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Resource: Safe electric wiring
If garage freezer or basement sump pump are on GFCI circuits
GFCI notify ... alerts when GFCI has tripped
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Waterheatertimer on Twitter |
GFCI outlet will not reset Resource: Safe electric wiring If garage freezer or basement sump pump are on GFCI circuits GFCI notify ... alerts when GFCI has tripped |
Multimeter Test for breaks in wire/ Test for voltage Most appliance require 80% rated voltage to function correctly Buy Analog multimeter Multimeters at Amazon Klein multimeter Electric testers at Amazon Clampmeter for testing amp flow on line Resource: 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 any made of metal. Remove metal objects from pockets. Do not use oxygen or fuel accelerants in same room as electrical repairs Resource: Basic house wiring |
 Non-contact voltage tester 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 |
 120 volt 15 amp devices
including GFCI, timers, switches, plugs, wifi controls etc can be
installed on 15 or 20
amp
breaker.120 volt GFCI, outlet, receptacle that is rated 20 amp can be installed on 20 amp breaker only, but NOT on 15 amp breaker. Buy 15 amp GFCI 20 amp GFCI  |
Buy Basic electric book Home plumbing/ electrical codes  Or learn about basic household electricity... use and search my site/ Resource Safe electric wiring Basic house wiring |
 Use outlet tester to check for correct wiring on any 120 volt straight-blade outlet. Buy: Klein testers Outlet tester Circuit breaker finder Electric usage monitor |
 Non metallic flexible cables must carry ground wire, but do not have hazard of short circuit causing injury from shock. Armored steel cable can be used as a grounded connection, and will protect wires from damage. Metal can be energized from an insulation failure. All conduit ...metal, plastic ... flexible and rigid ... must be attached to structure, and attached to enclosures, boxes. Movement, damage and deterioration are major cause of electrical failure. Buy: Non-metallic flexible conduit Power whip Armored cable Southwire armored cable cutter Pull boxes |
 Electrical tools must be insulated. Always best to disconnect power, but insulation failure, lack of proper grounding, grounded neutral, lack of GFCI, out-of-code wiring, generator operating without transfer switch, and other problems still pose a risk to anyone working on electric power ... even when breaker is off. Buy: Electrician tools kits KLEIN TOOLS Tools kits IRWIN tools KNIPEX |
Connect wire to screw terminal Use only 600 volt solid copper wire. Do not use stranded wire or extension cord. Do not use solder anywhere on residential 120-240 volt wiring. Attach electric installation to structure. Tighten screws very tight against wire.  Buy: NEC books Dewalt plumbing/ electrical codes Basic electric book National electric code guide/ illustrated Resources: How to twist wire How to select and install twist-on wire connectors |
 Weatherproof
lever switch on outdoor lightsSafely operate outdoor toggle switch Replaces outdoor cover Install over top of ordinary switch Works with single-pole, double-pole, 3PST, 3-way, 4-way switches etc Use weatherproof box for outdoor Can be used indoor or outdoor Buy: Best choice: Cantex lever switch Outdoor lever switches at Amazon Lever switches Resource Cantex-toggle-switch-covers.pdf Cantex-PVC-junction-boxes.pdf |
Buy: |
Push-on wire connectors in place of twist-on connectorsBuy:Push on wire connectors Amazon Red 3P connector for 10-14 gauge wire Lever connectors for stranded wire at Amazon |
 Use nipper instead of pliers or screwdriver for removing staples (and nails). Do not damage cable or wires inside cable. Code -Cable SHALL BE secured without damage to the outer covering. NEC sec. 336-15 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 resistances on wire and creates weak point. Buy tools: Wire strippers at Amazon Linesman pliers Pro linesman plier Needle nose pliers End cutting nippers at Amazon |
 6" Pull box Junction boxes for conduit and wiring Buy: Bud industries 6x6x4 best value/ no KO Raco 6x6x4 metal pull box Wiegman 6x6x4 pull box Hoffman 6x6x4 pull box Adamax raintight enclosure Raintight 6x6x4 box Pull boxes Buy: Pull boxes Polycarbonite boxes Resource: Enclosures and boxes |
| 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
Unplug 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.
Do not use frayed cord ... or cord with loose ends, missing ground prong, damage covered with tape, damaged plug ... these issues are fire hazard, electrocution hazard  Resource:
Extension cord code and safety |
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 appliance
is wet, or damp, it can trip GFCI
If tool is dry and not obvious damage can be seen 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 |
 Combination GFCI Switch & plug Buy: Eaton Combination GFCI Combination GFCI Amazon Resources: How to wire GFCI combo |
 GFCI receptacle/ outlet Buy: Leviton GFCI receptacle 15 amp gfci outlet for 15-20 amp circuits 20 amp GFCI outlet for 20 amp circuits Decora wall-plates Resources: How to wire GFCI receptacle |
 Eaton GFCI nite lite Buy: Eaton GFCI w nite lite Legrand GFCI night light GFCI nite lights Amazon Resources: How to wire GFCI nite lite |
 Leviton GFCI with LED lite Buy: Leviton GFCI w nite light GFCI nite lights Amazon Slim design for ez install Resources: How to wire GFCI w/ LED |
 Contactors/ relays |
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 | Buy
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