GFIC

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guschash

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I ran across something that had me scratching my head. I was replacing a GFIC in a bath room and looked at the sticker on the old gfic and it said not for use in wet locations. The new one said the same thing. Am I missing something here. I thought all gfic's were for wet locations.

gus
 
GFCI's are installed in locations for which the equipment being plugged in might get wet. That does not mean that it is expected that the receptacle itself is likely to get wet. A bathroom wall is not a "wet location," as that phrase is defined in the NEC.
 
There are Wet location units available for those required wet location areas.
 
I think this issue is about the new ruling for weather resistant receptacles to be used outdoors. Apparently the new devices are more sunlight resistant and maybe have something else built in to make them more resistant to weather.
 
I think would all GFCI would be for wet locations. Any place within 6" of a sink or water needs GFCI protection. The GFCI for outdoors needs to be weather protected. So why a would GFCI say not for use in wet location, makes no sense. GFCI are for wet location period. If I don't have a wet location I don't use a GFCI . These GFCI said right on them not for wet locations.
 
guschash said:
I think would all GFCI would be for wet locations. Any place within 6" of a sink or water needs GFCI protection. The GFCI for outdoors needs to be weather protected. So why a would GFCI say not for use in wet location, makes no sense. GFCI are for wet location period. If I don't have a wet location I don't use a GFCI.
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What you are missing is that it is not the GFCI receptacle itself that we are concerned about getting wet, but rather the thing that is plugged into the receptacle. You put GFCI receptacles in bathrooms and within 6 feet of a sink because the homeowner might plug in a hair dryer and accidentally drop it into the sink. You put GFCI receptacles outdoors because the homeowner might plug in an extension cord and then drag the cord across some wet grass. But unless you plan on using your power washer to hose down your bathroom wall, the location of the receptacle itself is not classified as a "wet location."
 
Dennis Alwon said:
I think this issue is about the new ruling for weather resistant receptacles to be used outdoors. Apparently the new devices are more sunlight resistant and maybe have something else built in to make them more resistant to weather.
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Couple have mentioned stainless components, possible the plug contacts are even stainless or something with more corrosion resistance than the standard receptacle has. I don't know about whether or not they use different plastics that may be more sunlight resistant, first I have heard this mentioned.

guschash, not all required locations for GFCI protection are wet locations, the presence of water is fairly common with locations required, but only because it generally increases the risk of shock, which is what the GFCI is all about.
 
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