Tag Archives: GFCI

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GFCI and Double rocker issues

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By Stephen Green

Name: switch.jpg Views: 0 Size: 17.5 KB
Hey folks! I am having issues wiring a GFCI outlet and a double rocker switch in the a dual gang box. I followed this diagram perfectly Name: switch.jpg Views: 0 Size: 17.5 KB.
However, L2 (fan) on the switch works, but L1 (light) trips the GFCI. I swapped the load around on the double rocker switch but L2 still works (now light) but L1 (now fan) still trips the GFCI. In both cases, the next box in line (another bathroom light) doesn’t work regardless.

Next up, I tried wiring it differently Name: photo-21.jpg Views: 0 Size: 29.9 KB .
I moved the hot line to the common on the double rocker switch, linked common from the switch to the line on the GFCI. I moved the hot neutral wire to the neutral on the GFCI opposite the line. I took the two neutral load wires and plugged them in to the neutral load on the GFCI. Doing this, the outlet works, L1 works, L2 DOES NOT work, and the next item down the line does not work.

What have I missed? Shouldn’t the first diagram worked? please help!

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Source: DoItYourself.com

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Issues with AC extension cord

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By justsumoldguy

Ok, just got a call from my Son. His Frigidaire 25K BTU 220V AC
Model #LRA257ST2 wasn’t running when he got home today. It can be programmed to turn on at a certain time. So he checked the circuit breaker in the fuse panel, tripped it out and reset it just in case there was a soft trip’.

Came back upstairs and noticed that the AC plug has a built in GFCI. So he reset it also. Hit the START button and the plug’s GFCI tripped instantly. Reset it a second time, after he removed the plug from the wall socket. Plugged it in, hit the start button again and it tripped again.

He unplugged it from the wall and let the plug sit on the floor. Couple of minutes later he notices WATER dripping out of the prongs or prong area of thee face of the plug!!!!

Next, he pulled the receptacle out of its electrical box, just to make sure the water did not come from inside the wall receptacle box. It was bone dry…dusty even.

He looked at the AC unit and the pug wire goes up through the front area of this AC unit and finds it way up to the motor.

The ends of the wire are separate and he can see the insides of the main plug wire. It looks like the actual individual wires are wrapped in a sort of white fuzzy material then the outer coating is added by the extrusion process probably.

There is no way the wire was in water AND this plug wire is in a common drip loop so about 3′ of this wire had to become saturated with water!! That is my conclusion since the receptacle is about 18″ off of the floor.
He is contacting Lowes but they may sand bag him since his 2 year warranty just ran out he thinks. This is going to be interesting…..

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Source: DoItYourself.com

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installing new GFCI

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By Brandon Bryant

Thanks in advance for any and all assistance.

Milwaukee,WI

Replacing standard outlet with GFCI over kitchen countertop. I have red, white and black wires coming in from two spots. Bought a leviton gfci.

Two single whites. Two single blacks tied together with a pigtail. Red also two single tied together with pigtail. Followed the diagram that came with gfci but breaker won’t reset. I’m guess its because of the way power is being routed but unsure. Any suggestions? Questions? I can text ot email pictures.

Thanks, Brandon

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GFCI not resetting itself

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By bairdj

In my 220 v wired home, a gfci bathroom outlet tripped and would not reset. 5 other outlets in my 2 story ranch went dead along with several wired features, room fan, bathroom lights.
I have checked my breakers and all seem ok.
I installed a new gfci and all was ok, but shortly after installation, my wife used her hairdryer and it went out again. I installed a new gfci outlet, but this time it will not reset?
Any thoughts on how I can track down where the problem is?
Thanks for your help.

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Source: DoItYourself.com

Do it yourself

weather resistant switch?

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By catfritter

For outdoor wiring, I see “weather-resistant” outlets, including GFCI outlets, but no weather resistant toggle switches. Are there such switches, or what does one install? My house had a 2 gang box on a block wall outside with duplex outlets and a toggle light switch for flood lights. The outlets had a weather cover as did the switch. I replaced the outlets with a GFCI duplex outlet, and replaced the switch,and installed a big honking in-use weather cover. But now I think the GFCI and the switch should be rated weather resistant. Right?

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Source: DoItYourself.com

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Just like a GFCI circuit only different

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By 94rider

I have a dehumidifier located remotely from the condensation pump. I would like to automatically disable the outlet from which the dehumidifier gets electricity in the event the condensation pump overflows.
The condensation pump has a standard moisture detector, with a 2 wire connector, which is intended to be used in HVAC situations. It can be configured to turn off a thermostat (break the circuit) or set off an alarm (complete the circuit).
Does anyone know of a switch which will allow me to disable this outlet in the event moisture is detected? I know that there are hot water heater shutoffs which shut down the water supply and the power, but I don’t want the water supply side of the switch.
Alternately is there any way to use the moisture detector switch to trip a GFCI circuit?

