GFCI Outlets?
Question:I want to change the old non-GFCI electrical outlets near kitchen sink to GFCI outlets. Is this is DIY project or should I hire a professional electrician?
Answers:
Just changing the outlets won't cut it. The outlet needs to be grounded. Unless the existing wiring in your house has grounds already in the wiring, it's not a DIY project.
[quote] "Of course, most safety-conscious electricians prefer not to install a grounded-type "three prong" outlet in an ungrounded situation. Think about it... once the outlet is installed, there is no way for anyone to know if the outlet is really grounded or not without testing it. Thus, there is a hidden shock hazard should an appliance or tool that needs grounding... has three-prong plug... is plugged into this outlet.
However, the NEC allows GFI's to be installed in ungrounded situations PROVIDED THAT the outlet is labelled "ungrounded". Though not "officially" approved in the NEC, the grounding hole in the GFI can be permanently defeated by using an epoxy or other adhesive to seal the hole." [quote]
If you turn off the power at your box it shouldnt be a BIG project... Go for it...
GFCI outlets (Ground Fault Current Interrupter) are a piece of cake to install if you even have a basic understanding of electricity, but make sure you turn off the power first.
you can easily DIY but make sure the breaker is off.as long as the existing outlets have a ground wire then you are ok.unless your house is really old, then it should have grounds.
Most people can do this. Turn the power off. Verify (with a tester) that the power is OFF. Remove the old outlet. Carefully arrange the wires so that they are not touching each other or any metal (the electrical box etc.). Turn the power on and see which set of wires are "hot" (if there is more than one pair of wires in the box). Turn the power OFF, and verify that it is OFF at the outlet box. Connect the wires which were "hot" to the terminal screws marked "LINE" on the GFCI outlet, and the other wires to the screw terminals or slots marked "LOAD". The white wires go to the silver screws, and the black wire go to the brass or copper colored screws, and the bare or green wires go to the green colored ground screw. If there is NO grounding wire, this is OK, and allowable by the NEC (National Electrical Code) to install the GFCI outlet without a grounding wire in situations (older installations) where no ground exists. Of course, the use of a ground is best where possible. A properly installed GFCI outlet will protect the rest of the outlets "down stream" (outlets connected in that circuit that come after the GFCI outlet). If this sounds too complicated, the are excellent easy to read do-it -yourself electrical books at hardware stores which clearly show how to do this, or you can get some help from someone with experience. Good Luck!!
not a big thing turn off power and replace outlets with the gfci make sure you have a ground in the outlets for the gfci
I think Thor's answer is good. I would suggest that you buy a GFCI tester to use after you have completed your install (about $7). I never trust the one that is built in to the GFCI itself. Test the outlet you converted and any additional outlets down line that are connected to it.
More Related Questions & Answers...