How to Wire Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) with Regular Outlets | How GFCI's Work

I show how to wire a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) in a circuit with regular outlets so that all the outlets are protected, explain how GFCI's work and how to make sure they are working properly with receptacle testers. This saves money by not having to buy GFCI's for every outlet.
DISCLAIMER: Perform electrical work at your own risk.
Brettley Built features projects involving welding, electrical, plumbing, carpentry and much more. My channel is dedicated to teaching you how to do tackle projects yourself and save money. My wife, daughter, and I live in western Pennsylvania on six acres. We enjoy being outdoors, making improvements to our property, and making things. We adore our four dogs and three cats. We hope you enjoy our videos and spend time with us as we build and create!
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[@willjenmayfield1192]

Hi, I'm Willard Mayfield Jr, I'm 55 years of age, your video 's have helped us so very much, we live in north Alabama, where you just do it yourself are call a buddy, and them rig it up and it last a week are two, but since I've started watching your stuff I'm fixing things, everyone is calling me and when I fix anything, it stays FIXED, as all just wanted to say we greatly appreciate you, and thank you for taking your time to put up the video's, the wiring from the breaker box is one that has helped me, you got me to understand how the circuit must complete, now I understand , THANK YOU AGAIN MY FRIEND!!!!

[@bennyrussell5551]

Willard i'm in Athens.

[@JonSmith-lw3gf]

a year later and this video helped me where others failed. outstanding.

[@cncaliguy09]

Simple diagram but explains this in ways whole videos can't. Great job.

[@Nobody18718]

Man, I can't thank you enough for your videos.

[@vigilantezack]

It may be interesting for people to know the difference between the breaker and the GFI outlets. Both of them can "trip" but for different reasons. The breaker in the panel will trip when there is overload (going past the 15amp or 20amp rating). This also happens if the black wire touches the white wire as this will draw too many amps, like a short. The GFI outlet is not tripping due to black/white touching, or over amp per se, it's tripping because the hot/black wire is being grounded elsewhere off the normal circuit chain. So black is going to the earth through water or human touch, or is touching the bare copper grounding wire. When current flows elsewhere beside the white wire, the GFI knows something is wrong and trips. A GFI can often "ghost trip" due to odd surges and drops on the line. For example I have a GFI that often trips when turning a motor off like a hair dryer or hair clipper in the bathroom. If you have a GFI that is tripping at random, it's good to try and figure out why, there could be a device failing or a plug bar or or something that is going bad. Or a black wire somewhere is losing its sheathing and may be connecting with metal or grounded object somewhere. This could cause arcs which can start fires, so don't ignore if your GFI is random tripping for no reason. Of course the GFI outlet itself could be going bad, so replacing a really old one could be a start.

[@SovereignOverman]

Thank you for explaining this. I was about to ask the question and found your answer first.

[@JrocK_banShamiwan]

Fastest toaster sketch I’ve ever seen 🤙🏾

[@MikeMina2023]

by far the best explanation for a new home owner. appreciate the video

[@billbaber6653]

Good class buddy.

[@victorgutierrez5826]

Good Video and good explanation, now I know how to connect GFC

[@apsvend]

I'm remodeling my bathroom. I'm at the point were I need to rewire and add outlets. Also, add some ceiling lights. I don't need a electrician now. MY GOSH. 101 CLASS 👌🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾🙏🏿

[@AlexanderBell1847]

I watched few videos on how GFCI works and this guy explained it best. Thank you for taking the time to educate us on importance of these devices

[@tricolor112010]

Very good video and information, now I understand how to hook up a GFCI receptacle

[@colinward617]

can't stress enough how helpful these videos are. I'm currently in the process of finding schooling/apprenticeships through IBEW and these videos are a great way to familiarize myself with the terminology and a basic overall understanding of wiring up a circuit and determining possible faults. thanks man !

