Wiring a new garage. Simple, one row of lights and one row of outlets. Get the electrical inspection out of the way. At Home Depot and decided to use a GFI breaker instead of the GFI outlet. Grabbed the package with the coiled neutral wire assuming it was a GFI breaker. Opened up the package and put the breaker in the panel. Was looking at the paperwork and read "not a class A ground-fault circuit protection". I picked up a AFCI breaker which does not provide GFI protection. I wished the warning was on the outside of the package so I would have been clued that it was the wrong breaker. I have read that some electricians recommend this breaker in conjunction with a GFI outlet.
That was an expensive lesson
- Thread starter davcoxx
- Start date
Take the AFCI back, & get a GFCI breaker, is the simplest solution the next one is use a circuit breaker of the same make & type as your panel uses, the types listed for the panel should be on the label,& then use a GFCI receptacle, this is the least costly option, & I would not use a AFCI unless required to by code, and it's not required in a garage.
Speedy Petey
Well-known member
WHY would there need to be a "warning"???
One package says AFCI, and the other says GFCI. IMO it is on the purchaser to know which one they are buying.
That is like blaming the store or dairy if you grab skim milk instead of 2%.
Aceman
Well-known member
Some people need warnings for everything.
Like "it's unlawful to pass when solid line is in your lane" or "caution: coffee is hot"
ddawg16
Well-known member
Oh lord, this is a problem....
I agree........
In the OP's defense....having just bought some AFIC breakers....if your in a hurry, it's easy to make the mistake....especially when you have idiot customers who pull stuff down off the rack...look at it...then put it back in the wrong spot....
Lotek
Well-known member
So put it back in the box and take it back, as long as you didn't damage it or leave obvious tool marks on it, no harm , no foul. If your dog ate the box use it on a kitchen or bath ckt.
SiGmA_X
Well-known member
Just return it, and next time read the package before you buy? From my browsing of breakers at the big box stores, AFCI and GFCI and normal are quite obviously labeled...
Like I said, it was my lesson to learn. I'm just saying that if the statement inside the package was on the outside of the package I would have figure it out before I bought it. No harm, HD exchanged it. I see that this forum is not free of its share of jerks. Isn't that right "speedy" and "aceman". Oh, and thank you to those that are just trying to be helpful.
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ishiboo
Well-known member
My favorite, which was in one of the states around here... perhaps Illinois or Michigan:
"Do not pass while oncoming traffic is present"
??!!!!
Speedy Petey
Well-known member
Funny, I WAS just trying to be helpful.
If you consider me to be a jerk simply for my reply here all I can think of is "pot, kettle, black".
Oh, and gfy. There, now I am officially a jerk.
green.bubbly
Well-known member
Don't let them get to you. They are just giving you some tough love. They all little teddy bears after you get to know them.
Hi ya all, I'm Terry and I promise to appreciate all the advice given and will try to not have thin skin regarding replys. I am not the most forum literate so I may make some errors in this arena but will do my best and I really appreciate these type of sites cause you offer tremendous assistance to the needy! Thanks