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Source: DoItYourself.com

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help with GFCI installation

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By sts7049

i’m in the process of installing GFCIs in my bathrooms of my house. i am having issues with one of the GFCIs tripping in our bathroom upstairs.

there are two outlets in the bathroom, on the left and right side of the sink. i am trying to put a GFCI on the right side outlet, the left side outlet is on a separate circuit i have determined (and will probably put one there next so it’s protected).

the main part of the bathroom has lights overhead controlled by two 3-way switches, and the toilet closet has a light and a fan. each of these three items are downstream of the GFCI, because when it’s tripped none of them work.

my problem is, when i reset the GFCI, the minute i hit one of the two 3-way switches to turn the lights on the GFCI trips again. i can turn the toilet closet light and fan on and off no problem. i verified that i have the GFCI wired properly (load and line in the right spot), i have changed out the two 3-way switches in case one of them was bad, and have put in my GFCI tester and it tells me it’s wired properly.

what do i need to look at next?? i am stumped.

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GFCI tripped and wired to light switch with lower amps

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By chantellyw

We are renting a condo and decided to replace the old light switches and eletrical outlets. We thought they were all 15 amps and that’s what we were replacing them with. When we got to the bathroom, it was a combination outlet- one light switch and a GFCI. They where separate outlets when we took off the switchplate, but the GFCI had a black wire connected to the side of the light switch. When we turned the power back on, it immediately went off and wouldn’t come back on. I noticed the GFCI was 20 amps, even though everything else is 15 amps, including the light switch that is now wired to the GFCI outlet. The bathroom is the first breaker on the circuit and now no other power in the condo will come on because the GFCI was tripped.

I realize now after reading some posts that we probably need to get a 15 amp GFCI outlet since it is wired to the 15 amp light switch. If we do this, should it fix the problem? Will the power come back on after replacing the GFCI with an outlet that is 15 amps, like the light switch?

Any help is appreciated!

From: http://www.doityourself.com/forum/lighting-light-fixtures-ceiling-exhaust-fans/493740-gfci-tripped-wired-light-switch-lower-amps.html

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Razor only replaced with GFCI but now other connected outlets don't work

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By Sweetchickie

The bathroom “razor only” outlet was changed to a new GFCI and it works, but now the other outlets daisy chained off that do not. There were 2 black wires, 2 white wires and 2 ground. We identified the line/load wires and attached them accordingly as well as the ground. We have tried to move some of the wires to different terminals to see if that might work but then the GFCI doesn’t work (won’t even reset) and the rest still don’t.
The chain is this: wall outlet, new bathroom GFCI (where power stops), 3 more wall outlets then another GFCI in a different bathroom (which previously was a razor only as well).

From: http://www.doityourself.com/forum/electrical-c-d-c/493295-razor-only-replaced-gfci-but-now-other-connected-outlets-dont-work.html

Do it yourself

Wiring in garage Q

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By 2Quik

I am planing on adding a GFCI outlet to my garage for a new freezer i purchased. I don’t have electrical wires running along that wall, but i was going to tap into an outlet on the other side of the other garage(see picture). I noticed that the electrical wire is exposed(see pictures). I don’t think it is suppose to be exposed but i am not sure. So my question is can it be exposed or should i replace with a conduit shield one or can it be left alone?

Thanks.

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From: http://www.doityourself.com/forum/electrical-c-d-c/493259-wiring-garage-q.html

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Pool light GFCI – safety issue?

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By DIYhacker

With the electrical wiring for my swimming pool is a 110 volt GFCI receptacle for the pool light. Presently it’s wired like this: a single-pole switch is on the hot-side input wire to the GFCI receptacle, and the load is the pool light and the GFCI‘S own outlet, in parallel with each other. The switch is of course to control the pool light, but as wired it also switches the GFCI outlet, so I can’t plug in a radio, or a low-watt light to protect frost-sensitve plants nearby, etc., without the 400-watt pool light also on. Crazy – or is it?

It’s trivial to move the switch to the load side: rewire the GFCI load to be the pool light plus switch in parallel with the outlet. The switch then controls only the light and the outlet is always live. The outlet is of course still GFI-protected. But is there some special safety issue here? Should I be using the outlet at all, or just consider the whole circuit as simply a dedicated pool light circuit?

From: http://www.doityourself.com/forum/electrical-c-d-c/493016-pool-light-gfci-safety-issue.html