Where and Why Do We Need GFCI Protection?

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GFCI protection has been around for quite some time now. But, as the NEC is ever evolving and changing as situations dictate, its worth revisiting to explain where they are required. In the latest episode of Electrician U, Dustin talks about where we need to be installing GFCI protection in a residential application.
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Every 3 years, the NEC comes out with a new edition to follow. This is done to allow the installation/utilization of new equipment, materials, and installation methods. Every code change tends to be reasonably extensive, and the 2023 National Electrical Code changes are no different! Always make sure you are installing your electrical work per the newest version of the NEC (2023 NEC being the most current!).
Before we get started into what the code says regarding GFCI, lets explain what a GFCI device is. A GFCI receptacle senses the imbalance between what is going out and what is coming back on an electrical circuit. Any difference means that something has gone where it shouldn’t and poses a danger to personnel. If that imbalance is within a few milliamps, then the breaker (or receptacle) trips and cuts off any source of power and protects the people working on our using the circuit.
GFCI are required to be installed generally in most places where exposure to water can exacerbate the problems of using an electrical outlet. Having said that, GFCI protection is usually limited to non-lighting circuits, as lighting circuitry is generally overhead and the potential for you having to be standing in a puddle of water while actually working on a light fixture is considerably lessened. Article 210.8 of the NEC is where we can find requirements for GFCI protection and we will be speaking mostly from a residential standpoint today (article 210.8 B, C, D, E expand on GFCI protection in other than dwelling units. Article 210.8 (A) says ALL 125-250v receptacles installed in the following locations shall be GFCI protected:
1. Bathrooms
2. Garages and accessory buildings tha have a floor located at or below grade level not intended as habitable rooms
3. Outdoors
4. Crawl spaces- at or below grade level
5. Basements
6. Kitchens
7. Areas with sinks and permanent provisions for food prep, beverage prep, or cooking
8. Boathouses
9. Bathtubs or shower stalls- where receptacles are installed within 6 ft of the outside edge of the bathtub or shower stall
10. Laundry areas
11. Indoor damp and wet locations
So, we can see that the requirements (for a DWELLING UNIT) require GFCI protection really anywhere where there is ready access to water sources or where water could possibly be near any electrical outlet. There are a few exceptions listed, one of which being a receptacle supplying power to a security system as the possibility of nuisance tripping of the circuit could cause further problems.
Also worth of note here, is the requirement that ALL of the receptacles in a kitchen now be GFCI protected. In recent years, the requirement was only for receptacles serving the countertops as well as those within 6 ft of a sink, the new 2023 NEC now requires ALL receptacles in kitchens to be GFCI protected (much like kitchens in other than dwelling units).
We hope this has been an insightful look into GFCI protection in a dwelling unit. Is there a topic you would like to see discussed here on Electrician U? Leave a comment in the comments section and let us know. Please continue to follow Dustin and Electrician U as we are constantly updating our content to assist our followers in becoming the best electricians that they can be.
#electrician #electrical #electricity #where #why #gfci protection

[@genemetz1945]

Wish, back in 1952, the house we lived in had a Ground Fault Breaker for the Basement. I was 7 years old went down into the basement and wanted to turn the light on but could not reach the chain. So I climbed up on the water tank and grabbed the chain. Getting electrocuted I Immediately started screaming and was frozen between the string and tank. My mother came running down the stairs with a wooden broom and knocked me off the tank. I had two black holes burned into my thumb and the doctor put me to bed for two days.

[@Sparky-ww5re]

Close calls like what happened to you, is why code changes occur (equipment grounds in the late '50s/early '60, GFCI protection in the 70s and expanding in subsequent code cycles, AFCI protection in the early 2000s beginning in bedrooms and now covers pretty much every area in the house. , I believe it's required that for pull chain fixtures a rubber piece called an insulating link, is used with a metal chain, to prevent an internal failure in the fixture from electrifying the chain.

[@juliehenderson1672]

Gene Metz - Wow! You are very lucky!

[@wano2363]

Ouch😮

[@brendanmattson]

@@Sparky-ww5re Glad I read this comment as I just bought a 1924 house with ungrounded receptacles and some old pull chain lights of unknown age in the basement and attic. Will look for those rubber insulating links now.

[@markc2643]

I've got a good GFCI outlet story. I service microscopes in hospitals and schools. There are student microscopes that have 5W fluorescent lamps that have a very simple circuit having just a SPST switch on the incoming hot and a ballast in series with the self-starting lamp. When plugged into a GFCI circuit, these microscopes can trip the GFCI when you turn OFF the power switch. My theory is that when you turn off the switch when the incoming AC is at the peak voltage, the collapsing magnetic field of the ballast causes a high voltage arc to ground so the GFCI sees current on the neutral that isn't on the hot. At 1 school I was at, there were 4 hexagonal benches with a GFCI outlet at every face. That's 24 separate GFCI outlets. When I turned off the microscopes, not only would the GFCI outlet trip that the microscope was plugged into, but several other GFCI's would trip with it. Why do electricians install several GFCI outlets in a bench instead of just one supplying protection to the other outlets on the same bench?

[@jeffrydiamond]

We have a similar thing in network cabling: fire retardant jackets in all indoor spaces, overheads get plenum, etc. It's almost easier and less expensive to just use the "safest" form factor everywhere because it saves labor costs. Good video as always, EU.

[@pmaddox]

Thank you again! man! you rock...I learn so much from you...I'm 62 and have been working with electrical for about 20 years, I'm not an electrician not by far, but I like to help people with their homes...I do however get confused with switches and traveler wires and such...but I'm still learning....wish I picked this up in my 20's or even 30's...I love it! thank you again for your great videos...Peace to You and Yours....

[@glennmanchester5696]

That's common I don't do three way or more switches on a weekly basis so it's on rough in just run the 14/3 between the. Switches and power the circuit at one of the switches and it's fairly easy after you start doing them more often

[@dansmith9809]

I would love to see your take on motor control circuits, how they work and common mistakes when wiring them. Also tips on how to read the electrical diagram/schematic would be great too, thanks!

[@anthonyesparsen9453]

Very good job on your code teaching awesome job!

[@raymond3722]

Thanks D as always very informative...I installed few gfci receptacles in my bathroom few days ago.

[@868_av8r]

Hi, very informative. Question: do I need covered gfci for my patio ceiling outlet?

[@mikeworman1283]

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do a video on private boat docks and marinas! Any and all information about them would be much appreciated, including low voltage systems! I've found time and time again that the code can easily be misinterpreted and the way that you explain things is MUCH easier to understand and even enjoyable! Thanks for all you do sir there are MANY electricians out there that really appreciate you and what you do!

[@godfreymgendwa]

Hi,your doing great job to train us ,i lyk it

[@devinparker264]

On new construction I just dual function every single 120 volt 15 or 20 amp circuit

[@dramspringfeald]

I'm building my new mini home, I'm putting them in every room, like the 20a going into my bedroom gets one on the very first in the chain, the bathroom, the bedroom, the living room, the media center and so on. Every single "in" to the room gets one basically

[@joeshmoe8952]

I learned the hard way, some refrigerators do not like GFCI receptacles. Had a frige that kept tripping the GFCI but the owners manual says it, DO NOT USE A GFCI so I connected a regular receptacle and life was good. I have a GFCI at my house with my frige because the receptacle is so close to the sink. I had it like that for years and never had a problem but every frige is different.

[@ppdan]

What a crappy fridge do you have??? A well designed appliance (even a fridge) shouldn't trip a GFCI (not even a 10mA GFCI).

[@joeshmoe8952]

@@ppdan My fridge is a G&E and you can call it whatever you want but I've had years with it with no issues whatsoever.

[@ppdan]

​@@joeshmoe8952 Still funny that a well designed fridge trips a GFCI. Had a few fridges (3-4) over the past decades and they never tripped the GFCI.

[@garyheurich6835]

Regarding laundry rooms, do the washer and dryer require GFCI protection?

[@jimmortensen9019]

Great Job

[@hugomarin1422]

Hello. Would you make a video explaining the use of AFCI breakers and outlets, and GFCI breakers, these latter especially in old houses that do not ground lines in receptacles.

[@jamessaxton4285]

Quick question- my garage wiring is ran into the house and when we run heat and dryer at the same time the power shuts off but the breaker dont trip?

[@kennethmc2601]

Our 64 house has some interesting wiring. One circuit on the back of the house covers a kitchen wall, the back porch outlet, and the guest bathroom. The people that remodeled it clearly didnt have an electrician, as every single one of those areas has it's own GFCI. Now, every time it's slightly humid outside, we get to play a game of "which GFCI tripped."

[@apexassault629]

lol

[@cavscout888]

Maybe rewire all the receptacles with each device pigtailed. then even if one trips, the rest will still have power. That's if all the receptacles are GFCI type, and no receptacles downstream of one GFCI receptacle are depending on it for required and/or desired GFCI protection.

[@cloakedsquid]

@@cavscout888 well wouldnt there be some daisy chained later that would be off from the gfi that tripped

[@williamwagoner7857]

Why not just put the GFI on line side?

[@dracula3811]

That's what's happens when you load gfci off of other gfci. They should have line sided all the gfci

[@EmJayCD]

Great info in this video. Thanks for that. Now my question is, for example, in the garage, do all outlets/recepticles have to be GFCI if they're all on the same circuit? Or any where in a house like the kitchen or basement?

[@timlabarr6131]

Long time viewer here, wondering if you could do some industrial orientated videos?

[@Crazypug-eh7xi]

Outstanding

[@WrestlingAD]

Thanks!

[@foodsafetypragmatist]

Exception 4 - perfect example of inspectors over applying parameters of the NEC somewhere. Same frequently happens in my industry by food safety inspectors misapplying FDA Food Code in restaurants. Never underestimate an inspector’s ability to overthink situations and forgo all common sense.

[@HarrySingh-xv6gv]

hi there i have a ryobi pressure washer and it has gfci plug how do i change it to uk 3 pin plug?

