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william t · Oct 25, 2008, 07:52 AM

I have a new house. I have two outlets in my master bath. The outlets do not have "reset/test" switches on the outlets themselves. However, there is a separate plate in the master bath that is labeled GFCI with a "reset/test" switch only and no outlet.

We plugged a small space heater into one of the outlets and my wife decided to run her hairdryer at the same time. Resultantly, the power to the outlets "went out" but my bathroom lights are still on. This has been a problem before. In the past I've rest the main breaker and this seemed to remedy the problem. Since I have discovered the GFCI switch, I have simply pressed the "reset" button and it is seems to remedy the problem. However, most recently the same problem occurred. Now I have tried everything and I still can't get power to the outlets!

I have pressed the "test" button on the GFCI switch and I have reset it many times. I have reset the main breaker powering the master bath outlets and I still get "nothing".

I still have power to the lights though.

I am not an electrician and I can't afford to hire one. PLEASE HELP!!

EPMiller · Oct 25, 2008, 06:05 PM

I am not trying to be smart, but if you can't figure it out with what you have done, I think you might have to call an electrician. Assuming that you have tried resetting the correct breaker and testing the GFCI, your next test is making certain that the circuit breaker itself hasn't failed. If you are not comfortable doing electrical testing in a live panel (and that isn't something for someone without adequate knowledge) call an electrician. I would feel worse if you hadn't plugged both the heater and hair dryer in at the same time and expected things to work. Actions have consequences and we all have to deal with them. Hopefully we learn...

ballengerb1 · Oct 25, 2008, 06:41 PM

How handy are you and have your worked with 120 before? You do not have GFCI outlets so we can leave them alone for now. A GFCI switch with no outlet sounds like a separtate GFCI breaker but that should have been put in the main panel. Where do you live? Open the cover plate on that GFCI switch and use a tester to verify power even reaches that box, back to you for answers to my questions.

Stratmando · Oct 26, 2008, 07:24 AM

Wondering if the GFI switch is for a Jacuzzi type tub, and if the GFI receptacle is protected by a GFI in another Bathroom?

EPMiller · Oct 26, 2008, 03:10 PM

Originally Posted by ballengerb1

<snip>You do not have GFCI outlets so we can leave them alone for now. A GFCI switch with no outlet sounds like a separtate GFCI breaker but that should have been put in the main panel.<snip>

Ballenger,

That is a GFCI for mounting in a standard outlet box. No outlets on it. I've seen them. I think they were early in the GFCI scheme of things. It makes it possible to have a reset close to the usage point.

EPM

MAMES · Feb 7, 2009, 11:35 AM

Are all gfi recepticles wired the same? Meaning different mftrs.

MAMES · Feb 7, 2009, 11:37 AM

Do all manufactures wire their gfi recepticles the same?

Stratmando · Feb 7, 2009, 11:42 AM

Every GFI I have seen in the US, have a Line side(hot and neutral), and a Load side(hot and neutral).
There are GFI's with no receptacle like you describe, still has line and load side.
As far as same wiring, Newer GFI's will not reset if no power present at Line side