[@lb-vc1vx]

Great job on the video 😃

[@stevenabernethy4003]

Thank you very much. I am familiarizing to possibly switch to an electrical apprentice in the future and your videos have been the most helpful so far . Cheers

[@maxheadroom8857]

I'm going to add this observation I had about what I noticed on 3 brands of GFCIs I used at my home to retrofit some outlets in areas that need them. I have an older 1955 built home with grounded outlets in the bathroom, kitchen, outdoors and detached garage. I'm using 2 brands currently due to how the line load comes into the box. My house GFCIs that I replaced are Leviton GFCIs. My wiring feeds the grounded outlets from the attic down to the top of the box. The Leviton GFCI, when facing with the ground prong hole at the bottom, takes the line wire at the top of the outlet. The Leviton brand GFCI is ideal if your line wire comes in from the top of the gang box, and if your preference is to have the ground prong at the bottom. My garage gets its line wire coming up from the floor, then from the first outlet, it sends power to the rest of the garage. I'm using an Eaton GFCI because the line wire terminals are at the bottom when the GFCI front has the ground prong at the bottom of the outlet. Prior to installing an Eaton GFCI, I had used a Pass & Seymour (Legrand) GFCI which reached the end of its life after 6 years. The LeGrand is oriented the same way as the replacement Eaton GFCI (bottom is the line feed). I didn't want to flip a Leviton upside down or cross wires behind the GFCI to install the replacement GFCI, especially with a tight fit in the single gang box.

[@chrismalec4329]

Very well explained!

[@stormbytes]

Very helpful. Thank you!

[@m.b.7920]

Great information

[@PH-md8xp]

Excellent explanation. Thanks

[@christophergarrett9531]

Thanks for the help

[@floridabeardedwoodworker]

Great help yet again thanks for sharing

[@wazzouz]

Thank you for this very informative video. Much appreciated. I learned that only one GFCI is required per circuit, and that is huge - saves a lot of money.

[@chiplane3976]

Great explanations - looking at running some new circuits for my garage. Thanks - subscribed!

[@thecoffeeguy8723]

Excellent video!

[@laurarose5142]

I’m a 55 Year old woman recently widowed and trying to fix everything by myself like when I would help my husband. Thank you! This is really helping me!

[@normanbenjamin9739]

WOW! We are so grateful to you for showing us what you know . THANK YOU for taking the time to show us !

[@yesdavidstevens]

Super helpful explanation. Thank you!

[@leverettson]

Outstanding! Thank you.

[@Mike----]

Such a great and informative video. Thank you so much.

[@8475143117]

THANKS for the video brother!!!

[@ogearbox6132]

I now understand the idea behind these types of outlets. Thx. Also thx for not acting like an unemployed comedian, or a rock band wannabe, or a poor speaker who inserts “ups” “ums” or other thought breaking nonsense. Just continuous thought short and on target. This is now my go to channel.

[@robertcrocker901]

Great explanation & diagram. THANKS!

[@alexlirio1359]

Well explained on GFCI! Thanks.

[@raultafoya6318]

Great Video, Needed to understand the wiring for my garage. Thank you.

[@jimjohnson3609]

Great explanation

[@Eljuanitousa]

WOW, this explanation is definitely the easiest I have ever seem... Congratulations... You are simply the Greatest. Thank you so much for everything. 👋👋👋

[@jluke6861]

Thank you so much for the time you put to make those videos. Your explanation is clear and simple.

[@shockproof2006]

Very clear and understandable diagramming, thank you!

[@rhondaclaiborne7283]

GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) well explained. Countertop makes perfect sense. The circuit is intentionally tripped to protect one from shock - new hairdo. 👌🏾

[@lkkota41]

Thank you for putting this ...answers my questions I had..appreciate

[@pablolynch1152]

Glad I waited to the end to write my comment, the ground had me going! Very good video thank you!

[@pepegarcia7380]

great video 👍🏼

[@Jeffrey_Mason]

The best video so far for me. Very easy to understand.

[@aero4916]

very efficient and informative video. the whiteboard helps a lot

[@kingdiamondgod5824]

YES... Now I can do my garage.. Thanks.. 👍🏻

[@jimv1484]

great vid sir.......many thanks

[@johndemitry8218]

Well done. thank you very much

[@kinbolluck476]

Thanks to all who is the ones to

[@jessierichardson7551]

Your videos are seriously the best. Thank you for breaking this stuff down so simply.