[@blueskies4715]

Dustin, you missed talking about legacy un grounded Circuits? In my area, a lot of older homes aren't grounded and this is noted in inspection discrepancy reports. A solution is to protect the outlets with GFCI's. I don't believe this is a Code Violation (you don't have to fix what you don't touch) but it is a common request from the home buyers because of the report (and yes, a Home Inspector is a completely different animal than a Code Enforcement Officer.... ;-) It does fall into Code Enforcement if the outlets are upgraded in a permitted room where the electrical wiring is not upgraded (This also creates an AFCI potential nightmare...)

[@TheDannytre]

So lighting that’s in a crawlspace plugged into a GFCI plug needs to be done ok I got that. What if the lighting is hardwire?

[@MD-en3zm]

Sure, they can be annoying sometimes, but a GFCI saved my butt once - so I’m a big fan. I was taking apart and repairing a dehumidifier once, and kept plugging it in, testing, unplugging, working on it, etc. One time I forgot to unplug. Suddenly I got a weird numb feeling which lasted a microsecond and the GFCI tripped. I had no adverse effects, but quickly realized what happened. I understand electricity and I knew not to do what I did, but one moment of absentmindedness is all it takes. No one is perfect and never makes a mistake. Definitely worth having GFCI’s installed.

[@RichardMoffitt0]

you are so lucky to be alive! :D

[@anthonyesparsen9453]

We are in 2020 NEC in new mexico

[@mrlencho7686]

Dude, you broke that code down and that helped. I’m a Tinknocker and I’ve always stayed away from electricity due to fear. A Sparky told me educate yourself first safety and how it works then safety again. I never go further than my skill set but 22yrs in my trade helps with all. Keep up the good work Local 105 Tinners🤘🏼🇺🇸

[@terra6084]

tinknocker whats that slang for?

[@mrlencho7686]

@@terra6084 Sheet Metal Worker Local 105 Sparky🇺🇸

[@Silky_boi]

Question, if you install a GFCI breaker do you need the outlets.

[@libertyrich555]

I question the idea of the code saying HVAC units themselves have to have GFCI protection after Sept 1, 2026. The NEC section is about receptacles and not about equipment. I think what is meant that if a new outside condensing unit is changed out then the 15/20 amp receptacle has to be installed with a GFCI and if there is just a receptacle it must be updated to a GFCI. But what do I know :)

[@oPROProDucTioNz]

Another use for gfci receptacles would be replacing a 2 prong receptacle that doesn’t have a ground. A lot of time it’s much easier to just put gfci’s in instead of running a new grounded circuit to feed the 2 prong outlets Great video as always! I love how easy you make it to grasp code knowledge.

[@johncspine2787]

Yeah..except..I have a question above about that..the self tester in one of my kitchen outlets tests fine, but..if you plug in like a Klein tester, it shows “open ground,” and it refuses to trip at all from the external tester. Isn’t a ground fault basically an external tester? I’m thinking it doesn’t do any good to put one in w/o a ground…my old contractor who did my kitchen didn’t put a new ground throughout..my wiring is all mixed up..

[@kylekennedy3299]

@@johncspine2787 I’ve only used them to replace two prong receptacles where it’s in a metal box with emt that is bonded to ground from the panel. The yoke on the gfci is bonded to the receptacle’s ground pin. If you’re showing open ground you don’t have a path to ground on the panel. Plastic remodel box?

[@ptso7580]

The plug in tester has a resistor if I remember right ground to hot to create an unbalanced load to trip the GFCI receptacle. But if the tester shows an open ground then it will not work The GFCI receptacle monitors hot and neutral not ground. If the receptacle sense an unbalance load from hot to neutral then it trips.

[@johncspine2787]

@@kylekennedy3299 probably, yes, but 1953 house, ppl before me never added a ground. I got about half the upstairs done now with proper wiring, but what bugs me about this awful disaster recovery firm is that their electrician never actually fixed anything having to do with the attic fire, he killed an existing outlet in the living room where there are no lights built in and I really needed that outlet, (now they’ve already put the Sheetrock back, well, I say “already{ but we are coming up on 5 months since the fire..ridiculous) and the local city “inspectors” were always so confused by the terrible contractor calling them out for the wrong reasons, he somehow got things passed after the fact they were all failed and then none of them actually inspected anything. It’s incredibly frustrating..

[@kman2308]

@@johncspine2787 The GFCI doesn't rely on the ground to trip. It compares the current in the hot and neutral. When they are not equal (by milliamps) it trips. Unfortunately, receptacle testers rely on a ground -- they bleed a tiny bit of current to the ground, so that the hot and neutral legs are unbalanced, causing the GFCI to trip. So they cannot be used on an old, two-wire ungrounded system. I will make an adapter. -- A grounded to ungrounded (3 prong to 2 prong) adapter -- on the ground terminal on the adapter I will put on a long wire with a clip. Run the wire to the nearest ground (say a water pipe,) plug in the adapter, plug in the tester. And voila', my adapter will allow a tester to check whether the circuit is protected. If necessary I could even use a 100' extension cord to reach from the receptacle to a known good ground.

