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Resource: Safe electric wiring
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GFCI outlet will not reset Resource: Safe electric wiring |
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Multimeter Test for breaks in wire/ Test for voltage. Typical appliance and electronics require 80% rated voltage to function correctly. Multimeter is essential for testing AC and DC voltage (set to voltage, up to 600V), test resistance and continuity (set to ohms). Analog multimeter is easiest to use and cheapest, but less precise than digital multimeter. Buy Analog multimeter Multimeters at Amazon Klein multimeter Electric testers at Amazon Clampmeter for testing amp flow on line Resources: How to test and replace element How to test thermocouple Element tests for 120 volts How to test wire |
Safety
when testing wires: Never touch wet or previously flooded appliance. Never stand on wet surface when working on electric. Never stand on bare soil, put down dry boards. Tape tester leads to wood sticks to keep hands away from power. Use non-contact voltage tester before touching wires. Never touch or lean into anything made of metal. Remove metal objects from pockets. Do not use oxygen or fuel accelerants in same room as electrical repairs Human contact with electricity Threshold of perception to 60 Hz AC between major extremities - 0.5mA . Muscle dysfunction "let go current1' - 9 mA. Respiratory paralysis - 30 mA . Heart dysfunction - 75 mA. Cardiac arrest - 4 amps. Hazardous potential threshold, skin contact - 40 V. Skin contact resistance - 1K-5K depending upon conditions. Body resistance between major extremities - 500 ohms (exclusive of skin). Skin effects disappear as voltage increases, higher potentials being able to pierce the skin's protective layer. Resource: What causes electrocution |
Testers Test for power without touching connectors NEVER assume power is OFF Buy: Non-contact voltage tester Amazon Electric testers at Amazon Resource: How to test electric power is off  Use outlet tester for correct wiring on any 120 volt straight-blade outlet, or use breaker finder to locate which outlets are on the circuit. Buy: Klein testers Outlet tester Circuit breaker finder Electric usage monitor |
| Buy Basic extremely detailed electric book at Amazon  Or learn about basic household electricity... use and search my site/ Resource All electric pages |
 Where electricity comes from and how it gets to home Resources See inside main breaker box What is 3-phase Difference between single-phase and 3-phase What causes electrocution |
15 amp GFCI can be installed on 15 or 20 amp breaker.20 amp GFCI can be installed on 20 amp breaker, but not 15 amp breaker Buy 15 amp GFCI 20 amp GFCI GFCI must be installed in Bathroom ,,,,, kitchen.....laundry room..... unfinished basement.... crawlspace.... garage wall outlets,.... outdoor outlets... any place you can come into contact with both voltage and water, or voltage and ground (earth). Using GFCI breaker instead of several GFCI outlets is good choice except more difficult to replace, and less accessible for testing. Caution: just 1 GFCI per circuit to ensure correct function.  For permanently wired GFCI (breakers and outlets), a monthly test is recommended. Press test button on GFCI to simulate fault condition. Reset ensures the device is functioning. **Portable type GFCI's should be tested each time before use. Some devices like power vented water heaters, and other electronic devices specify no GFCI ... a GFCI can cause error codes or malfunction on those devices. By code, you can install 15 amp device (or GFCI, outlet, switch, timer etc) on either 15 or 20 amp breaker. You can install 20 amp device on 20 amp breaker ... but NOT on 15 amp breaker. Resource: How to wire GFCI What causes electrocution |
 Use nipper instead of pliers or screwdriver for removing staples (and nails). Do not damage wire.  Damaged
wire is fire risk, and can cause circuit breaker tripping, and be
difficult to locate. If staple or nail has cut into cable,
carefully
inspect wire to see if the wire insulation has been pierced. Wire may
need to be replaced, or tape added over damage. Best to replace.Buy End cutting nippers at Amazon   When removing insulation from wire, do NOT score or put cuts on surface of copper wire. Doing so increases resistance on wire and creates weak point. Use wire stripper and not knife. Buy tools: Wire strippers at Amazon Linesman pliers Pro linesman plier Needle nose pliers End cutting nippers at Amazon |
