How Do You Hook Up A Gfci Outlet

In this volume host tony didier will show you how to replace a regular receptacle with a gfci receptacle.

How do you hook up a gfci outlet. If there is only 1 cable containing 2 3 wires connect the white line wire to the silver or white terminal and connect the black wire to the brass terminal which is the hot terminal. A gfci ground fault circuit interrupter is a special type of outlet that detects dangerous ground faults and immediately turns off the power to stop shocks. This video will sh. Disconnect the hot wire which is black from the existing outlet and connect it to the brass line terminal on the gfci.

If the existing electrical box is too small to accommodate a gfci outlet or if the house wiring is aluminum instead of copper you may need to hire a qualified electrician to do this job. Turn off the power at the circuit breaker box. When you connect only to the line terminals the outlet provides gfci protection only for itself. The line terminals and the load terminals.

In many homes necessary circuit breakers and gfcis are already installed but they can stop working unexpectedly so it is important to know how to replace gfci outlets when this happens. If the circuit breakers aren t labeled you can locate the proper switch by plugging a radio into the outlet you plan to change. You can replace almost any electrical outlet with a gfci outlet. Current building codes require installation of gfci outlets when outlets are installed near a water source like in bathrooms or kitchens.

When it comes to ground fault circuit interrupter or gfci outlets there is always a question as to how to connect the wires this is because gfcis have two different sets of terminals. Plus installing a gfci outlet reduces the risk of electric shock helping ensure the safety of you and your family. Gfci as an outlet receptacle combo or circuit breaker automatically cuts off the main power supply within millisecond against electric shock. To replace your two prong outlet with a gfci start by turning off the breaker controlling the outlet circuit and unscrewing the outlet from the electrical box.

An electrician will charge an additional 50 to 100 dollars per hour to replace outlets. What gfci outlets do is reduce the danger of deadly shock from faulty plug in cords and devices. A gfci outlet runs about 15 such as this levitron gfci outlet available from home depot.