How to Install a GFCI Receptacle

A ground-fault circuit interrupter or GFCI receptacle is an outlet that can help to prevent electrical shock due to an accident or equipment failure. GFCIs are most commonly found in areas of the home where the potential for water and electricity to meet are high, such as in the bathroom, along the kitchen countertop or on the outside of the home. In fact, the National Electric Code (Section 210.8) requires GFCI outlets to be installed in those three areas plus unfinished basements, garages, crawl spaces, near wet bar sinks and outbuildings. To make sure your home is up to code, and to make it safer in general--here is how to install a GFCI receptacle.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• GFCI Receptacle
• Screwdrivers
• Electrical tape
• Voltage tester
• Wire strippers
• Wire nuts (connectors)
• 12/2 NM (non-metallic) cable

1. Turn OFF the power to the receptacle that you will be replacing. Find the breaker and turn it OFF. Then place a slice of electrical tape over it or write a sign to place on the electrical panel indicating that you are working on the electric. This will help to prevent another family member from accidentally turning it back on unknowingly.

2. Use the voltage tester to test the outlet to ensure that it is indeed off. Now remove the faceplate and the two screws securing the old receptacle to the wall box.

3. Gently pull the receptacle out of the wall box. Test the terminals on the receptacle for power once again for safety's sake. Then, loosen the side screw terminals on the outlet and remove the wires. Loosen and remove the ground wire.

4. Use the wire strippers to cut off the existing copper part of the wire. Then strip about 3/4 inches of insulation from the wires so you will have a fresh section of copper to work with. (If you do not have a lot of wire to work with, then you can use pliers to try and straighten out the old wires.)

5. Cut 6-inch lengths of each colored wire (black, white, green) from your purchased section of 12/2 NM cable. Strip away about 3/4 inches of insulation from each end of each wire.

6. You will notice on the GFCI receptacle that there are four terminals on it in addition to the green ground screw. Two of the terminals should have a strip of tape over them. Leave that tape intact. Loosen the two screws that are exposed.

7. Use the hole on the wire strippers to bend one end on each of your 6-inch wire strips into a "U" shape. Wrap the "U" of the green wire under the green screw terminal and tighten it down securely. Connect the black wire to the copper terminal and the white wire to the silver terminal in the same manner.

8. Use a wire nut to connect each of the wires from the GFCI receptacle to each of the wires coming from the wall box. Black gets connected to the black wire, white to white and green to green (or bare copper). Once everything is connected, wrap a length of electrical tape around the GFCIs terminals to prevent them from being exposed.

9. Gently push the wires back into the wall box and secure the GFCI receptacle to the box with the two included screws. Next, install the faceplate.

10. Head back to the electrical panel, remove your sign or strip of tape and toggle the breaker back ON. When you return to your GFCI receptacle, you should see a little light lit up on it. This indicates that the GFCI is tripped. One of the buttons on the front of the receptacle will also look pushed out. Push the button back in until it clicks and the light goes out. Use your voltage tester to test for power. Then press the other button (it will have "trip" written on it) and the reset button should once again pop out and the light should come back on. Press the reset button once again and you are all finished!

Tips & Warnings

• Never connect a GFCI receptacle to a live (hot) circuit, as it can damage the receptacle. Always turn the power OFF when working on electricity as a general rule.

[davedonovan]

on 6/10/2008 Yes Ballsman23, you can run the wires from your outside light and tie them into the LOAD side of the GFCI outlet. If the outlet trips, it will also cut the power to the light.

-Dave

[ballsman23]

on 6/2/2008 I have a gfi receptacle in my garage with the power lines installed into two holes next to the Line terminal screws. would that work the same way if i want to run a line out to a outside light, would i just hook it up to the Load screws and out to the light.

[davedonovan]

on 3/6/2008 Yeah, there is usually a strip of tape, but it is more like a label since there is writing on it. If the label is missing, then you should see one set of terminals labeled "line" on the backside of the GFCI. Those would be the terminals you will use. The black wire gets connected to the copper-colored terminal and the white to the silver terminal. The second set of terminals is labeled for the "load" and they feed the next outlet on the line if there is one. If you have a regular outlet being fed from the "load" side of the GFCI, then it will also be protected by the ground fault interrupter mechanism.

[bnw401]

on 3/5/2008 I have never seen a "strip of tape over two of the terminals." Assuming the "strip of tape" is missing, which terminals should I attach the wire to. And which side gets the black wire?