GFCI outlet

Cosine · 05-23-2005, 03:40 PM

I plan to install a GFCI outlet for my new tank but don't really know much about these. What is needed? As in are there certain specs that are necessary? I assume I need an electrician to install this. I'm just not sure what I am asking for.

All I know is that this is sposed to be a good idea... but otherwise very very lost.... as you can see.... please help!

wanareef · 05-23-2005, 04:08 PM

Hi Bill

The GFI's are just like a regular recepticles, but are rectangular in shape. Just turn off the breaker and change out the recepticle. Make sure the white or common is to the silver screw's and the black or hot is to the brass colored screws and also tie it to grn or green.

When done, turn on the breaker and test the outlet, those buttons in the middle of the recepticle, blk/red. One is reset and the other is test.

hth

Cosine · 05-23-2005, 04:11 PM

Thanks Charles
so this is a job I can do myself?
can they be picked up at a home improvement store?

wanareef · 05-23-2005, 04:22 PM

Sure if you aren't all thumbs

J/K

Very easy to do ,not sure what you have up there, but any home improvement store will carry them, or hardware store. Do you have Home Depot and Lowes? The newer one's have holes in the back side. Just strip off some insulation to the mark on the back side and just stick them into the holes (the wires) tighten the screws down as they should be close to the body of the GFI and reinstall into the wall - don't forget to test it and watchout for the polarity (color of the wires) LMK how it goes

Cosine · 05-23-2005, 04:24 PM

okay great thanks
we have home depot. A few others that are Canadian I dont believe we have any lowes

shouldn't be too hard to track down
I will post how it goes

wanareef · 05-23-2005, 04:30 PM

Forgot to mention - they carry the 3pak I think or 4 pak of GFI's and it's less this way and should come with new wall plates.

Loverotties · 05-23-2005, 04:55 PM

If your going to do it your self make shure the wirs are in good shape and run eletrical tape around the sides of the new receptical to cover screws,this will insulate it from the box(some boxes are tight and you could short it out).Make shure there are three wires and the green is the ground.If it doesn't and your box is plastic or the wire is romex then you need to run a new line.But if you have BX with only two with a metal box then you mite get away with a ground wire to the box.But this is whats OK in the USA not shure of Canadians laws.It mite be easyier to get one that is wired like a very short extension cord and then all you do is plug it into your outlet you already have and then plug into the other side of cord.It really hard to say it's easy without looking and taking it a part and not knowing your laws.

Junkzoo · 05-23-2005, 05:14 PM

Yup on the ease of the average person installing a GFCI,,
But as a electrician, i would not use the "strip the insulation,and stick the wire in the hole "way of hooking it up, go the wrap the wire around the screw way(wrap clockwise , so the wire will stay wrapped around the screw as you tighten it, you'll seen very quickly why, if you wrap the other direction)
Not a fan of the "no screw" way of attaching wires to the GFCI's or any outlet for that matter,,one lil piece of spring tension copper,holding the wire at one small point, does not make me feel well about a good, long term connection.
I would never wire one up that way in my home, or anyone elses,,
The "in the hole" way gives you a very small area of wire contact,and trusting that tension to hold over time does not make me feel at ease going that route.
No electrician i know would ever wire up outlets that way,,you can argue the fact that why did they make it that way,,can't give a good answer on that one,,just cuz it's there, don't make it the best way to go,, IMO,,
Sure it's fast and easy,but that's the same way the wire can work loose,fast and easily,,,
Just my professional 2 cents,,,

Brandon L · 05-23-2005, 05:20 PM

you will also need to know the amperage of the circuit that supplies that particular receptacle and if there are any other receptacles down the line from your GFCI. It can be set up to protect those or just the one that you change. Generally the instructions in the box for the GFCI are fairly straight forward and can be accomplished by the layperson. I am one of them and have done several in my home.

Cosine · 05-23-2005, 06:42 PM

the only electrical work I have done was in a lab at school (doing civil engineering but we had to do some general courses before specializing)

Anyways I'll figure out the laws and if my parents will let me attempt it... if not I'll get someone to come in

thanks everyone!