[@bigoof5707]

Great content ty

[@jeremy4207]

Appreciate the video my man !

[@user-gj1vt9ke9i]

thank you for your vids keep up the good work

[@Luellavonstein]

Thank you so much for your videos!! Im an electrical dummy but want to learn about it for school bus conversion (someday). So helpful!

[@airmaster5691]

Thanks! I didn't you could do that. I knew that wiring like you've done would stop voltage on down the line if the GFCI tripped but I had no idea the non-GFCI breakers are also GFCI protected as well. You just saved me about $40 on my garage outlet upgrade!

[@stuartkorte1642]

Thank you. Good lesson. On our new house the electrician put the GFI on the front porch which then feeds the garage in the back of the house. What a genius. ☹️

[@brettleybuilt]

My friend called me up one day and told me the outlets in his garage weren't working. After checking around the house with him, he also said his Christmas decorations out front stopped working. I reset the gfci at his front porch and of course the garage outlets were back on. His house is about 20 years old. Not sure why they do that.

[@normanmuschamp4480]

Thank you so much for this video it’s one of the best I’ve seen . Again thank you, I finally completed my Honey do List

[@toshbarrio13]

Thank you ! I’m new subscriber!

[@LK-ks3dk]

Great info. I wish I had seen this sixty years ago!

[@maxheadroom8857]

60 years ago, there were no GFCIs.

[@koade2113]

Thank you!

[@RJ-sr5dv]

Excellent thx

[@davepo6443]

You laid this out great. And every thing works.

[@brettleybuilt]

Anything I can help with?

[@davepo6443]

Thank you. After many hours of KZbin videos, checking out library books... I called the electrician who installed breaker panel. He made an error. My work off your video was totally fine! Thank you so much.@@brettleybuilt

[@scottlandb6579]

Awesome even better 👍🏼

[@peterkratoska4524]

Thanks, good explanation. I was wondering why you wouldn't pigtail for the receptacles down the line, but then you did actually mention you would. But you definitely don't want to do the pigtails on the gfci as it will defeat the purpose of protecting the other receptacles down the line.

[@jimbola77]

thank you sir for sharing tou are awesome man! thank you thank you thank you...

[@Ben727-vy3sz]

Thank you

[@AbrahamTheBadBadger]

This is pretty helpful I have plans to add an additional outlet in my bathroom, next to a mirror, opposite of the gfci that is also next to a mirror, to add in a night light or one of those fragrance oil warmers while keeping the gfci outlet available for bathroom appliances

[@Bruce2518]

No matter what I always wire receptacles in parallel. It’s just a better practice. It cuts out that ugly ol’ voltage drop. So that would be 3 GFCI’s for me and I wouldn’t give them the other option. If they can afford a real electrician, then they can afford the gfci receptacles. Or even better, gfci breaker. Ty for your video.

[@scottlandb6579]

Please do a multi meter video. This is so helpful thank you 👍🏼 Haha and this is the exact reason my Christmas lights didn’t work. The socket was in the gutter and the gutter was wet. It kept popping GFCI. It interrupted the circuit. Man this is the best. Please again do a multi meter vid.

[@zeekflash6924]

How can I determine , which outlet in my kitchen is the first outlet or line outlet to PB House built 1980 , or is the a way to determine this Thx

[@CMacks3y]

"Good job if you do" got a hell of a laugh out of me 😂

[@mikeschneider5789]

Exactly what I was thinking

[@eyehear10]

Informative video. Could you elaborate on the last part where you talk about pig tailing? You add a pigtail then populate all the screws of an outlet because the copper clip may fail to deliver current to the neighboring plug?

[@dougEfresh1224]

I was wondering the same thing? The 12/2 comes with 3 wires.. I completely followed the hot and neutral but never seen any ground wires connected or capped off?

[@darkreign2000]

Thank you I've learned a lot from your videos. Great information and very well presented. I do have a request. If you can, can you do a video of how to connect multiple receptacles/lights with one breaker/switch?. (Just liek you did witht he wiring basics)Thank you.