[@TwilightxKnight13]

Protection has become so expansive, its less trouble (IMO) to just used AFCI/GFCI dual-function breakers and protect the entire house. I am renovating my whole house and that is our approach. We are using gas appliances so it is less an issue than if we had an electric range, dryer and/or furnace. We projected only having one unprotected circuit for the air conditioner, though there is a service outlet in the disconnect panel that is GFCI protected locally. However, if the next round of code is going to add the A/C to the list, we may just go ahead and do that now. Not much of a change in the grand scheme. We also upgraded the 100amp service (12 breaker position main panel) to a 200amp service (48 positions) with plug on neutrals. Made the project much easier and we don't have to track down-stream receptacles for labeling.

[@brianpiper3188]

I agree 200%! I have noticed that some people will plug a drop cord into a non-GFCI receptacle or light bulb socket adapter and use it outside. You lose safety if that drop cord doesn't have its own protection built-in. It only makes sense and simplifies code if you just say that every breaker has to have dual-function protection.

[@ArkamasRoss]

I love DF breakers. Simpler and protects everything from the panel out. Would that I had the money to upgrade to a panel like that.

[@MD-en3zm]

I would just replace all the breakers in the house with combined A/GFCI breakers if they weren’t so ridiculously expensive. Eventually I hope to do so if the prices come down. For now I’m using GFCI outlets which are far more reasonably priced (and can protect a whole circuit if wired correctly). You’re right though that this is really the best way to do it. Protect everything.

[@jerrysweany278]

When i test my gfci receptacle it also trips at the breaker. Is this correct or should the receptacle normally just need to be reset?

[@raregorgon4594]

Morning man!

[@MarcBookPro]

What about walkout basements where half of it or more is not below ground level and have been finished out to be habitable? I currently have a GFCI outlet in the living space (no water on that wall at all) that occasionally trips and causes the entire basement to go dark. Can anything be done to fix this?

[@mnhvacguy9788]

Long time subscriber but first comment. Our AHJ has already started requiring GFCI protection on ACs and it hasn't worked out so well. Every mini split heat pump has an inverter compressor in it and many standard ACs and heat pumps also have inverter compressors now. The inverters create so much electrical noise on ground that it trips the GFCI breaker every single time the compressor tries to start. It's such a huge problem they've started issuing variances for ACs and heat pumps

[@TJI1948]

What about laundry areas/rooms with a cloths washer aka a water source... thanx

[@threeleggedman]

6:00 All of my bathrooms have a hallway receptacle right outside the door, through the doorway and into the sink is under 6 feet. Does the hallway have to be GFCI in this case? And what about the receptacle on the garage ceiling for the opener?

[@manuellastrollo2168]

sir is it ok to replace ordinary receptacles with a gfci?

[@mike_realityi]

The GFCI within 6 feet of the shower would be for items such as hair dryers, I am not sure if they are still common. Another possible reason would be to prevent movie-style space heater into bathtub deaths.

[@KRYKiTx3]

I live in a trailer and the original location of bathroom receptacle (120v) was only 12” away from shower and in front of sink.. lol..it’s been relocated

[@juliehenderson1672]

Why does my GFCI trip *sometimes* when I use my single cup Keurig? How can I know if the fault is with the GFCI or Keurig?

[@TeamDiamondEmerald]

When would you use a gfci/afci receptacle?

[@Hachiro]

I'm surprised how "annoying" it seems to be for other people to have GFCI and AFCI protectors. Besides the AFCI breaker for my dad's room, the rest of our house has been perfect. Never (to my memory) have we had nuisance trips from the GFCI receptacles in our house. The only problem we had was a few years past the use time of the receptacles. 12-ish years in, the test/reset buttons sprung out of the receptacles when trying to reset. Learned that they should've been replaced years ago, so I replaced all of the ones we had. Working perfectly fine to this day. (15 years total now)

[@2SanityAtitsBest2]

Thanks for sharing info. I’ve watched a few of your videos now. I’m a builder trying to wrap my mind around AFCI and GFCI and you’ve helped fill that gap. However, I have a house with AFCI in the breaker box but GFCI outlets installed at receptacles on the circuit. Does that work or cause issues?

[@krisswolf2011]

If the bathroom vent fan was live, wouldnt the fan be spinning? So you’d need to be working on the fan while its on?

[@anthonyesparsen9453]

Our kitchen in new mexico is difined by having a range outlet in lt

[@youshouldknowthis3424]

Nice !

[@user-dv3yd7sf1z]

Wondering if refrigerators that have water dispensers require GFCI protection? I have a Frigidaire fridge that says in the manual to avoid using GFCI receptacles, but i would think that a fridge that supplies water should really be protected. It's more than 6ft away from the sink.

[@OldredfordReilly]

So does a 50 amp 240 volt receptacle in a garage for a welder need to be protected by GFCI?

[@4mccurdys]

Code says in kitchens... how dose that impact splite recpitals?

[@sunbeames1847]

Would it be safe to say as a rule of thumb any receptacle that has atleast a 5% chance of experiencing moisture should have a gfci, including bathroom vents?

