View Full Version : Replace 2-plug GFGI with a 4-plug GFCI?
masterbath
Jan 10, 2007, 12:17 PM
I am remodeling my bathroom and my wife wants a 4 plug outlet. She currently uses one for the hair dryer and one to charge her electric toothbrush. The intent is to add a lighted mirror or something else that uses little power. Would it be OK to replace the GFCI with a 4 plug GFCI? I suspect this is a 15AMP circuit but I am unure. I don't know what else is fed by this but it is at the back of the house with little else in that area.
Thanks
Scott
tkrussell
Jan 10, 2007, 12:46 PM
Sure, you can connect a standard duplex receptacle to the load side of the existing GFI receptacle.
masterbath
Jan 10, 2007, 12:52 PM
Thanks!
masterbath
Jan 14, 2007, 09:07 PM
I did this and used two GFI outlets. I did this mainly for asthetics. I suspect that won't be a problem will it?
tkrussell
Jan 15, 2007, 02:58 AM
No problem, as long as each GFI is fed at the LINE, and not one GFI is fed at LINE and then feeds the next GFI from the LOAD.
You could have used 1 GFI and 1 standard receptacle that is the Décor style, it is shaped the same as a GFI, rectangle, but does not have the test and reset buttons.
masterbath
Jan 15, 2007, 08:29 AM
Oh no. I hooked the second one up as you described origionally. I did first gfi to line and then put 2nd on the load side.
I will change it but I don't understand electrically what the problem with this is. Can you explain?
Thanks again!
tkrussell
Jan 15, 2007, 01:11 PM
What you have is a GFI protecting a GFI. Probably not the worst thing you could do, however, I have no knowledge of what will occur or how the GFI devices will operate connected in that fashion. So best to re-connect them so that both are fed with Line.
cdnphotog
Jan 20, 2007, 12:03 AM
Not the worst thing you can do but it can be frustrating - the second GFI may cause the first one to trip. I made the same mistake with a bathroom fed from another bathroom with a GFI installed!
No biggie...