The First Outlet That Let's You Know Something Is Wrong and Where!

In this video I will be showing you the first smart GFCI outlet that not only lets you know something is wrong but also can tell you where it is. The Leviton Smart GFCI is one that I will be installing all around my home as the there are a lot of benefits to them.
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[@RedheadedMusic]

Great video, Thanks for the info. These “tamper Resistant/ childproof “. Outlets completely suck! I replaced a couple of mine because I thought they were broken, they were very hard to plug into.. we had it in the kitchen for maybe 2 yrs then all of the sudden it was really difficult to get plugs in. Replaced it cause we thought something was wrong with it. I had never heard of built in TR outlets. Hate them and will not use them in my homes.

[@shangrilahomestead9930]

Your videos explanations are always clear and thorough. Thank you so much!😊

[@ronduncan9527]

Thanks for reviewing the Freeze Mizer in your last video! Bought them for my outdoor spigots. Last week in Kansas it got down to the 20s at night and it works as advertised! Love them! 👍🏼

[@JCWren]

My complaint with all these Wi-Fi enabled home automation devices is the nightmare they cause if you want to change the Wi-Fi password. Z-wave, LoRaWAN, and other mesh network protocols meant for these types of devices don't have this issue. Also, GFCI protection is not required for refrigerators in a kitchen area. NEC 210.8(A).1 exempts GFCI protected outlets for non-counter top surfaces. Garage refrigerators may be exempt if the garage is above grade. You're basically screwed on basement refrigerators.

[@dankelley9361]

Really slick application. It would also be nice to see, like a lot of new smart plugs show, is the amount of current the plug is drawing.

[@djtajsf]

Very informative. Thank you. Question, What if you find 4 knob & tube (2 line / 2 neutral-white) & 1 white “Romex” & 1 yellow “Romex” wires inside the metal box? Trying to use a gfi to a single pole light switch. When light switch is engaged/turned on it trips the breaker.

[@travist444]

A question reguardian the "you can put your fridge on this so you don't lose your food" part. If I have my reciptiacals to work indepently I believe it's called series, can I use this the same or am I undoing the wire nut and finding the right wires?

[@francoislachance7901]

Any idea if this outlet will work with Home Assistant?

[@mickburek3202]

Replacing an entire house's gfci outlets with these could quickly use up a cheap WiFi router's available connections. Like the ones most ISPs provide (Frontier, Comcast, Spectrum, etc.). And you never get as many connections in the real world as the specs say. And if you need an outlet that's in a dead zone of your house, good luck. You should do a video about WiFi upgrades, informing people about things like number of connections, channels, 2.4 vs 5 GHz, WiFi 6, mesh networks, etc.

[@Gilikemail]

Great product idea! Does anyone know if this will also send the alert if power is lost? Or just when it trips?

[@eosjoe565]

Ahh... no... it needs power to function. :-)

[@JCWren]

​@@eosjoe565it sort of could, if they chose to. If it doesn't check in with the server periodically then an alert could be sent. Unfortunately, the alert would really mean that maybe power is out, maybe the router is down, or maybe the internet service is down. But at least you would know to check on the fridge or freezer.

[@user-uj7us6ib4s]

What is the name of the book you suggested with the most recent code updates?

[@victorojeda4035]

any video in how to connect smart switch? all videos show 2 black wires my home only have green white and 1 black. what can I do?

[@thegreatwp]

Good video!

[@HowToHomeDIY]

Glad you liked it! Thanks a lot for the feedback Warren!

[@leewasden6735]

Hello i need help I've got one bedroom that's not working light and outlets along with living room outlets I'm trying to chase the problem down but I'm stuck

[@LightMike4u]

So it only notifies you of a fault & is not a smart controlled outlet where you can remotely turn the outlet on/off/schedules? Also, I'm disappointed that this doesn't have the new wago style connection they started to offer. So much safer & fool-proof!

[@LunchBoxMining]

I crypto mine and i want to use those wago 221s to extend my outlet, is there a limit of wattage these can hold ?

[@HowToHomeDIY]

They are max rated at 32 amps.

[@agrayday7816]

any reason why they went with screw instead of the pushlock for the wires, like the other newer receptacles they make?

[@HowToHomeDIY]

Those still are not a super popular option. Also, the connection on these are superior to those with the back wiring and screwing it down.

[@kenbrown2808]

they've already bulked p the device for the GFCI and WiFi circuitry. the toolless terminals would add too much more bulk to it.

