How to Install a GFCI Circuit Breaker

GFCI Outlet Installation

Safety should be a priority in any home. Adding GFCI outlets to bathrooms, kitchens and other places that are near water will greatly improve the safety in your home. Also, GFCI outlets can protect any downline outlets on the same circuit.

Things You'll Need

• GFCI outlets Screw driver (flat-head, philips, or both) Needle-nose pliers Wire stripping tool

Instructions

1. Turn of the power supply to the receptacles that will be replaced with GFCI receptacles.

2. Remove the cover plate and the old receptacle from the existing electrical box. Pull the wires out of the wall box to provide a little bit of slack. This will make them easier to access and manipulate as you work.

3. Trim the ends off of the wires. Strip 5/8-inch of insulator off of each wire end.

4. Use the needle-nose pliers to bend the ends of the wires into a hook shape.

5. Hook the end of the black wire around the gold screw and the end of the white wire around the silver screw. Then hook the bare copper, or ground wire, around the green screw.

6. Downline receptacles can be protected with GFCI receptacles. Wires that lead to down-line receptacles are connected to the LOAD connections of the GFCI receptacle. Do not allow more than four downline receptacles to be protected by one GFCI receptacle.

7. Turn the breaker back on. Test the receptacle to be sure that it is wired correctly before installing it into the electrical box.

8. Stuff the extra wiring slack back into the wall and screw the GFCI outlet back into the electrical box. Replace the old outlet cover with a cover that will fit over the new GFCI receptacle.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid touching live wires.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish