How to Wire a GFCI Outlet
A GFCI device monitors the electrical current going out of a device as well as the current coming back. If these vary, it is an indication of a short and the device will shut off all electrical power to that device. This is a major safety feature which is required in garages, bathrooms, exterior areas, crawl spaces and unfinished basements but is a good addition in any location or area. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Turn off electrical power to the device/area you will be working on. It is best to turn off the power at the breaker panel and mark the breaker as "in service" so no one will accidentally turn it back on prematurely. Before beginning work, test the line for voltage with a voltage tester. Always be certain the power is off.
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2
Strip the ends of the supply line coming into the outlet box. There should be three wires: white, black and green. In some cases, the black may be replaced by a red wire. In many cases, the green wire will actually be bare; this is your ground wire. Strip back approximately 3/8 of an inch from the end of each wire. You do not want to have excess bare wire as this could result in a short. Strip back just enough to make the needed connections.
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3
Install the ground wire. Take the ground wire from the supply line and secure it beneath the green ground screw inside the outlet box. You will then need to run a piece of ground wire from the ground screw to the green screw on the GFCI outlet. This will normally be located on the bottom of the outlet. Tighten all screws securely.
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4
Install the neutral (white) wire. Take the white wire from the supply line and secure it in the proper area on the outlet. In this case, we are installing a single outlet so the neutral wire should be attached to the lower pole on the left side of the outlet. A GFCI outlet will have a reset and test button between the plug holes. Make certain the outlet is positioned so the writing on these buttons is right side up when the outlet is installed.
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Install the hot (black) wire. The black wire from the supply line will be attached to the pole on the lower right side of the outlet. Make certain all screws are tight
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6
Place all wires into the outlet box and carefully push the outlet into place. Secure it with screws at the top and bottom, then install the outlet cover plate. Once complete, turn the power back on and test the outlet.
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Tips & Warnings
Cut the supply line wires to the proper length to avoid having too much excess wire to force back into the outlet box.
Watch for nicked or frayed wires. These can cause shorts which can result in fires or electrical shocks.
