How do you know when a gfci outlet is bad

How do you know when a gfci outlet is bad

Electrical standards require all dwellings to have a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) in wet areas and if you have a faulty GFCI in these areas the consequences can be dire. the GFCI is designed to protect you from electrical shock. If you think an RCD works when it doesn't, then you won't have that protection if you think it does. Something as simple as using a hair dryer with wet hands can cause a serious electrical shock.

RCDs are designed to trip when a ground fault is detected, which is an overload that occurs when current finds its way to ground through a faulty circuit or through a human body. This function differs from a circuit breaker, which trips when a short circuit is detected. In bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, basements, as well as areas exposed to the outdoors and covered by plumbing fixtures, there is a risk of electric shock due to a ground fault, so ground fault circuit interrupters must be installed in these areas.The 2020 edition of the National Electrical Code also requires GFCIs for HVAC equipment and indoor and outdoor equipment that cannot move in designated areas (e.g., pool pumps) protection.

GFCI self-testing vs. manual testing

For a GFCI receptacle to function, it must be capable of tripping, and if you do not have a self-test receptacle, you must test this function periodically with a test button. The self-test receptacle has an LED on the bottom of the receptacle. As long as it lights green, the socket is OK. When this light glows red, the plug must be replaced.

Self-testing GFCI outlets are becoming more common, especially in newer homes, but most homes have manual outlets without LEDs. all GFCIs can be tested manually, whether they are self-testing or not. On the front of the plug there are two buttons, the top one is the test button. If the buttons are color coded, the test button is the black button. The red button is the reset button.

How to test GFCI plugs

A two-pole voltage tester can be used to test a suspected faulty GFCI outlet, but a three-pole tester is best. With this inexpensive device you can determine if a wiring problem is causing the outlet to fail or if the outlet is defective. The plug testing procedure consists of three simple steps.

Step 1: Press the test button

If the power is on and the GFCI outlet is OK, you will hear a slight click, the test button will remain depressed and the outlet will turn off. If the button does not stay depressed, the power is off, no power is flowing through the outlet, or the outlet is damaged or improperly connected.

Step 2: Checking the power source

Connect the voltage tester to the power outlet and check the diode. If the tester light is still off, check the circuit breaker and reset it if it has tripped. If the breaker has tripped, look for other tripped breakers on the same circuit and reset them. If current is flowing, a lit light indicates faulty wiring in the outlet, if it is not lit, the outlet may be faulty. Contact an electrician to correct the faulty wiring or replace the outlet, as it is not suitable for DIY.

Step 3: Pressing the reset button

If the test button has been pressed and held in and the power to the socket has been cut off, you should be able to restore power by pressing the reset button. When you press it, you will hear another click and it should stay in. If it doesn't, this could be another sign that power is not flowing through the circuit. However, if you have checked the circuit breaker and other GFCIs and find no problem, it means the plug is defective and should be replaced.

Can a GFCI go bad?

Like any electrical appliance, GFCI outlets have an expected life span, typically about 15 years, after which they can fail, so GFCIs are often suspect in older homes. Overloading a GFCI plug by connecting too many appliances through the outlet can cause premature failure, and loose wires can cause arcing, which can overheat and melt the plastic. All outlets, not just GFCIs, can be damaged by excessive or improper use, for example, if the plug is forcibly pulled out, which weakens the internal terminals and causes the connections to loosen, resulting in repeated tripping of the plug.

GFCI plugs can also be damaged due to their location. If the outdoor plug is constantly exposed to moisture, the contacts can rust or weaken.The cause of a faulty GFCI plug can also be something that affects every circuit in the house, such as a transformer failure causing a power surge, or it could be another device on the same circuit as the GFCI.

How to check for a faulty GFCI

If the GFCI trips, it will not supply power and, therefore, the hair dryer or chain saw will not operate. If the GFCI trips at the beginning of the circuit, it will cut power to the entire circuit, so other outlets and lights on the circuit will also not work. The difference between a faulty GFCI plug and a good plug that just tripped is that on a good plug you can reset it, but if the circuit is faulty you cannot. This can occur if another RCD trips or shorts the circuit, tripping the circuit breaker controlling that circuit. Investigate these possibilities before deciding you have a faulty GFCI.

GFCI Troubleshooting Tips

GFCI outlets can fail in wet locations if they are not properly protected. All outdoor GFCIs should be housed in an electrical box suitable for outdoor use and should have a cover to protect them from rain and snow. If you intend to wire the GFCI yourself, be sure to do it properly. The connection points are not interchangeable like standard plugs and if the wiring is not correct the GFCI will not function properly. If in doubt, it is always safer to let an electrician do the wiring.