different setup than regular outlets but same idea - weatherproof, GFCI protected, installed where you park.
Workshop outlets in garages or sheds need to handle power tools. We make sure the circuit can handle the load and install multiple outlets so you can use several tools at once.
Garden outlets for water features, pond pumps, or landscape lighting are usually lower power but need to be placed carefully so they dont get damaged by garden work.
RV outlets are another specialty item. RVs need different plug types and circuits than regular outlets. We install the proper receptacles for whatever RV equipment you have.
Building Code Requirements
Outdoor electrical has specific code requirements that have to be followed.
All outdoor outlets need GFCI protection. Weatherproof boxes and covers are required. Outlets need to be certain heights above ground - usually at least 450mm to keep them out of standing water.
Near pools and spas outlets have to be certain distances away - usually 2 meters minimum. Cant be in areas where they could fall in water.
Underground wiring has to be in conduit and buried deep enough - usually 450-600mm depending on location and what protection its got.
Outlets cant be installed in areas where they get direct water spray like under eaves where rain runs off.
We handle all the code compliance stuff. When we install outdoor outlets they meet code and pass inspection. Some handymen or DIY installs dont and that causes problems if you sell your house or have an insurance claim.
DIY vs Professional Installation
People ask if they can install outdoor outlets themselves. Technically you can do your own electrical work on your own house in New Zealand but it has to meet code and be safe.
The problem is most people dont know all the requirements. Wrong outlet type, wrong box, wrong sealing, wrong GFCI protection, wrong circuit sizing. Any of those things can lead to problems - outlets that fail, outlets that are dangerous, outlets that dont pass inspection.
Also theres liability issues. If you do electrical work and it causes a fire your insurance might not cover it. If you sell your house and the buyer finds non-compliant electrical they can make you fix it or reduce the sale price.
For the cost of having it done right by a licensed electrician its worth it. We do it properly, its covered by insurance, and you dont have to worry about it.
Had a customer in Woolston who installed his own outdoor outlet then called us when it stopped working after a few months. Opened it up and found he used an indoor outlet in a semi-weatherproof box with no proper sealing. Water had gotten in and corroded everything. Cost more to fix it properly than if hed just called us in the first place.
Planning Your Outdoor Electrical
If youre thinking about outdoor outlets its worth planning the whole setup at once instead of adding outlets one at a time over years.
Walk around your property and think about where you use power outside now and where you might want it in future. Mark those spots. We can install outlets in all those locations in one visit which saves you money.
Think about outdoor projects you might do down the road. Adding a deck? Hot tub? Outdoor kitchen? Garden lighting? Plan outlets for those areas now even if you dont need them yet. Way easier to install them during the initial work than to add them later.
Consider dedicated circuits for high-power stuff. Your deck outlets can share a circuit but your spa or EV charger needs its own. We can set up your panel to handle everything now and save you headaches later.
We do a lot of outdoor electrical planning for new builds and renovations. Getting it right from the start means your outdoor spaces work the way you want them to without extension cords or limitations.