[@CamoKing2012]

Is a 220V dryer outlet/receptacle need to be GFCI? Techniclally it is in a wet environment like the washer outlet, but generally you wouldnt be continually plugging or un plugging it most of the time the dryer stays plugged in unless you are changing it out or working on it. So does it need to be GFCI, is it a good idea to have a GFCI on it even if not required?

[@MikeHarris1984]

What about a light switch for a vent fan and light above shower where the switch is RIGHT NEXT to the sink, or right next to the toilet? I have a home built in 2019 and there is a few NEC codes that were not met, but inspectors still passed and the home builder said "we wont fix that because the inspector signed off, it doesn't matter what code is. Final inspection is the only thing that truly matters.". one is the light switch to one bedroom is 15' away from the door due to a long hallway. The electrition thought the door was going at the end of the hallway and put the switch in the main room. Where the door was put 15' down the hallways, so the room has a hallway going down it before you enter the main room. It's pitch dark trying to feel for switches and walls to turn a light on in there.

[@TwilightxKnight13]

While technically the builder is correct, they are only required to comply with the AHJ (inspector), at the end of the day, the code is there to protect the equipment from damage and the user from injury. You should protect that switch. You might consider just replacing the breaker with a GFCI version that will protect the entire circuit and save yourself any rework. Depending on how the wiring was installed it might not be easy to add localized GFCI protection. As far as the bedroom light, if you want a switch there, you should get one. As you said, its a safety issue. Depending on the structure of the house and access to the ceiling, walls, and existing electrical, it may be an easy job or it could be a major undertaking. Good luck!

[@mtu-engineer3220]

Will the manufacturers of vfd drive motors be able to solve the problem of tripping GFCI by 2026? We run into problems of running new furnaces on job sites with temporary power. The capacitive electronics trip the GFCI.

[@xLeg1tx1]

In regards to the bathroom GFCI receptacles, do they have to be on their own circuit or can i share it with the lights and fan?

[@nomen_meus]

See NEC 210.11(C)(3). If receptacles in more than one bathroom are supplied by the circuit, then no other outlets are allowed on the circuit. If the circuit supplies only one bathroom, then other outlets in the bathroom, including a fan and lights, can share the same circuit as the receptacle.

[@spitzmachine]

I always work on my vent fan while taking a shower😛

[@hippo-potamus]

Most who enforce the code and follow all the rules don't even realize that the whole NEC is a VOLUNTARY system!!! We have become so obedient and complacent to authority.

[@martf1061]

Its written in a way that it can be interpreted in multiple ways. Exactly like laws. " Why make it clear and simple, when you can make it exactly the oposite "...

[@Renagadewarroir8]

Tell that to your local inspector 1😂

[@hippo-potamus]

@@Renagadewarroir8 He's part of the authority chain. Totally brainwashed like 99% of the public who believe that "government" is actually a real thing. 12+ years of forced indoctrination and obedience training.

[@josegm1782]

I have a GFCI outlet in the kitchen near my oven where I use my coffee maker. It trips every time I use the coffee maker. Should I go to the breaker and change the switch to a higher voltage? If not, what other options do I have?

[@DARKWOLF-td1lw]

Either your coffee maker is leaking electricity and causing a ground fault or the number of devices on that same circuit is being overloaded.

[@heroknaderi]

very cool detailes.

[@MikeA-lo9xu]

Question can you theoretically use 1 GFCI to protect multiple "regular" outlets with a switch and light at the end of the circuit as well??

[@nooneyouknowhere6148]

Yes

[@icevariable9600]

What code book are you using? My 2020 Handbook doesn’t have that list if appliances or under 210.8 (D) Specific Appliances. It refers to 422.5(A) which does not mention microwaves.

[@petehitch5456]

Question: could you use the grid circuit breakers instead of the outlets? And why not all the breakers in the box.

[@dracula3811]

Cost and convenience. If something in your upstairs bathroom trips the gfci, with a breaker variant, you'll have to go all the way to the panel to reset it. With a receptacle style, you can reset it without leaving the room. Also the breakers cost 4-5 times more than the receptacles.

[@petehitch5456]

@@dracula3811 thanks.

[@johnbarnett2804]

I'm a maintenance guy for a housing company in Ohio. Our oldest house is 15 years old. During our last inspection last summer the inspector failed all 38 houses for not having GFCI outlet in the ceiling where the garage door opener plugs in. This makes no sense to me. The garage has an outlet at ground level that is GFCI. But the outlet at the garage door opener is on a 10ft high ceiling. No one is plugging their shop vac into it. Not to mention, If the GFCI outlet trips when you try to open the door and your car is parked under it, I'm not really wanting to stand on my $50,000 car to push a button on the outlet to reset it. Seems like a Dumb place to require one to me.

[@jgm113]

I wish there was a rule about putting these in garages. My garage circuit is GFCI protected from the first outlet, which is inside the garage on the same circuit as the door opener. It did trip once, for no apparent reason. Fortunately the back door was unlocked or I wouldn't have had any way into the house since I normally rely on the garage door to work. I'm planning on moving this receptacle to the exterior wall in the future to mitigate that.

