GFCI receptacles

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acroke

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I know that section 210.8 states what does and does not need to be GFCI protected, but I want to know what constitutes GFCI protection.

2 schools of thought.

1) The first receptacle in a branch circuit is a GFCI receptacles and all others in the chain are protected by that receptacle.
2) A GFCI receptacle at each location.

Does the code require one or the other, or are both equally fine?

Thanks much.
 
Both are fine. If an outlet or several outlets are required to be GFI protected, you have your choice. A GFI outlet at each location is more expensive. A GFI breaker is more expensive than a standard breaker w/ a GFI recep protecting several downstream.
 
Either one is fine as well as a breaker.

Note that in article 620 installations GFCI receptacles are required in pits, hoistways, elevator car tops, and in escalator and moving walk wellways.

Roger
 
You can provide the required GFCI protection in anyway that gets it done.

You could provide one GFCI main breaker for the panel and protect all the circuits with one device.

However, the NEC is minimum.

There are many good reasons to use more GFCI devices then the NEC requires.

In my opinion the best way to provide GFCI protection is with a GFCI receptacle at each location. It's user friendly because when it trips almost anyone can find it and reset it.

Also the longer the circuit and the more utilization equipment you have on the load side of a GFCI the more likely you will have nuisance tripping.
 
I agree that both are equally acceptable options. But do take note that Ron mentioned a third, also equally acceptable option: a GFCI breaker. The down side to your option #1 is that it is going to cause questions to be asked. Some Home Inspector will see a "normal" outlet in a bathroom and write it up as a problem, not knowing that it is fed downstream of a GFCI outlet in another bathroom. Not a code issue, of course, just a design consideration.
 
Thanks for the input. That is what I interpreted it to mean, but like charlie b said, I did in fact get dinged by a home inspector who doesn't understand the code. Also, I was curious because I am noticing that all new construction has all receptacles as GFCI receptacles.
 
I ran into a situation today where a co worker patiently explained to me that if you install a GFCI breaker and then follow with a GFCI recp. on the branch circuit then the circuit won't work. When questioned he refered me to a licensed electrician in our company who further explained that if a motor load (for ex: a drill) inductive reactance would occur and the circuit won't work. Having just read "Overcurrents and Undercurrents, All about GFCIs, AFCIs, and Similar Devices; Electrical Safety Advances Through Electronics" by Earl W. Roberts I concluded that they were probably full of poo. Can anyone confirm the pooness?:rolleyes: I'm rapidly coming to trust you guys opinion more than my dubious coworkers. Of course I'm just a green helper so what do I know!!!:mad:
 
andinator said:
Can anyone confirm the pooness?:rolleyes: I'm rapidly coming to trust you guys opinion more than my dubious coworkers. Of course I'm just a green helper so what do I know!!!:mad:
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Don't trust anyone try it. Hook up a gfci recep. to a gfci breaker and plug the drill in. I believe it will work just fine.
 
andinator said:
Having just read "Overcurrents and Undercurrents, All about GFCIs, AFCIs, and Similar Devices; Electrical Safety Advances Through Electronics" by Earl W. Roberts I concluded that they were probably full of poo. Can anyone confirm the pooness?:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

I'd say that you were not told shampoo, it was real poo. :)
 
iwire said:
In my opinion the best way to provide GFCI protection is with a GFCI receptacle at each location. It's user friendly because when it trips almost anyone can find it and reset it.
Click to expand...

Now that's high dollar.

charlie b said:
Some Home Inspector will see a "normal" outlet in a bathroom and write it up as a problem, not knowing that it is fed downstream of a GFCI outlet in another bathroom.
Click to expand...

He/she needs to find something else to do if that's as thorough as it gets.
 
iwire said:
In my opinion the best way to provide GFCI protection is with a GFCI receptacle at each location. It's user friendly because when it trips almost anyone can find it and reset it.
Click to expand...

i totaly agree who wants to go to the basement to reset when th power washer trips in the driveway.
 
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I do like to have a GFI in each bathroom, especially in a master bath, and usually a dedicated circuit in the master bath. But to have a GFI at each outdoor location I can't justify the costs to an HO. Commerciall jobs are spec'd and bid that way, so I'm all for it. Especially when you consider the # of employees that would have to know a reset location vs an HO knowing to go to the garage or equiopment room to rest. That being said, everybody has their methods and I certainly won't complain ECs that look out for their customers.
 
360Youth said:
I do like to have a GFI in each bathroom, especially in a master bath, and usually a dedicated circuit in the master bath. But to have a GFI at each outdoor location I can't justify the costs to an HO. Commerciall jobs are spec'd and bid that way, so I'm all for it. Especially when you consider the # of employees that would have to know a reset location vs an HO knowing to go to the garage or equiopment room to rest. That being said, everybody has their methods and I certainly won't complain ECs that look out for their customers.
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I have had problems with exterior downstream GFI's tripping upstream GFI's in older homes. I always meter for continuity from nuetral to ground. I think my ohm meter measures up to 50 meg. I usually read no resistance.

I don't have a meggar available. I always put a GFI at exterior recept. outlets.
 
andinator said:
I ran into a situation today where a co worker patiently explained to me that if you install a GFCI breaker and then follow with a GFCI recp. on the branch circuit then the circuit won't work. When questioned he refered me to a licensed electrician in our company who further explained that if a motor load (for ex: a drill) inductive reactance would occur and the circuit won't work. Having just read "Overcurrents and Undercurrents, All about GFCIs, AFCIs, and Similar Devices; Electrical Safety Advances Through Electronics" by Earl W. Roberts I concluded that they were probably full of poo. Can anyone confirm the pooness?:rolleyes: I'm rapidly coming to trust you guys opinion more than my dubious coworkers. Of course I'm just a green helper so what do I know!!!:mad:
Click to expand...

alot more then your peers, because you admit what you don't know. They are asking you to go get a cup of steam from the boiler.And thats pooy. :grin:
FACT the GFIs will work even if you put 30 of them on the same circuit. The problem would be finding which one of them tripped or should say how many of them tripped.
 
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