[jerome951]

Thanks for all of the advice, guys. The breaker is certainly staying off until I get a pro to look at it.

I'll give Matt and John's guy a ring today. Matt, OldTee pm'd me Tim's phone number already.

I did pull the plate off the outlet closest to where I initially smelled the burning but there was no smell inside (different circuit).

I did install a new outdoor light last year but can't remember if it coincided with the GFI starting to trip. I'll pull it off and check for moisture or loose wires. The GFI seems to trip during the day while the light is off so it may not be the problem. There's an exterior junction box for it as well that I'll check.

I did have a problem a couple years ago with a similar periodic burning smell and tripping breaker. Found one of the wires had pulled out of the back of the receptacle, was laying on the bare ground wire, and had burnt it ~1/2 way through.

I grew up around residential construction (dad had a masonry firm. I had to work in the summers which is why I now have a desk job). I frequently watched electricians installing their magic smoke and tubes. I got turned off of electrical stuff, though, when at the age of ~8 I was walking through our home under construction, which had been partially wired, reached into a light switch box to pull out some drywall mud, and didn't know the circuit was hot. Knocked me on my ass.