Ask Experts Questions for FREE Help !
Ask
    chippie1980's Avatar
    chippie1980 Posts: 4, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #1

    Sep 13, 2008, 04:51 PM
    GFCI breaker and outlet
    We recently had a GFCI outlet installed in the back of the house for external use. We also had a GFCI installed in the circuit breaker because of that. When the GFCI on the circuit breaker is in the ON position, the outlet won't work. But when it is set in the OFF position, the outlet works. According to the electrician, we should only have either a GFCI on the breaker or the outlet but not both. Is that correct? Also, if you can have both GFCI outlet and breaker, does anyone have any advise as to how to solve the problem above? Thank you in advance.
    mechanickid's Avatar
    mechanickid Posts: 248, Reputation: 5
    Full Member
     
    #2

    Sep 13, 2008, 05:09 PM
    Well depending on how you have the circuit wired, you don't even need the breaker.

    Your GFCI outlet will protect everything beyond this in the circuit if wired properly, if you only have outside outlets on this circuit then you only need the GFCI outlet as the first one in the line :)
    hkstroud's Avatar
    hkstroud Posts: 11,929, Reputation: 899
    Home Improvement & Construction Expert
     
    #3

    Sep 13, 2008, 05:51 PM
    No, you should not have both a GFCI breaker and a GFI outlet. The reason however, is because of false trips. The installed the breaker must be on and the GFI circuitry not tripped to have voltage at the outlet. If the breaker is on and the GFI circuity is sensing a ground fault, (even if it is false) and you have voltage at the outlet something is wrong.
    mechanickid's Avatar
    mechanickid Posts: 248, Reputation: 5
    Full Member
     
    #4

    Sep 13, 2008, 05:57 PM
    I was wondering if I read that correctly, did a licensed electriction do the work?
    chippie1980's Avatar
    chippie1980 Posts: 4, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #5

    Sep 13, 2008, 06:03 PM
    First of all, thank you both for your replies. You've been very helpful.

    Second, yes a licenced electrician did the work. But we had an inspection done and the inspector said that both the breaker and outlet had to be installed and that if the breaker is set to ON, the outlet should still be working. So I don't know if it's a misunderstanding on the inspector's part or not because the electrician is saying he did it correctly.
    mechanickid's Avatar
    mechanickid Posts: 248, Reputation: 5
    Full Member
     
    #6

    Sep 13, 2008, 06:11 PM
    I don't understand how the outlets are working while the breaker is in the off position, something is wrong/backwards. Anything wired to that breaker should not work while in the off position
    stanfortyman's Avatar
    stanfortyman Posts: 5,598, Reputation: 279
    Electrical & Lighting Expert
     
    #7

    Sep 13, 2008, 06:27 PM
    I agree. Something does not sound right. There is NO WAY the receptacle can work if the breaker feeding it is off.
    There is more to this story than we know.

    If I may ask. WHAT inspector said you need both a GFI breaker and a GFI receptacle??
    Please don't tell me a home inspector. :rolleyes:
    mechanickid's Avatar
    mechanickid Posts: 248, Reputation: 5
    Full Member
     
    #8

    Sep 13, 2008, 06:30 PM
    Only thing I can think of is that the electrican wired this feeding off two circuits, but the outlets don't work when the breaker is ON??
    chippie1980's Avatar
    chippie1980 Posts: 4, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #9

    Sep 13, 2008, 06:42 PM
    We have an older home and had a contractor build an extension. We had to get licencing, permits, etc through the city. After just about every step, such as frames going up, internal wiring, etc, an inspector from the city was sent to make sure the work was up to code. Everything passed except for the one external outlet. According to the inspector, city code states we're supposed to have GFI in the circuit breaker and the external outlet. When he set the breaker to ON position and tested the outlet, there was nothing coming through. When he set the breaker to OFF, then the outlet worked.

    So should it be the opposite? If the breaker is set to OFF, nothing should be coming through the outlet?

    Thanks again everyone for your help.
    ballengerb1's Avatar
    ballengerb1 Posts: 27,378, Reputation: 2280
    Home Repair & Remodeling Expert
     
    #10

    Sep 13, 2008, 06:47 PM
    And just think guys, this project was inspected. LOL
    chippie1980's Avatar
    chippie1980 Posts: 4, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #11

    Sep 13, 2008, 07:11 PM
    Yes, the city inspector inspected it and won't pass it. The electrician is at odds with the inspector and insisting it's correct while the inspector is saying it isn't. :( I thought I'd come here to pose the question before I hired another electrician to check the problem.
    derobert's Avatar
    derobert Posts: 34, Reputation: 2
    Junior Member
     
    #12

    Sep 13, 2008, 07:44 PM
    Can we get a picture of this breaker? Is it possible you're reading it wrong?

    Off should damn well mean off.
    hkstroud's Avatar
    hkstroud Posts: 11,929, Reputation: 899
    Home Improvement & Construction Expert
     
    #13

    Sep 13, 2008, 07:48 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by chippie1980
    According to the inspector, city code states we're supposed to have GFI in the circuit breaker and the external outlet.
    Suggest that you call the city and verify that statemant.



    Quote Originally Posted by chippie1980
    because the electrician is saying he did it correctly.
    No matter what he says, if there is power to the outlet with the breaker in the off position he didn't do it right. I can't imagine what he could have done to have created such situation.

    Can you pull the cover to the circuit panel and tell how the breaker is wired?
    Missouri Bound's Avatar
    Missouri Bound Posts: 1,532, Reputation: 94
    Ultra Member
     
    #14

    Sep 16, 2008, 09:06 PM
    I suspect that the inspector is incorrect about the dual gfci's. And the electrician should know better... or the information is a bit foggy. Have the building department show you the wording for the gfci's. I would bet it's being mis-understood.

Not your question? Ask your question View similar questions

 

Question Tools Search this Question
Search this Question:

Advanced Search

Add your answer here.


Check out some similar questions!

GFCI breaker w/ 2-wire outlet [ 1 Answers ]

Will a GFCI breaker in the service panel protect a branch circuit without a ground wire? I recently installed a 20a GFCI breaker in my daughter's older home to protect three duplex receptacles - two in the kitchen and one outside the back door. I then discovered that the outlet outside is only a...

Outdoor electrical outlet keeps tripping gfci outlet [ 3 Answers ]

Until just recently my christmas decorations would light up when we plugged them into the outdoor electrical outlet. Now when we plug it in the gfci outlet in the garage keeps getting tripped and the lights won't come on. Even when we reset the gfci, once we plug in the chord it gets tripped...

Replacing GFCI Breaker With A Regular Breaker [ 1 Answers ]

I have a 15 amp circuit serving only a single outlet on my deck. It is protected by a GFCI circuit breaker in the home's single 125 amp service panel. I wish to replace the GFCI breaker with a regular 15 amp GE breaker. I will then protect the circuit with a GFCI outlet. I am familiar with...

GFCI Outlet and Related Circuit Breaker [ 3 Answers ]

I have a 15 amp GFCI outlet that is connected to a 15 amp outside breaker. When using electrical items on the circuit, my outside breaker is tripping without the inside GFCI breakers tripping. I am wondering whether the outside breaker is faulty or should be 20 amps. It doesn't make sense to me...

Gfci outlet [ 5 Answers ]

Hi, I have installed a small pond. I called an electrician to put a GFCI outlet near the pond. He told me I could save a significant amount of money if I dig the trench for the line. Well... I had called Miss Utility before digging the hole for the pond and there is a Cox Cable line that...


View more questions Search