[@johncspine2787]

Hey! Great channel! Wish you were here..really..I had an attic fire due to an alleged power surge, but..zero investigation. I’ve had panels replaced, service upgraded, surge protectors installed at the service and the sub panel. I have a GFCI question! So, in running around testing, I have found a GFCI outlet in my kitchen that self tests just fine. However, if you plug a tester in, it says “open ground,” and will not trip. Sooooo…would one find this out first from a nasty shock, or would it actually trip??

[@johncspine2787]

I mean that if you test the GFCI with an external GFCI tester, it won’t trip..but trips fine from the receptacle’s own tester..

[@quinnbattaglia5189]

The GFCI protection should still work fine, but you should look in the box and see if there's a ground wire that just wasn't installed correctly. If there's no ground at all you should definitely test all the non-GFCI outlets because those can be dangerous without a ground.

[@JT-lq4yd]

@@quinnbattaglia5189 If there is no ground, that receptacle should have been labeled "no equipment ground". The labels are included with the GFCI receptacles.

[@quinnbattaglia5189]

@@JT-lq4yd It should, yes.

[@JCWren]

I'm surprised you didn't mention whether all receptacles in the area requiring them have to be GFCI receptacles or if a single GFCI receptacle can protect one or more downstream standard receptacles.

[@dracula3811]

Most gfci receptacles have manufacturer specs that they can protect up to 6 devices. It's been a while since i read their instructions so that might have changed. So basically you can have 1 gfci and have it protect 6 devices. I don't recommend having too many devices on 1 gfci due to nuisance tripping though.

[@JCWren]

@@dracula3811 I don't know the exact number either, but mostly surprised it wasn't mentioned. Whoever wired this house (circa 1995) made EVERY breaker in the kitchen GFCI, or they did a retrofit and simply replaced them all. TBH, in the last three houses I've had, I've never had an issue with nuisance trips except for one GFCI outlet that was actually faulty. But I get what you're saying.

[@mrcryptozoic817]

@@JCWren Fridge/freezer too? That's a bad choice.

[@JCWren]

Sri, all convenience outlets. Microwave and fridge are not. But there's water for the ice maker in the fridge! 2026 and we might be seeing GFCI requirements for fridges. 'cause you might get shocked while dispensing ice, right?

[@harveylong5878]

@@mrcryptozoic817 isnt it fun when fridge is on GFI? GFCI trips, Homeowner goes apesh-t their fridge is out, something is wrong no breakers are tripped. I love the GFCI protected fridge nuisance trips from lil bastards opening / closing the fridge door a 1000 times when its hot as hell.

[@crazysquirrel9425]

what good is a GFCI when the wiring has no ground? (2-wire wiring in old house) Does EVERY outlet in a garage need GFCI or just the ones regularly used? If detached garage has no ground back to the house, can a GFCI be used if there is a ground rod for the GFCI? Can you chain GFCI outlets? Can a GFCI inside be allowed for an outside outlet protection too (outside outlet is branched off a GFCI that is inside a garage)?

[@okaro6595]

A GFCI protects you from electric shocks. Sure the problem may be that if trips only if you touch the device so it may sting but it should not be dangerous. With proper grounding the breaker trips immediately at the fault. If you have both it surely trips. I personally would not rely on GFCI alone on wet locations but on try ones it is acceptable. Note GFCIs are in no way depend on the ground wire. A GFCI compares current between the wires and detects if current escapes from the circuit i.e. a ground fault happens. Having a ground rod and a GFCI is in principle a valid installation. The ground rod ensures enough current to trip the GFCI in case of a fault. I just do not know what the code says. Note that these methods only apply to conversion of old (1960s and before) installations, not new ones. Not do they apply to adding sockets, only to changing. Do not chain GFCIs, use pigtails. If you chain you can get problems. I see no issue where the GFCI is. Of course it may cause confusion if it trips.

[@ValiantSlantSix64]

1. Garbage Disposal Switches Should be on GFCI's IMO ! - Hand under faucet, other hand on live switch. 2. About GFCI not supposed to control a branch circuit - Isn't that the purpose of GFCI Breakers ? 3. End of Exception 3 - GFCI is Required on a light fixture with a built-in convenience receptacle -- picture the typical porcelain closet fixture. Pointless, but they Buried the Requirement into an Exception ! Ranges & Dryers - Only require GFCI if Less than 150 Volts -- Please make more clear next time. Another great video, as always. Much appreciated.

[@martf1061]

#12 says ; indoor damp locations.. With that said, i guess that the subpump should be plugged in a gfci ... Yet, i have witness basement flooding due to a tripped gfci powering a subpump... The owners where out for the weekend, and had a little surprise back home.. NEVER PUT A GFCI OUTLET FOR A SUBPUMP. whatever what "code" says

[@FKS1994]

I plan on installing an outdoor receptacle that is covered by an awning. I have GFCI receptacles but they aren't rated WR for weather resistance. Is WR really necessary?

[@iankester-haney3315]

Yes, it is still outdoors in a wet location. the WR rating adds features to keep water and moisture from getting in and coroding the terminals.

