GFCI Outlets

[George Patterson]

GFCI outlets have surfaced in several threads lately. For those of you who have
never installed one, be aware that one of these takes up nearly all the room in
a typical wall outlet box. If you find that things are just too tight in the
outlet box, also be aware that they make GFCI circuit breakers that replace
breakers in your electrical panel. One of these costs about three times what a
GFCI outlet costs, but it's a lot easier to install. It also protects the entire
circuit.

Assuming that you go for just a GCFI outlet (I would) -- unless the outlet
you're replacing is at the end of a circuit, there will usually be two cables
coming into the box. One comes directly or indirectly from the breaker panel and
the other provides power to outlets "downstream." The GFCI has two sets of
terminals, and you can hook it up in such a way that it protects all of the
outlets downstream as well as the one for your tank. It's tempting to hook it up
this way, but this can lead to false tripping of the outlet. I recommend that
you attach both cables to the "input" set of terminals. This will allow the
outlet to trip if something defective is plugged into it, but the rest of the
circuit will remain live if it trips.

George Patterson
There's plenty of room for all of God's creatures. Right next to the
mashed potatoes.

[CheezWiz]

My simple solution:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4366686766&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&rd=1

It has already saved my careless butt twice!



"George Patterson" > wrote in message
news:n6Vee.59$N_5.3@trndny09...
> GFCI outlets have surfaced in several threads lately. For those of you who
> have never installed one, be aware that one of these takes up nearly all
> the room in a typical wall outlet box. If you find that things are just
> too tight in the outlet box, also be aware that they make GFCI circuit
> breakers that replace breakers in your electrical panel. One of these
> costs about three times what a GFCI outlet costs, but it's a lot easier to
> install. It also protects the entire circuit.
>
> Assuming that you go for just a GCFI outlet (I would) -- unless the outlet
> you're replacing is at the end of a circuit, there will usually be two
> cables coming into the box. One comes directly or indirectly from the
> breaker panel and the other provides power to outlets "downstream." The
> GFCI has two sets of terminals, and you can hook it up in such a way that
> it protects all of the outlets downstream as well as the one for your
> tank. It's tempting to hook it up this way, but this can lead to false
> tripping of the outlet. I recommend that you attach both cables to the
> "input" set of terminals. This will allow the outlet to trip if something
> defective is plugged into it, but the rest of the circuit will remain live
> if it trips.
>
> George Patterson
> There's plenty of room for all of God's creatures. Right next to the
> mashed potatoes.

[Kelsey Cummings]

CheezWiz wrote:
> My simple solution:
....

I've also seen GFI socket dongles for sale at local hardware stores for
a few bucks.

-K

[George]

"George Patterson" > wrote in message
news:n6Vee.59$N_5.3@trndny09...
> GFCI outlets have surfaced in several threads lately. For those of you who
> have never installed one, be aware that one of these takes up nearly all the
> room in a typical wall outlet box. If you find that things are just too tight
> in the outlet box, also be aware that they make GFCI circuit breakers that
> replace breakers in your electrical panel. One of these costs about three
> times what a GFCI outlet costs, but it's a lot easier to install. It also
> protects the entire circuit.
>
> Assuming that you go for just a GCFI outlet (I would) -- unless the outlet
> you're replacing is at the end of a circuit, there will usually be two cables
> coming into the box. One comes directly or indirectly from the breaker panel
> and the other provides power to outlets "downstream." The GFCI has two sets of
> terminals, and you can hook it up in such a way that it protects all of the
> outlets downstream as well as the one for your tank. It's tempting to hook it
> up this way, but this can lead to false tripping of the outlet. I recommend
> that you attach both cables to the "input" set of terminals. This will allow
> the outlet to trip if something defective is plugged into it, but the rest of
> the circuit will remain live if it trips.
>
> George Patterson
> There's plenty of room for all of God's creatures. Right next to the
> mashed potatoes.

Good advice. I was going to comment on that while reading your post, but you've
already covered it.

[George]

"Kelsey Cummings" > wrote in message
...
> CheezWiz wrote:
>> My simple solution:
> ...
>
> I've also seen GFI socket dongles for sale at local hardware stores for a few
> bucks.
>
> -K

Just make sure it isn't on the floor or anywhere where water or salt spray can
affect it.