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GFCI outlets should be installed in any potentially wet or damp areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, outdoors, basements, garages and workshops. Damp areas can make you prone to dangerous electric shock but using a GFCI outlet can greatly reduce your risk of injury.
Can I put a GFCI anywhere in a circuit?
You can replace almost any electrical outlet with a GFCI outlet. Correctly wired GFCIs will also protect other outlets on the same circuit. The electrical code also requires GFCIs in unfinished basements, garages, most outdoor receptacles and places where construction activity occurs.
Does every outlet in a kitchen need to be GFCI?
In kitchens, all outlets that serve countertop surfaces should be equipped with GFCI outlet protection. That would include any outlets on walls, behind wet areas (sinks, etc.) that have features such as countertop breakfast bars (open counter surfaces above sinks used to sit at on the opposite side).
Do all outlets in a bathroom need to be GFCI?
Bathrooms – All bathroom receptacles should have GFCI outlets installed. Any outlets within six feet of this sink (and the dedicated washing machine outlet) should be equipped with GFCI outlets. Outside – All outlets installed outside of your home should be GFCI outlets.
How many GFCI outlets can be on a circuit?
The Standard Number Of GFCI’s On One Circuit Keep in mind, you only need one GFCI at the beginning of the circuit for GFCI protection for the whole circuit. You might even opt for a GFCI rated breaker instead.
Does a refrigerator need a GFCI?
A refrigerator shouldn’t be plugged into a GFCI outlet. GFCI outlets are used in areas of the home with water or moisture. These include bathrooms, basements, and kitchens. This type of outlet is important because it reduces the risk of electrocution and electrical fires.
Where are GFCI outlets required in a home?
The NEC mandates GFCI protection in many areas of the home: bathrooms, garages, outdoor receptacles, crawl spaces, basements, kitchens and anything within six feet of a sink or water source. While that may seem like a lot, the entirety of a home is not covered.
Where are GFCI outlets needed kitchen?
Kitchens: All receptacles serving countertop areas and any receptacle within 6 feet of a sink must have GFCI protection. Also, the receptacle supplying a dishwasher should be GFCI-protected.
Where are electrical receptacles not permitted to be located?
For example, a sun-room in a dwelling has no wall space because of floor-to-ceiling windows. Receptacles are not usually installed in the ceiling because receptacles located more than 5.5 feet (1.7 meters) above the floor cannot be counted as required receptacles.
How far from a sink can an outlet be?
Every bathroom must have at least one electrical outlet. It must be a GFCI, and it must be within 3 feet of the edge of the sink. Either behind or beside the sink is acceptable — across from the sink on an opposite wall is not. If the bathroom has two sinks, each must have an electrical receptacle within 3 feet.
How far does a GFCI have to be from water?
According to the National Electric Code, any receptacle within 6 feet of a water source needs to be protected with a GFCI.
Can you put 2 GFCI on the same circuit?
Yes, you can have many GFCI outlets on the same circuit The way they vary from a regular outlet is they check for ground faults.
Does power go to line or load on GFCI?
The “line” wires are the incoming power from the breaker box and the “load” wires are the outgoing power that travels down the circuit to the next outlet.
Does every outlet in a garage need to be GFCI?
All garage outlets must be GFCI. It is an electrical violation to have non-GFCI outlets in your garage. The NEC (National Electrical Code) made this a requirement in 2008. GFCI outlets in your garage can save you from electrical failures and shock.
What is the load side?
The load side is where the power leaves the device (or electrical box) and travels down the circuit.
What happens if you hook up a GFCI backwards?
If you miswired the GFCI it may not prevent personal injury or death due to a ground fault (electrical shock). If you mistakenly connect the LINE wires to the LOAD terminals, the GFCI will not reset and will not provide power to either the GFCI receptacle face or any receptacles fed from the GFCI.
Does GFCI have to be first in line?
GFCI doesn’t have to be the first in line because placing the GFCI first in line will trip whenever something goes wrong with any of the outlets downstream. While placing the GFCI first in line will protect all the other outlets downstream. On the one hand, you could buy a GFCI for every single outlet in the room.
Where are GFCI outlets usually located answers?
GFCIs are also required on all receptacles serving kitchen countertops. In laundry rooms and utility rooms, GFCIs should be installed on outlets within six feet of sinks, washing machines, and water heaters. They should also be installed within six feet of a wet bar and in garages and unfinished basements.
Do outdoor electrical outlets need to be covered?
Since outdoor outlets are exposed to the elements, such as rain and salty air, outlet covers protect them from damage. Any outlet that’s outside should have a cover, even if the outlet is never used.
Where is GFCI located in garage?
The actual verbiage from the NEC states that GFCI outlets be installed in: “Garages, and also accessory buildings that have a floor located at or below grade level not intended as habitable rooms and limited to storage areas, work areas, and areas of similar use.”Mar 20, 2018.
