GFCI in Kitchen

[Anna5427]

I"m trying to wire two GFCI outlets in my kitchen. They are on either side of my stove. When I wire outlet "A" and test, it is fine. Then I wired outlet "B". Outlet "B" doesn't work at all and Outlet "A" now says that I have the "Neu/Hot" reversed. What am I doing incorrectly?

 

[sands35]

For the GFCI - you are using the correct wire connection on the back? Line and Load?

Line = incoming power
Load = out to down-stream outlets.

Are both outlets fed by the same circuit?

 

[Mustang51js]

Since your using two gfi, just put all the wires on the line side. You have the wires mixed up in the first gfi thats why second gfi doesn't work right

 

[Fishplate]

Are you putting GFCI receptacles in both boxes? Are they both on one circuit?

 

[wyliesdiesels]

If the wires for one GFCI feed the other, u really only need one GFCI because one GFCI can protect downstream outlets. Plus its a waste of money to have 2 on the same circuit!

 

[Anna5427]

For the GFCI - you are using the correct wire connection on the back? Line and Load?

Line = incoming power
Load = out to down-stream outlets.

Are both outlets fed by the same circuit?

To clarify, the "Line" should be the "Hot" black wire, correct? And the 2nd black wire should go to the "Load". I'm assuming they are on the same circuit because when I flip the breaker, both outlets are affected.

 

[Anna5427]

Since your using two gfi, just put all the wires on the line side. You have the wires mixed up in the first gfi thats why second gfi doesn't work right

So, even though my tester says the GFCI in "A" is correct, I still have the wires mixed up? So should I switch my Black wires?

 

[pattenp]

The Line side is the input side for the hot black and neutral white. There is a copper terminal for the hot and a silver terminal for the neutral. The load side is the out put to additional outlets down stream to be protected by the GFCI outlet. Down stream outlets that you don't want GFCI protected get attached to the line side of the GFCI outlet. There should be 2 connection points on both the line side and load side of the GFCI outlet to handle multiple wires.

 

[Zeke]

Do you have a tester of some sort? You can determine which black is the run back to the panel and which is dead going forth to another outlet. Changing black wires w/o knowing what they do is of no use. The back of the first plug has in and out or line and load. A white and a black should occupy each side with the hot coming in on the gold screw and the white on the silver. Same for the load side.

Now, with your circuit partially assembled, you can switch your breaker on and carefully check the 2nd outlet wires to see if black is hot. You should be able to check any black wire to any ground, ground wire or white wire. You should also check white wires to ground just in case. If you don't have at least a little tester like this neon one, you should get one:

A safer tester is a non contact one but it won't tell you all the neon one will. Sometimes wires are just too close.

Above all, BE CAREFUL! Get the non contact tester anyway and poke it at all wires. If it chirps and lights up, you have power and you can get hurt.

Even with the breaker off because other circuits may be present or might be back feeding wires you want to work on. I have this situation ongoing at a job.

 

[Erampu]

I just went through the same confusing process. I wound up not installing the second GFCI because it somehow interfered with the first one, and it isn't needed, anyway. The first GFCI protects both boxes.

 

[Norcal]

A non contact tester (volt stick) in my opinion is a toy, too easy to get false reading.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

A non contact tester (volt stick) in my opinion is a toy, too easy to get false reading.

Yes ive had false positives BUT NEVER has mine given me a false negative. I can deal with a false positive, a false negative could be deadly!!! X(

 

[Zeke]

I just went through the same confusing process. I wound up not installing the second GFCI because it somehow interfered with the first one, and it isn't needed, anyway. The first GFCI protects both boxes.

The problem may be that the load side is being used on the 2nd GFCI. Of course there's no need for a 2nd GFCI but that's another matter. Whether you do or whether you don't, they both can and should work. It's just that the 2nd one is a slave to the first so it's pointless to have the 2nd one right next to the 1st.

RE pattenp's statement about connecting the downstream from the line side if you 'don't' want GFCI protection brings up another feature. If you have a 2nd location where you would like GFCI protection but don't want to go looking for the master GFCI, install one fed from the line side of the previous one.

Simple stuff for the veteran/journeymen electricians here but I'm trying to help out the OP and those that follow so they understand some of the options.

 

[Anna5427]

We ended up only putting one GFCI on circut with the GFCI on the outlet closest to the sink. It ended up that the Neutral wires needed to be switched. Once we did that. All was good. I was advised that this didn't matter, but apparently it does. I"ll go with my gut next time.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

If the wires for one GFCI feed the other, u really only need one GFCI because one GFCI can protect downstream outlets. Plus its a waste of money to have 2 on the same circuit!

Not in some cases. Where I used to live, all outlets near sinks needed to be GFCIs, not just GFCI protected, even if on same circuit. Don't know if this ever changed, but even where I live now, the same applies to any outdoor receptacle. Check codes, or if in doubt, or grey area, GFCI.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

We ended up only putting one GFCI on circut with the GFCI on the outlet closest to the sink. It ended up that the Neutral wires needed to be switched. Once we did that. All was good. I was advised that this didn't matter, but apparently it does. I"ll go with my gut next time.

It most certainly does matter because of the way a GFCI works. A GFCI measures the current flowing in on the hot and the curret returning on the neutral. If theres a discrepancy of more than 5ma then the GFCI trips. If the neutrals are backwards then the current flow will be wrong. Whoever told u that is wrong!

Not in some cases. Where I used to live, all outlets near sinks needed to be GFCIs, not just GFCI protected, even if on same circuit. Don't know if this ever changed, but even where I live now, the same applies to any outdoor receptacle. Check codes, or if in doubt, or grey area, GFCI.

That would be a local amendment and a dumb one at that!

 

[Stevie-Ray]

That would be a local amendment and a dumb one at that!

Doesn't matter if the EI doesn't pass it. You're still bound by it.

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

If the wires for one GFCI feed the other, u really only need one GFCI because one GFCI can protect downstream outlets. Plus its a waste of money to have 2 on the same circuit!

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

Not in some cases. Where I used to live, all outlets near sinks needed to be GFCIs, not just GFCI protected, even if on same circuit. Don't know if this ever changed, but even where I live now, the same applies to any outdoor receptacle. Check codes, or if in doubt, or grey area, GFCI.

That is insane!

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

Doesn't matter if the EI doesn't pass it. You're still bound by it.

Id make the inspector show it to me in writing.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

Id make the inspector show it to me in writing.

He did.

In a similar vein, a recent thread on here, pointed out that TR receptacles were required in garages on walls AND in the ceiling. At least in my township, TR is required only on walls.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I dont understand the reasoning behind requiring a GFCI at each location vs. protecting multiple locations with one GFCI. What a waste of money!

 

[Mustang51js]

They still need to follow NEC and can't make up there own codes. But at same time it's not worth arguing with inspector for a couple dollars

 

[Stevie-Ray]

They still need to follow NEC and can't make up there own codes. But at same time it's not worth arguing with inspector for a couple dollars

^^^THIS!

Argue with the guy you've called to pass your system and see what it gets you.