How to Wire a Switched GFCI Outlet
A GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interruption) device offers you and your family advanced protection against electrical fires and electrical shocks. These devices are required by code to be placed in certain areas of your home. In certain instances it may be desirable to have a GFCI outlet controlled through a wall switch. This process is only slightly different from installing a standard outlet. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Turn off the power and pull the wire from the breaker panel to the area where the outlet will be installed. If at all possible run a continuous line through the switch box and into the outlet box. Leave extra wire extending out of the switch box to give yourself plenty of wire for your first connections.
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Cut the wire at the switch box and strip away the outer wire coating to reveal approximately 4 inches of the inner wires. You should have a white, black and green wire. In some instances the green wire will be bare. This is your ground wire. The black wire is the hot wire and the white is your neutral. Strip away 1/2 inch of the individual wire coverings to reveal bare wire. Take the two white wires and securely tie them together with a wire nut. Attach the black wire coming from the breaker to the bottom terminal on the switch. The second black wire will be attached to the top of the switch.
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3
Connect your ground wires. Attach a 3 inch piece of wire to the green ground screw on the switch. Take the other end of this wire and secure it and the other two ground wires beneath the green ground screw located in the switch box.
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4
Strip away approximately 4 inches of the outer wire covering at the outlet box. Carefully strip away 1/2 of the individual wire covering on all three wires. Attach the ground wire to the green ground screw on the outlet device. The GFCI outlet will have a terminal marked "load", this is where you will attach the black wire. A second terminal will be marked "line" which is for your white wire. These are not interchangeable.
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Secure the outlet device in its box and install the face plate. Do likewise with the switch. The wiring is now complete and the breaker can be turned on. Test the outlet to be certain power is removed when the switch is in the off position. Likewise, make certain the outlet is hot with the switch in the on position.
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Tips & Warnings
In some instances the hot wire may be red instead of black.
IMPORTANT: Make certain the power is off before beginning any electrical installation or repairs.
Be certain not to strip away too much of the individual wire coverings. You want to expose just enough wire to make the needed connections with no excess wire showing.