[@azazelakira12]

Do they mmake those with the alarm but no the wifi?

[@HowToHomeDIY]

Yes

[@markwhite6782]

I'm not an electrician, just a 61 year old trying to learn basic electricity. I bought a Klein receptacle tester to test my receptacles in my house. Two receptacles next to one another in the kitchen give the alert " hot and neutrals reversed" A) Is this a fire hazard? B) Is this something fixable without tearing out the sheetrock and running the Romex? C) Is this something I can fix? I plan on hiring an electrician but just thought I would ask before I call. I have lived in this house 33 years and had no problems with either one of the receptacles. Any response would be appreciated.

[@kenrathbone3265]

So all the outlets controlled by the GFCI are also WI-FI? Else how would you know which is the problem?

[@kenrathbone3265]

Ok, I see, there is one for each outlet. I have a single GFCI controlling all the bathroom, outdoor, kitchen and garage outlets and it happens to be outside on the wall by my deck.

[@Johan-bb4sy]

A lot of devices on the wifi network, gets the band very busy. Also a lot of EMF radiation in the home. I feel more for the Shelly ethernet connected devices, in the junction box.

[@rzh3443]

Very interesting. I can’t understand why they still sell non tamper resistant receptacles. As I understand it you need them , per code, pretty much every where in the home. I wonder if the TR “doors “ interfere with WiFi?

[@eosjoe565]

Are you kidding? I despise tamper proof outlets. On some of them it seems like something is going to break before the "lock" gives way and allows the prongs to enter. Anytime I have electrical work done I specifically say NO TAMPER PROOF OUTLETS! Here's a good one... I recently purchased a new Honda generator. Guess what? It has tamper proof outlets. Now in what world is a kid going to get the generator out of the garage, start it, and then immediately proceed to stick something in the outlet? I say... let natural selection take its course. :-)

[@markm0000]

@@eosjoe565agreed

[@eosjoe565]

@@phillipbanes5484 60-years ago when my house was wired there was no such thing as tamper proof receptacles. Adding a few new non-tamper proof outlets now isn't going to change the landscape much. :-)

[@goldwinger5434]

Like many, you don't understand code. My house was built in 1957 to 1957 code. I am under no obligation to update my house every time code changes. So my house has no TR outlets. Also, I look at those little doors as something waiting to break on any outlet that has plugs inserted and removed on a regular basis. Yet another expense foisted on us by the safety Nazis who worry about protecting the 0.001% of the population that has issues.

[@kenbrown2808]

you aren't required to install tamper resistant receptacles in businesses other than childcare businesses. and no, the gates are plastic, so they're wifi transparent.

[@Bruce_W]

It's an interesting device but not for me. I don't understand the fascination of having absolutely everything in your home on WiFi. Great review though!

[@HowToHomeDIY]

Totally understand. Appreciate the feedback Bruce!

[@RedheadedMusic]

It puts too much EMF and big brother throughout your home, not healthy.

[@HowToHomeDIY]

@@RedheadedMusic Not all EMFs are dangerous especially at such low levels that are found with devices such as this. Also, I could not care less if "big brother" knows if my GFCI is tripping or not.

[@bradhafichuk]

What is the cost/benefit of this kind of product. I cannot envision a practical use case where all of this extra overhead and cost would be worth it. The major limitation is the reliance on "app store" technology and from what I can tell is a proprietary setup. I've had other products that have enhanced features that are only accessible through an app and within a few years those apps disappear. With that in mind, I have a serious question for you - what happens if the Leviton ecosystem goes defunct and they stop supporting and/or drop the app from the app store?

[@HowToHomeDIY]

Leviton is one of the largest electrical manufacturers in the world. That is highly unlikely to happen.

[@kenbrown2808]

the only application I can think of is for a cord connected refrigerator in a restaurant. those have to be GFCI protected. there is an exception allowing any fixed residential appliance to be powered with a non GFCI protected single receptacle. so only the commercial fridge would be a case where you are required to have a GFCI subject to a nisance trip, and where you need to know immediately.

[@acampbell198]

You test for no power by using an outlet tester that shows no lights after you turned the circuit breaker off. Wouldn't you get the same result on the tester if the GFCI outlet was tripped, yet you would have wires that are still hot if the CB is still on?

[@acampbell198]

I guess I should add, not trying to be snarky here, honestly curious. Trying to teach myself all I can on GFCI receptacles and that was the question that I thought of when I saw your video...which was awesome and very informative. Thank you for the content and education!