[@brettleybuilt]

I can but I would catch a lot of flack for that. Wiring codes want your lights and outlets to be on different circuits. If you do want to add a light to an outlet circuit, which I am not recommending, you run Romex from and outlet to the switch box, then Romex to the light. The power to the light comes from the power in the outlet circuit.

[@briansiedenburg2514]

Hello - This is a fantastic video but I do have a question (please excuse my ignorance, electrical newbie here). Half of my house is ungrounded (there was an addition put in that is grounded) and its my understanding that using this technique on the ungrounded portion of the house. The question is - How do I know which outlets are upstream vs. downstream of the GFCI? If that question even makes sense? If you have another video out there explaining something like this Id be happy to watch. Thank you

[@brettleybuilt]

Trip the gfci outlet. Then use a multimeter or plug tester to see which outlets are on or off. Those off are downstream of the gfci.

[@jkgkjgkijk]

Why choose the lower screw on the last outlet on the right, at the farthest right . Im confused why you would do that? You have the hot on the line and the neutral on the load. Is it relevant?

[@baffledbybullshit-]

Another question. If it's just one GFCI outlet and one of the wires is put on the bottom screw, but on the correct side, is that not going to work? For the single outlet they must be on top correct?

[@davidc5864]

I'm adding 1 standard outlet to my bathroom. I need to piggyback off the existing outlet in the bathroom which is a GFCI outlet. I noticed on the last outlet in the circuit that you drew on the whiteboard that the power came out of the load side and went into the load side of the last outlet while the neutral came out of the load side and went into the line side of the last outlet. If just adding 1 outlet from my GFCI, is this the way to hook it up? Thanks in advance for any reply you may give.

[@deas1anguy]

Just a question, how come the middle receptacle neutral isn’t terminate on the line side like the hot?

[@hafeezurrahman1000]

Thanks for the detailed tutorial ♥️ Which gloves are your wearing to prevent an electrical shock?

[@brettleybuilt]

The gloves are cotton and not exactly shock resistant.

[@rret6885]

did you mention ground? is that what the red wire nut is for? thanks.

[@govindsoni9921]

Nice video, thanks. I was wondering if can I do like PB -> standard outlet -> standard outlet -> GFCI outlet.

[@brettleybuilt]

Absolutely, it is just that the first two outlets won't be gfci protected, which you probably already knew.

[@govindsoni9921]

@@brettleybuiltThank you

[@josuechavez1889]

Great video! And excellent explanation. I do have a question, I have a GFCI in my backyard that has load wiring to my shed’s receptacle. I had to replace it and found the ground wire connected to the box and there’s no ground wire that came from the GFCIs wiring. I tested it and it says “Open Ground” and doesn’t trip my GFCI. Is this because the ground wire isn’t wired together?

[@brettleybuilt]

No. The ground wire is there as a safety to ensure any power outside of the hot or neutral wire make it safely back to the panel box. The gfci outlet only measures the current flowing between the hot and neutral wires, so any difference in current between those two wires trips the breaker. Technically, a gfci outlet can still be installed if only hot and neutral wires are available. A ground isn't required for a gfci outlet to work properly.

[@brettleybuilt]

If the outlet to the shed receptical is wired from the load side of the gfci, then I am not sure what the problem would be.

[@surferdude642]

I have a scenario that I haven't seen mentioned, and instead of the load going to another receptacle, it goes to a 2 gang switch box. (It's all in a bathroom). One switch is for the fan and the other is for the light. Only the fan is to be GFCI protected, so only the fan switch hot will be GFCI protected in the 2 gang box. The hot from the light will come from the line of the GFCI. Now you'll have 4 neutral wires in the switch box, one from the GFCI load, one from the fan cable, and one from the GFCI line and one from the light cable. This could look like a typical scenario in which all the neutral wires are connected in a switch box. However, in this case the 2 pair of neutrals are to be wire nutted separately, the load pair would go to the fan and the line pair would go to the unprotected light. For future expansion you could tap into the light box for normal hot and neutral wires to continue downstream. If you tapped into the fan box, all the devices would be GFCI protected and that may not be desirable.

