GFIC Breaker with a GFIC Receptacle?

[Junkman]

My bathroom wiring is on a GFIC breaker that protects all outlets and lighting. I have recently purchased a hotel style hair dryer that is wall mounted, and has pigtails on the back side. The instructions say to install the pigtails to the load side terminals on a GFIC receptacle. Will the receptacle protect and trip whatever is plugged into it, without it tripping the GFIC breaker, located in the panel in the cellar? Would the better method be to just put the pigtails onto the receptacle that is presently there and protected by the GFIC breaker? The cost of the GFIC receptacle is not an issue that should be considered in your advise. thanks junkman

 

[Cmreschke]

Would it trip receptacle before the breaker? Tough to say, sometimes yes sometimes no. Would you be ok with just the breaker? Yes. Code compliant? Debateable. Imo just install it off of your gfi protected ckt.

 

[Dustball]

The already installed GFCI breaker that is protecting your bathroom circuit is all you need.

 

[Junkman]

Would it trip receptacle before the breaker? Tough to say, sometimes yes sometimes no. Would you be ok with just the breaker? Yes. Code compliant? Debateable. Imo just install it off of your gfi protected ckt.

This is why I asked the question (code compliant), since everything in the home that was built in 1983 under the code that was in effect then, might raise questions when the home is sold. I know that there is no requirement to upgrade to the current code, but it is easier to address and fix minor questionable issues now, then it will be for my wife, if I am not around to do them when it comes time to sell.
I have a friend that recently lost the sale of his home, because even though the septic was up to code when it was installed, and still functions properly, the buyer wanted it upgraded to the current code. The real estate broker indicated that this is a growing issue with younger buyers buying older homes, that they want and expect everything to be upgraded before they purchase. It appears that they worry about future costs that they might not be able to afford. Since these younger buyers will have children, they are even looking for the receptacles to be the "tamper proof" type.

 

[jim111]

As stated before, there's no guarantee the outlet would trip before or instead of the breaker. Imo just wire to existing protected circuit if it's designed to be hard wired, don't know why it wouldn't meet code

 

[manwithtools]

For the younger buyer - it's the cost of home ownership. Replace a functioning and code compliant septic system? I don't think so...

Next buyer please.

As to your original question, only one form of GFCI protection is required or recommended. Using two in the same circuit, the two GFCI devices may not even function properly.

 

[Cmreschke]

The code compliancy I spoke of, is in regards to the manufacturers instructions. Listing agencies require you to install per manufacturers instructions. Instructions state gfci receptacle, not gfci protected ckt. It's really splitting hairs, and most inspectors are good with something like that imo. But, there is that one ******* inspector out of say 10 that would violate the install because you didn't follow the directions.
Me, I would just install it in the already located receptacle ckt and have it protected by the gfci breaker that you have. No need for another gfi on the load side of a gfci ckt.

 

[teamextreme]

2 gfi's in the same circuit have been known to cause issues, as in nuisance trips. You should only have one gfi on a circuit. You have a gfi breaker, you're good with just that. In terms of Cmreschke's concerns about listing violation due to "receptacle" vs breaker, that's REALLY splitting hairs and I wouldn't worry about that.

 

[prostreetamx]

In my experience you would usually trip both the receptacle and the breaker at the same time. If you didn't know there were 2 forms of protection you would attempt to reset the plug near the dryer and not even think of it also having a breaker on GFCI. The newer GFCI plugs will not reset if they don't have the proper input power already hot. They will also not reset if you hook up the polarity backwards. I would never double protect a circuit with 2 forms of the same type. We also had issues where a plug that was required to be AFCI protected due to it's location was also required to be GFCI protected because it was located within 6' of water. They now have a combo device that was not available then.

 

[nine4gmc]

good info

 

[joe_padavano]

Using two in the same circuit, the two GFCI devices may not even function properly.

And yet, every single hair dryer on the market has a GFI plug that you plug into the GFI outlet in your bathroom...

 

[prostreetamx]

And yet, every single hair dryer on the market has a GFI plug that you plug into the GFI outlet in your bathroom...

Your GFCI protected device will work and double protecting will not hurt anything, the issue is that when you double protect something at 2 different locations. It will lead to a lot of confusion if you have a trip. It is possible that the settings on the cord mounted GFCI are tighter to have only that device trip first but I don't know that. I have wired hundreds of tract homes where all the bathrooms shared one GFCI device to save money but my personal house has a device in each bath so finding and resetting them is a no brainer.

 

[manwithtools]

And yet, every single hair dryer on the market has a GFI plug that you plug into the GFI outlet in your bathroom...

By "may not function properly" I meant to convey that there could be unforeseen problems and there is no good reason to do so.

 

[alfredeneuman]

And yet, every single hair dryer on the market has a GFI plug that you plug into the GFI outlet in your bathroom...

That is not a GFCI on the cord.
It's called an immersion detector.
You still should plug it into a GFCI protected circuit

 

[Junkman]

I would like to thank all my GJ friends for helping me with this wiring, etc.. The 2 3ton American Standard air conditioners were installed last Monday, and the home is nice and comfortable. The installer did a great job, and was extremely neat in his installation. Working with a helper (helpers first day on the job), they completed the install in just over 10 hours for the 2 units. The second floor air handler was somewhat of a pain to get the piping to, but it looks neat, and I am happy. Thanks again. Junk

 

[AntonLargiader]

That is not a GFCI on the cord.
It's called an immersion detector.
You still should plug it into a GFCI protected circuit

Thanks for that. I did a bit of reading and now know more than I did before.

http://www.ecmag.com/section/codes-standards/differences-between-gfci-idci-and-gfpe