Two Bad GFCIs

[jmauld]

I'll admit upfront that I don't do the monthly GFCI test, but I do remember testing both GFCIs this spring.

I have two circuits dedicated to receptacles in my garage. This evening I found that one circuit was completely dead when I tried to use it. I tried resetting the GFCI and it didn't respond. I measured the voltage on the input of the GFCI and I've got 125 V between L and N and 125 V between L and GND.

I went to the other circuit and tested the GFCI on it, and it won't respond to pressing the "TEST" button. But, it is allowing power through to the other receptacles.

I'm planning on buying two new GFCIs tomorrow, but is there anything that I should check before I do that? It seems a little odd that these would both fail within a 3-4 month period. Unless maybe a surge took them both out?

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Both sound bad to me, and no, there really isn't anything you can do. Esp the one that won't pop when you test, its not doing its job.

Charles

 

[e-tek]

I've had some MAJOR issues with these things! First off - is power supposed to flow through them if they won't trip? It says in the instructions - and I've heard from electricians - that if one is blown, the ones down the line won't have power. Sometimes you may think one is bad, but it can be another one on the same circuit.

I've also seen where these will have power to them (green light on), but give no power. This was due to the nuetral (white) and power wires being reversed. Now I always say: Power always goes to large spade side.

 

[chickenhauler]

This was due to the nuetral (white) and power wires being reversed. Now I always say: Power always goes to large spade side.

Hot goes to the small spade side.

 

[Milton Shaw]

I have seen GFCI's wired in new homes with down stream wires hooked to line connection so each outlet after GFCI was not off if GFCI tripped. In other words to protect garage/ bathroom each outlet was a GFCI, more money but less things are off in garage such as freezer's. That's probably the way I would do new construction for myself.