[@brettleybuilt]

Can you send me your email. I will draw up a scenario that I would do. [e-mail]

[@piperogusano]

Very good explanation. I have a query. I have a GFCI in the main room and when the cold weather arrived with the heaters running, it started to cut the electricity at certain times, even 4 times almost in a single day. Then it stopped doing that for a long time, and then out of nowhere it cut the power and I had to reset it every time, no problem. I really don't understand what could be causing this, unless the device is in bad condition. What do you recommend?

[@brettleybuilt]

If there is any current difference between the hot wire and neutral wire, the gfci outlet will trip. I was looking into what some people say might cause this. It could be anything from an issue with the wiring inside the heater to dust collecting on certain surfaces of the heater and causing issues when static is discharged. If you suspect the heater may be the problem, definitely replace it.

[@damianlong3974]

Where does the ground connecting go for the gfci and the first socket

[@user-fn9cs4dv8r]

8:40, on last receptacle, to the right, should neutral come in at top of receptacle, not bottom?

[@mikerogs1]

Ok I have questions. In the last standard receptacle...you hooked up the neutral to the bottom (load?) instead of to the top where the Hot came in? I need help with my scenario though. I have a 20 amp circuit with 2 standard receptacles wired in series. I want to know if I can put a GFCI outside the house behind the last standard receptacle? If that's allowed ..How do I wire that 2nd standard receptacle and the GFCI? In other words how do I wire the in and out of the standard receptacle and in at the GFCI? Last question...is it ok if the circuit is 20 amps and the outside GFCI is 15 amps?

[@just8]

Great vid! I’ve been re-wiring many receptacles in my house and never quite fully understood how these work. I have an outdoor receptacle downstream from a gfci at the back of my house, but I would like to add a receptacle to the front from the same stream. Do I have to connect from the outside receptacle and run wire all the way to the front of the house to the new receptacle or can I make a junction box prior to the outdoor receptacle (inside the house) and and still be protected on both outdoor (old rear and new front) receptacles?

[@brettleybuilt]

Yes, you can absolutely put in a junction box after the gfci and still have both outlets protected. There is nothing wrong with branching circuits like that.

[@just8]

Thank you. Keep up the good work and educating those of us needing the knowledge and know-how to move forward safely!

[@5firebird]

Great video! If you install a gfci outlet, do you need a gfci breaker on the circuit as well?

[@brettleybuilt]

Absolutely not. Use either one or the other.

[@5firebird]

Thank you for your response! I appreciate it ​@@brettleybuilt

[@normanweinstein1759]

Great video! Does the same principle of protecting a single multi-outlet circuit with one gfci (closest to the line supply) apply in an outdoor setting?

[@brettleybuilt]

Yes. Just remember which outlets you have hooked up to the gfci. My friends Christmas lights went out and he had the lights plugged into an outside regular type outlet by his front door. I told him there had to be a gfci outlet somewhere that tripped. We finally found the gfci outlet in his basement garage and reset it.

[@vinceb7918]

@normanweingstein1759: I think you raised a very important point; "closest to the line supply)". If the GFCI is not closest to the PB, does it provide protection? Is it safe?

[@danev6972]

Can you add a switch/outlet combo tapping into the last outlet run? Thx.

[@brettleybuilt]

I have done it in my own house so it is possible, but you need to make sure that wiring configuration is legal in your area.

[@kenmoon5685]

REALLY enjoy all your videos! two quick questions; why does the load wire from the GFI outlet not go to the line in (top screws) on the second outlet vs. the bottom screw yet the line to line from (top screws) the 2nd to 3rd outlet? 2. Can I add or make a GFI outlet off of a non GFI outlet? Example; In a bathroom toilet room, I would like to add a bidet. on the opposite wall (in an adjoining bedroom) is a non-GFI outlet but very convenient to take the load and neutral wires. Will that load wire connected to the line screws on GFI outlet now make it a certified GFI? Many thanks in advance, Ken

[@brettleybuilt]

Your typical outlets don't have a line and load side. The two screws on either side of a regular outlet are bonded together with a metal tab. You can power a gfci outlet off from another outlet. Wire the gfci just like you would if the wires were coming from a panel box, wired into the line side of the gfci outlet, eventhough the wires are coming from another outlet.