[@FishFind3000]

It’s better to just have it and not need it then need it and not have it. Do you really wanna have to replace that outlet a second time and waste the time and money? It’s only a few bucks more and if it’s only 1 outlet just get the weather rated one. You don’t want nuisance trips with a slowly dying gfci.

[@FKS1994]

@@FishFind3000 It's around $20 for the WR GFCI receptacle. I just have a ton of hospital grade GFCI receptacles in my storage that I could use. There will be an outdoor cover for it so it's unlikely to be exposed to too much weather conditions.

[@FishFind3000]

@@FKS1994 being outside is a un-conditioned space so you have huge swings in temperature and humidity. You will have condensation or dew to deal with. It might not necessarily be a wet environment but it can and will be damp at times.

[@roweboat]

Funny thing about the vent fan... My master bath was designed with vent/light about 6.5" from the shower drain... So I could actually easily stand in water and touch the outlet up there 🤪🤣 I won't do it I promise 🤣🤣😇

[@PaulHaenze]

Great video! Could you do a follow up on when to use GFCI on a circuit, either in the breaker box or first in a series? In the original wiring, both bathrooms and an outside receptacle are on the same circuit breaker. Would it be advantageous to simply put a GFCI circuit breaker in, rather than a GFCI receptacle at eash location?

[@nomen_meus]

NEC 210.11(C)(3). A 20-amp bathroom circuit supplying more than one bathroom shall have no other outlets on the circuit. The outdoor receptacle shouldn't be on the bathroom circuit. With the outlets on the circuit being in different rooms, I think it's better to use individual GFCI outlets, so that a trip in one room doesn't affect the other.

[@jasongillean44]

@4:50 totally missed opportunity to use "moistness". Love the video my guy 👌🏻

[@gabakusa]

GFCI outlet trips all the time with window AC unit, what can it be done about it?

[@zlcoolboy]

Make sure both the AC unit and the GFCI are not faulty (From least expensive to most expensive) do this by swapping known good equipment to that position if possible. If it's tripping, you should be figuring out why it's tripping.

[@hank1475]

Thank you sir, the garage needed one installed due to washer and deep sink.

[@anthonyesparsen9453]

I hear you gene today gfci would be required its takes time for code to catch up

[@toolwhisper1947]

Question.. does the NEC require outdoor Gfci's to be weatherproof ?

[@budrho123]

I believe they have to be weather and tamper resistant

[@jimmiegill3981]

Sometimes people have there bathroom sink in the bedroom so you would have to gfci the bedroom outlets serving the bedroom within 6 feet

[@thobert1]

#8 May come into play if you have a dog wash area.

[@butchs2337]

here is another problem is fridge, beer coolers, small freezers, soda machines, these can also trip GFCI's also when there ias a problem with the motors whwen they are grounding out but still working but do not sometimes not work on GFCI

[@alphasaiyan5760]

Sinks in weird places. I’m doing a house right now and they put a sink in the master bedroom for a coffee bar so I have to install gfci protection at that location because it’s a beverage prep area.

[@kennethmc2601]

Let me guess, 70's house?

[@alphasaiyan5760]

@@kennethmc2601 you would think it but no sir. It’s an early 90’s remodel. It’s been a pretty nice job. Nightmares at time. They took out several load bearing walls surrounding the kitchen and installed engineered beams to open up the floor plan. Almost all of the kitchen circuits were running down those walls they took out lol. So I’ve had to reroute all that stuff. They put in an upstairs kitchen as well as a media room. Along with a butlers pantry , a nanny’s quarters and a coffee bar in the master bedroom. Added a lot of Canless recess lighting and under cabinet lighting. Accent lighting , Outside fans and lighting…. I’ve been on this job since the middle of August. It’s been fun to say the least lol.

[@TwilightxKnight13]

@@alphasaiyan5760 Sounds like it. I am remodeling our house built in 1954. Lots of WFT moments! Good luck!

[@alphasaiyan5760]

@@TwilightxKnight13 lol I feel ya. Yes sir you as well 👍

[@davidbermudez1540]

Hey Dustin what about refrigerators, they are on the kitchen they don't need to have GFCI protection

[@aot2002]

Just install dual function breakers and problem solved

[@tylertoepke-floyd4755]

Instead if doing gfci outlets everwhere in a bathroom couldn't i just do a gfci breaker? Same question goes for garage and kitchen outlets?

[@TR4Ajim]

How many receptacles (numbers and/or distance) can be “downstream” of GFCI and still be protected?

[@TwilightxKnight13]

I do not recall a hard/firm number, but generally speaking only 3-4 at most. There seems to be an increase in nuisance tripping the more downstream receptacles there are. Depending on the outlet, there might be 1-2 mA of leakage current inherent to the device. That can add up over a number of receptacles. I am not sure how that impacts GFCI breakers, but I'll let you know as my remodel continues 🙂

[@cole141000]

So I hear all of this receptacles and the need for protection in damp/potentially wet locations… now what about as a contractor working in damp and wet locations working off an extension cord? Should I be sure to have it plugged up to a GFCI or circuit with a GFCI? It isn’t uncommon for me work with my feet wet, in a crawl space, etc…

[@retiredfedleo6441]

Buy a simple GFCI inline adapter that you plug into the non-protected outlet, then plug your tool or extension cord into the adapter.

