garage outlet

[mobetta]

That will not work properly. A GFCI needs all three wires connected to it, with white and black from the panel going to the "LINE" side connections (it will be marked that way) ground to the ground screw, and all downstream receptacles black and white come off of the opposite set of connections, with the ground crimp-bonded to the end of the ground wire on the GFCI.
The lack of ground on the GFCI is probably what trips it.

not to confuse the OP, but I dont think this is correct. AFAIK, a GFCI is the only way to put a "grounded" outlet in place of a polarized outlet(2 prong, no ground) ONLY if you use the "No Equipment Ground" sticker. so the ground wire not being attached is most likely NOT the reason for the OP's problems.

 

[Steevo]

not to confuse the OP, but I dont think this is correct. AFAIK, a GFCI is the only way to put a "grounded" outlet in place of a polarized outlet(2 prong, no ground) ONLY if you use the "No Equipment Ground" sticker. so the ground wire not being attached is most likely NOT the reason for the OP's problems.

It is an outlet in a garage, in a house built in 2003. It had better not be a two-wire, un-grounded receptacle

 

[smilezrcool]

It is sort of odd that who ever wired the outlet did not connect the grounding wire to the GFCI.

 

[MrMark]

The GFI doesn't need the ground to work. The GFI measures the current flowing through it and checks to see that all the current flowing through it is coming back on the neutral wire as it should. If it sees return current "missing", this is "a fault condition", and it will trip.

 

[smilezrcool]

Yes I know that a GFCI does not need a grounding conductor attached to it to make it function properly and that you can install a GFCI in place of a two wire receptacle but whoever wired the house or garage should have done the work in a "workman like manner".

 

[MrMark]

Maybe they just grounded the box and relied on the screws in the strap to ground the strap. I haven't followed this that closely because the pictures were so screwed up but some receptacles are self grounding by listing and even though I would connect the wire, you don't always need to.

 

[smilezrcool]

Yes, you are correct, it is hard to say. Maybe they used a metal box, but I hope if it is plastic they would have taken the time to ground any and all receptacles. I am not sure if all of our advice has helped or co-member?

 

[26modelt]

i havent got around to tryin out the ideas,,workin shift work,,,but ill put the line wire on top and the downstream wires on bottom,,maybe this is the reason my outlets on the front and back porch dont work...

and the outlet box is plastic not metal!!!

thanks guys

 

[26modelt]

alright guys i got it working...also the outlets on my front and back porch work also...

the group of wire was wired in on the line connection and the line wire was wired in on the downstream side,,,so i just switched the wires around and bam ,,,it worked....thanks for ur help,,,saved me some money....i owe all u guys brownies,,,and these are special brownies,,,

 

[Steevo]

Awesome!

 

[smilezrcool]

I hope I can help other people and make sure that if you can help someone, please do it!