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-   -   How to connected a GFCI outlet after a switch? (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=803172)

  • Oct 18, 2014, 04:57 PM
    jimyoung666666
    How to connected a GFCI outlet after a switch?
    HI:
    I have a switch, when it turn ON, the wall light is ON.
    Since I do not have outlet in the bathroom, I want change it to GFCI outlet. I removed the wall light, and there are 3 wire, black, white and ground, I connected black to line hot, white to line cold, ground to green screw. Turn the switch on. GFCI LED is not on, NO power. I then changed black to load hot, white to load netual, turn the switch on. The GFCI LED is ON, but No power on outlet.
    I did reset many time, same as before. Still no power come out from GFCI. I then change to regular outlet, it works, but I want use GFCI.
    Can GFCI installed with a switcher to turn in on/OFF? Thanks for your help.
  • Oct 18, 2014, 05:22 PM
    ma0641
    How are the switch wires connected? You might have a switch loop and cannot add an outlet. If you have hot, neutral and ground at the ceiling box, the switch is most likely a loop circuit. Assuming hot, neutral and ground at the ceiling, you need to pull a wire set down to a box and then add the outlet.
  • Oct 19, 2014, 05:35 AM
    Missouri Bound
    The GFCI has a "line" and "load" side. You want the power from the switch to go into the line side. The load side is for additional outlets or fixtures. As far as resetting it, when does it trip? You can only reset a GFCI when there is power to it. If it's tripping when you flip the switch it could be a neutral issue. Do you have multi-wire branch circuits in your home? GFCI can trip if the neutral is shared with the other phase.
  • Oct 19, 2014, 06:07 AM
    jimyoung666666
    Can I add a GFCI outlet after a switch? Regular outlet is working.
    Thanks.
    It was old medician cabinet light with a outlet.
    I removed the medician cabinet light with old outlet.
    And I want change it to GFCI outlet, but it does not work,
    I connected to regular outlet, it works, when the switch turn ON, there is power
    On this outlet. When the switch turn off, there is no power on this outlet.
    When I replaced this regular outlet to a GFCI outlet, I can not make it working.
    There are 3 wire, black, white and ground.
    If I connected black, white and ground to GFCI LINE brass, silver and ground. There is no LED on, no power on.
    If I connected black, white and ground to GFCI LOAD brass, silver and ground. There is LED on, no power on.
    Is this mean I can not connect GFCI to after switch, only can add a regular outlet?
    Thanks
  • Oct 19, 2014, 08:58 AM
    ma0641
    You asked this question before and it was answered.
  • Oct 19, 2014, 10:40 AM
    hkstroud
    Connect the black to the brass line screw. Connect the white to the silver line screw. Connect the bare to the green ground screw.
    Do not use the load screw terminals.

    Turn on the switch on.
    Press the reset button.
    The LED indicator light should light and the outlet should be active.

    The switch should not affect the outlet except of course, to turn it on and off. You could rewire and by pass the switch unless you want to turn an appliance plugged into the outlet on and off from the switch.

    In your previous post you were advised that the reset button is ineffective until current is applied to the outlet. So turn the switch on and then reset.
  • Oct 20, 2014, 05:35 AM
    Missouri Bound
    How do you know there is no power? The indicator light on many GFCIU comes ON when there is no power. Did you plug something in?
  • Oct 20, 2014, 02:05 PM
    jimyoung666666
    Can I connect a GFCI outlet after a switch?
    I have a old medician cabinet light with a outlet.
    I removed the medician cabinet light with old outlet.
    And I want change it to GFCI outlet, but it does not work,
    I connected to regular outlet, it works, when the switch turn ON, there is power
    On this outlet. When the switch turn off, there is no power on this outlet.
    When I replaced this regular outlet to a GFCI outlet, I can not make it working.
    There are 3 wire, black, white and ground.
    If I connected black, white and ground to GFCI LINE brass, silver and ground. There is no LED on, no power on.
    If I connected black, white and ground to GFCI LOAD brass, silver and ground. There is LED on, no power on.
    Is this mean I can not connect GFCI to after switch, only can add a regular outlet?
    Thanks
  • Oct 20, 2014, 04:55 PM
    ballengerb1
    There is usually a small yellow what looks like tape over some screws, have you removed it?

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