Can I interrupt a GFI line

[48windsor]

I have a GFI by a man door which means there is Romax running to it . My question I guess is ; Is if permittable to cut romax before the GFI to put in an outlet than continue onto the GFI outlet.

 

[pattenp]

Its okay. If the added outlet is in the garage then it too needs to be GFI protected. You can swap the receptacles making the new one a GFI and have it also supply GFI protection to the down stream outlet.

 

[48windsor]

Thank you PattenP. I understand . Would it make a difference that the one downstream is outdoors with a waterproof cover .

 

[Norcal]

Nope, receptacles in a garage are required to have GFCI protection.

 

[Dick in Wisconsin]

Its okay. If the added outlet is in the garage then it too needs to be GFI protected. You can swap the receptacles making the new one a GFI and have it also supply GFI protection to the down stream outlet.

Shouldn't the first outlet on the circuit be a GFCI outlet and not a GFI outlet?

 

[Mustang51js]

Shouldn't the first outlet on the circuit be a GFCI outlet and not a GFI outlet?

It's the same thing but most people don't say the circuit part of it.

 

[pattenp]

GFI vs. GFCI, same thing. My lazy typing. The GFCI outlet may or may not be the first outlet on the circuit. It depends on where GFCI protected outlets are required on the circuit.

Shouldn't the first outlet on the circuit be a GFCI outlet and not a GFI outlet?

 

[48windsor]

Thank you all. One problem checked off

 

[Norcal]

A GFI is what is required on 1000 ampere & larger wye services w/ more then 150V to ground & 600V & less. A GFCI is a personnel protection device.

 

[Dick in Wisconsin]

I'm getting confused.

A ground fault interrupter (GFI) outlet only protects that outset. It does not protect any downstream outlets. Right?

A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet protects the GFCI outlet and all the outlets downstream. Right?

 

[pattenp]

I'm only aware of one type of GFCI outlet and it can be wired to be the only GFCI outlet or wired to also protect down stream outlets. There is line and load connections on a GFCI outlet.

 

[2ManyProjects]

I'm getting confused.

Well, let's see if we can clear that up...

A ground fault interrupter (GFI) outlet only protects that outset. It does not protect any downstream outlets. Right?

A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet protects the GFCI outlet and all the outlets downstream. Right?

In the context of outlets (at least any sort of outlet that could possibly be applicable to a residential or light commercial application), they are one and the same thing. It's just that different folks sometimes use slightly different versions of verbal shorthand to refer to them. Toe-MAY-toe, Toe-MAH-toe.

Further, as "pattenp" pointed out, all such outlets that I have ever encountered have TWO sets of terminals on them: One is marked "Line", and accepts the incoming power feed; the other is marked "Load", and can be used to power downstream outlets (which then also become "GFCI-protected", without needing their own GFCI circuitry inside them).

The distinction "Norcal" was making is relevant only in the context of EXTREMELY heavy-duty industrial equipment.

 

[ishiboo]

GFCI and GFI are interchangeable terms. Manufacturer marketing/naming has created a perspective that they're different, with the legacy "GFI" referring to large devices like Class B stuff, and GFCI referring to outlets.

A GFCI is a GFI and vice versa. A GFCI need not protect anything other than the outlet itself or be designed to protect anything other than the outlet itself, but seeing as though that's how GFCI receptacles are commonly used an it's just a second set of terminals ($$cheap$$) they all have them.

When you are referring to protecting people vs equipment, you are referring to the class of GFCI/GFI, which refers to the trip current required to trip it. For protecting people, it may be only 4-6ma, but a couple times that for equipment is sufficient to stop someones heart first.