[@clarencewiles963]

Some more WiFi but it’s amazing

[@MrsBuddevil]

Ok and what if PO missed the memo on tape marking the line wires?

[@kenbrown2808]

well, this will be useful for restaurants, where commercial refrigerators are required to be GFCI protected. otherwise, it's a high tech solution to a low tech problem.

[@vaulmoremack3072]

do 240v gfci exist ?

[@kenbrown2808]

240V stuff is usually protected at the breaker.

[@scallywag1716]

Hmmm….I’m trying to think of scenarios where this would actually be useful, versus just convenient. Like a notification of something when I’m not home. Hmmm…anyone know?

[@HowToHomeDIY]

How about refrigerators and freezers?

[@scallywag1716]

@@HowToHomeDIY well shoot! Yes! Thank you.

[@chrisforker7487]

I hate those tamper resistant outlets! It makes things so hard to plug in.

[@kenbrown2808]

then you either have a crappy brand of receptacle or very poor aim.

[@chrisforker7487]

@@kenbrown2808 fortunately, I’ve swapped them all out! I’m not too worried about electrocuting myself at this age.

[@RedheadedMusic]

I agree completely! We replaced one it sucked!

[@maxentropy7596]

Who controls the information?

[@zealanCA]

Best practice: plug your internet router into one of these bad boys

[@commanderosis435]

I plug mine into a ups

[@clarencewiles963]

I knew my outlet was bad as my crockpot stopped. 😂

[@michaelwiddig6380]

Cost will be way to high for me and to me that's kinda stupid ideal

[@kareno8634]

10:30 i'm not hearing "alarm". Only Noting "Fault" does nothing, beyond knowing it was Tripped. 'Knowledge' [from] an APP ... but Hey, more you place power in automation, the greater options may open for others to gain ConTroll of what One Never planned for. Do Not need something added to receptacle that can go wrong, or Do I? All was good for years, then coffeemaker 'shorted', Knew right away Breaker Flipped, NOT GFCI, or maybe Both did. Breaker reset, but dead GFCI, will Not reset, and Only item using line. _just weird_ bet App won't say why.

[@mhick3333]

The wifi is too much and everybody hates apps now

[@HowToHomeDIY]

I don’t think that’s true, at all.

[@pyclen]

Why, just why? Another thing with WiFi, I simply don't understand what is going on with these companies, everything is now on WiFi, terrible. And to control this one needs another app, just why. When the GFCI tripped you know something is going on and I never needed an app to tell me where. Useless gimmick And 1 more thing, slow down with talking, and less repetition of the same thing you just said five times already.

[@HowToHomeDIY]

You mean like you just did? 😂

[@eosjoe565]

Agree completely. Why? I don't need my phone to tell me my electric shaver won't work because the GFCI is tripped. It already has a little green light! At first I thought the WiFi outlet might provide wattage usage data or alert to low voltage conditions. But just to tell me it has tripped AND I cannot re-energize it from the APP. Sorry. Neat and interesting sure.... but quite useless.

[@HowToHomeDIY]

@eosjoe565 yeah not everything is going to appeal to everyone. That’s what’s great. If you don’t want it you don’t have to have it.

[@maximeboissonneault6203]

What a great way to trash your wifi network… 🤦‍♂️

[@HowToHomeDIY]

Why would it trash a Wi-Fi network? It has zero effect on it.

[@maximeboissonneault6203]

@@HowToHomeDIY every single wifi devices adds interference on your network and load on your router. Unless you have a really high quality commercial grade router, installing tens to hundreds of wifi devices is not recommended. Home routers, and especially those provided by your ISP are not designed to handle that many devices. That is why most Smart home devices use other networks, such as ZWave, Zigbee, Thread, Bluetooth or LoRa. Wifi is for computers, cellphones, tablets, not for smart home. At least not if you are interested in stability

[@HowToHomeDIY]

@maximeboissonneault6203 I have so much stuff on my Wi-Fi and have zero issues. Great ping, extremely fast speeds, I game and have zero issues. I do use a mesh network though to make sure I have stable service throughout my house.

[@JosEPh-zy3yr]

@$25 or more a pop, No Thanks.

[@HowToHomeDIY]

Regular GFCI's are only a few dollars cheaper. But OK.

[@mikem8563]

Good but they are made in china-ugh!