[@jehousley]

Art studio for washing brushes could have a sink in a "weird" location

[@Stones_Throw]

I was hoping for an explanation of how GFI protections perform. My understanding from very long ago is that current is being monitored both in & out of loads. "Any imbalance is leakage". Any leakage for whatever reason in excess of 0.005 amperes trips the protecting device. I'd welcome a clearer explanation.

[@jonclark1288]

Your understanding is correct. If 1.6A is going out, then 1.6A must go back in. If 1.6A goes out but 1.4A goes back in, the other 0.2A must've gone somewhere. The only place it could've gone is it leaked to ground (possibly going through a human body on its way to ground) or to another circuit. So a GFCI will trip if there's more than 0.005A difference between the inbound and outbound current.

[@mp-xt2rg]

Whoa there. Someone might unplug the vent fan plug in an extension cord and decide it's time for some pop tarts and fall in the bathtub. GFCI is critical for bathroom fans.

[@DominickRuocco]

I had no idea that the Bath Fan receptacle had to be GFCI protected. I'm with you Dustin and that makes absolutely no sense.

[@qazisnotapeopleperson7167]

I just had a bath fan replaced. And it said in the manual that if the fan is located above a shower, the branch circut must be GFCI protected.

[@eric01406]

Don't forget that ungrounded receptacles have to be GFCI protected as well. My house has an ungrounded system so all my receptacles have to be GFCI protected.

[@GS-lh2nx]

I think a better title for this video might have been where don't we need Greg protection. Exhaust fans, you don't need to protect exhaust fans. Its getting ridiculous. Thx for another great video Dustin

[@jasonmcnally3514]

I don’t need to be protected from Greg anywhere. He doesn’t scare me

[@iankester-haney3315]

I think you are making a mistake to only consider touching the floor or puddle as a shock risk. That is hardly the only way to complete the circuit. You could be on a metal ladder that makes contact or even a grounded contact on a metal surface.

[@LtKernelPanic]

At this point wouldn’t it just make sense to matte everything be GFCI/AFI protected in new residential construction or am I missing something obvious other than cost?

[@TwilightxKnight13]

That is the direction we seem to be going, but they may be taking their time and introducing it a little at a time. It is quite a bit more expensive to upgrade to a system that is entirely AFCI/GFCI protected, especially since you also have to upgrade virtually all receptacles to tamper resistant as well. I have not yet seen it, but I assume that at some point, we may start seeing AFCI/GFCI protected main breakers that would theoretically protect the entire house, but who wants the whole house to nuisance trip? Personally, I just upgraded our service and used a Square D Homeline plug on neutral main service panel using AFCI/GFCI dual function breakers for virtually the entire house. That way I do not have to check every outlet against the code to make sure it is compliant and I can just use standard TR receptacles. We also don't have to identify receptacles downstream from the GFCI as protected and remember which one protects which outlets if there is a nuisance trip.

[@phillip53]

Ya, pretty much. Probably should leave the fire alarm and snow melt outlets in the eaves out, but eventually I would guess they will include everything else including light circuits.

[@LtKernelPanic]

Thanks for the replies. I'm not in the industry myself but that just seemed like the next logical step to me.

[@tomsuica8731]

MY dude you have to record a new transition to code time with the new book.

[@ecospider5]

I think in the UK they have the entire electrical panel gfi protected. I wonder how annoying it is when that trips.

[@okaro6595]

Earlier ones had just one RCD, then they divided into two so that you did not lose lights in the room. Now they use individual RCBOs (Residual Current Breaker with Overload protection). I think these are now mandated. The limit in Europe is 30 mA so there is less nuisance tripping.

[@BeardedOneWithBeard]

Gfi for Ranges and microwaves were added in the 2023 code? Oh boy. It is nice that they put the list in article 210 instead of sending you over to 425 to get the list. Is anyone requiring you follow the 2023 code yet? We're still on 2020.

[@vmax4575]

Remember that rules are often revised and adapted to accommodate the “lowest common denominator”. (Unfortunately, you can’t outsmart stupid!😮) Many times things get over thought to prevent someone from injury. This submits everyone else in compliance to have to jump through hoops to comply.

[@jay9308]

We just adopted 2017 NEC here. Inspector told me I need GFCI protection for my 3-phase 30 amp oven receptacle in a commercial kitchen. I searched the internet far and wide, even called Siemens to verify... Sure enough, there is no such thing as a 3-pole 30amp GFCI breaker, nor a 3phase GFCI outlet. How are you guys dealing with this?

[@dracula3811]

I would tell the inspector that no such device exists and ask what the process is for an exception to the code for such situations.

[@peanutbutterisfu]

I’m gonna put these in a bunch more outlets just to be safe because I have a young daughter.

[@kman2308]

Speaking of GFCIs - when is someone going to manufacture a taster that works on old, two-wire, ungrounded house wiring??? Whatever the technology is that works for a test trip on a GFCI (TEST button) should be built into a tester.