[@KevinRuff-jk3yy]

Hello. In your video you have adding regular sockets to initial GFI outlet. Is it the exact same way to wire a GFI to a existing regular socket?

[@brettleybuilt]

Yes, if you have an existing circuit, you can replace the first outlet in the circuit with a GFCI and essentially make the same circuit I made in the video.

[@tredogzs]

Great video! Why are there GFCI breakers? Do the breakers have to work with the outlets? or are they used instead of the outlets?

[@brettleybuilt]

GFCI breakers provide a way to protect the circuit without having to use a GFCI outlet as the first outlet. It works the same, but GFCI breakers are very expensive.

[@user-og7il2wf3w]

@@brettleybuilt , I'm in Tennessee. do you know if I can just use the gfci breakers instead. your video is best I've seen yet without all the long talking. I cant find anything on it. Thanks

[@Ulbre]

In the Breaker panel box, would replacing the main breaker with GFCI breaker achieve the same result? Or replacing any of the circuit breakers with a GFCI breaker?

[@brettleybuilt]

Absolutely. The gfci breakers are a little expensive though.

[@HungNguyen-sb1yu]

I have an outlet in my bathroom, no GFCI. Can I add a GFCI using the wires from that outlet so I can use it for a bidet? Thank you for your help.

[@brettleybuilt]

If the feed wire has a black, white, and ground wire, yes.

[@roberte.6892]

i wish you drew the ground wires. can you connect the ground of one outlet to the ground of the next? there's only one screw for ground, so this means you'll have two wires in each ground screw. or do you use pigtails?

[@brettleybuilt]

You use pig tails. The grounds are wired just like any other outlet.

[@johnconnolly-nt5cv]

Great video. I have a question about outdoor circuits. Can I use this set-up or do they all need to be ground fault?

[@brettleybuilt]

Only the first outlet should be a ground fault. The rest of them after the gfci should not be ground fault and will be protected. Keep in mind that the outside outlets should be installed with weatherproof covers.

[@maxheadroom8857]

There is another thing regarding outdoor GFCIs: they need to have the stamping of being Weather Resistant GFCIs now. The new code requires that, when you replace an outdoor unit with one. The same goes with outlets daisy chained downstream from the 1st GFCI Outdoor outlet. While they don't have the GFCI Switches on them, the "plain" outlets must be marked "Weather Resistant" and protected with covers.

[@rhondaclaiborne7283]

Awesome question.🙋🏾‍♀️ I too would like the answer. I truly believe my wife will need a two room she shed with the line/load setup: TV, small fridge, and she’ll think 🤔 of something else I’m sure. 😂

[@pepegarcia7380]

is it possible to do 3 gfci continuously but with independent outlets? i would like to say no only 1 gfci to control the the other 2 in front, so every single one with their own gfci line

[@brettleybuilt]

Yes, that's right. There really isn't any reason to install 3 gfci outlets one the same circuit.

[@NJ-xo1xu]

For polarity isn’t it white on the large socket or left screw, and back on that small/right side?

[@brettleybuilt]

Yes.

[@maxheadroom8857]

You might mention that 2023 NEC now requires AFCI Protection as well as GFCI Protection in some rooms in a home. A kitchen now requires both AFCI & GFCI protection on ALL outlets including the refrigerator. And some adjoining rooms might become subject to requiring BOTH GFCI & AFCI protection for various reasons. AFCI protection only is required in dens, living rooms, hallways & bedrooms. A laundry room, depending on where it's located, might require both AFCI & GFCI protection if it's inside a house, or it might only require a GFCI if it's in a garage detached from the house.

[@okaro6595]

Putting a fridge on a GFCI is stupid as if it trips the content gets ruined.

[@viewtifuljoseph5588]

Do we need to use 12/2 wire to every other outlet that is not a gfci or can we use 14/2 from the gfci to the other outlets ?

[@brettleybuilt]

No, you have to be consistent with the wire. They do make 15 amp gfci outlets if you want a 15 amp circuit. Remember this is a circuit, and the amperage flows consistently through the entire circuit.