 Insulated
lever switch on outdoor lightsOperate outdoor toggle switch safely ... and easily Replaces outdoor cover. Install over top of ordinary toggle switch. Works with single-pole, double-pole, 3PST, 3-way, 4-way switches etc. Buy: Best choice: Cantex lever switch Outdoor lever switches at Amazon  Weather resistant plastic box for outdoor extension cord connections, Christmas light controls, power strip etc . Not for connecting wires with wire nuts, or permanent in-wall wiring. \can be used indoors to organize extension cord connections etc. Buy: Large-medium-small electric cord box Socketbox Raintight enclosures  Cord lock ... for weatherproof extension cord connections Buy: Water-tight cord lock |
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| GFCI will not reset? Either A) Ground fault (short) is detected. or B) GFCI device has gone bad. |
 OMG .... I have to read ? |
 Basic:1) GFCI outlets have 2 buttons: Test and Reset Test button
simulates fault condition and trips the GFCI
2) GFCI can be wired two ways:When GFCI is tripped off, press Reset button to restore function. The GFCI protects 1
outlet and no other outlets
The GFCI is wired to protect other downstream outlets Action: 3) If Reset button will NOT remain pushed inward... Then check if GFCI
is connected to other outlets or just 1 outlet
Uunplug cords, appliances and devices from GFCI. Press reset again. If GFCI is wired to protect more than 1 outlet, then unplug cords, appliances and device from all outlets connected on the GFCI circuit. Press Reset again. |
4) If GFCI is able to Reset with everything unplugged Then plug each cord
or device back in one
at a time to narrow down source of fault.
|
 5) If GFCI trips again when cord is
plugged inLook for obvious
causes. Use nose and eyes to check extension cords for signs of burning
and cuts.
Resource:
Extension cord code and safetyDo not use frayed cord... fire hazard, electrocution hazard |
6) Damp/ wet location Extension cords or
equipment on wet grass or in water can trip GFCI.
Let the cords and electrical devices dry out. Then plug into outlet again |
6) Faulty electric fan or tool can trip GFCI. If tool or applaince
is wet, or damp, it can trip GFCI
If tool is dry and not obvious damage can be seeen Plug tool into another GFCI. Replace faulty appliance, tool etc. |
7) Older motor, or motorized appliance can trip AFCI (arc fault interrupter) AFCI has similar characteristics to GFCI, but will trip if arc (sparking) is detected. GFCI will trip if electric power is flowing to ground. But GFCI will NOT trip with internal sparking of a motor. If the outlet is rated AFCI instead of GFCI, then older appliance motors can create enough spark during normal operation to trip AFCI. Replace outlet with
GFCI if allowed by local code, or buy new appliance.
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 8) If Reset button will NOT remain pushed inward after all devices are unplugged, then GFCI outlet is suspect. Check wiring. -Remove outlet cover
and look at screw terminals on GFCI
device.
-If wires are present on Line screws but no wires on Load screws,
then GFCI device is bad.
Replace GFCI Buy: 15 amp GFCI Resource: How to wire GFCI |
 9) If Reset button will NOT remain pushed inward after all devices are unplugged, and wires are present on all 4 screw terminals, then pull GFCI out and look at back of device for markings that show Line and Load. -Disconnect LOAD
wires but leave LINE wires and then see if GFCI
resets.... this will indicate if short is in downstream outlets or
wiring.
-If short is not downstream, then replace GFCI |
 9) If GFCI will reset, with downstream wires
disconnectedThen ground fault is
down-circuit on the LOAD wire.
Test each device connected to LOAD wire. e) If short is downstream, then more investigation and testing is required... Resource: How to find short circuit How to test each device on the LOAD wire. Since GFCI is tripped, all devices (outlets, switches, lights etc) on LOAD wire will be turned off. Check which outlets and switches are turned off. Unplug appliances from outlets and see if GFCI resets. Turn off light switches and see if GFCI resets. Starting at the farthest device, disconnect each device from LOAD wire and check if GFCI resets. More resources: How-to-wire-GFCI See-inside-main-breaker-box Basic water heater circuit |
| 15
amp GFCI can be installed on 15 or 20 amp breaker. 20 amp GFCI can be installed on 20 amp breaker, but not 15 amp breaker  Buy
15 amp GFCI 20 amp GFCI |
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