GFCI/grounding probe help....

[moreef]

Hi,

I installed a GFCI and want to run an extension cord to the back of the stand and then plug a power strip or two into the extension cord. Will everything to the power strips be protected? I will not come close to exceeding the max watts of the extension cord.

I also have a grounding probe that won't reach from the GFCI outlet can I plug the probe into the power strip? I do have another outlet ( non GFI ) that I can use. Both outlets are in use, but I could use the metal clip thing and attach it to that receptacles ground or even the screw to the box.

BTW I sure hope everyone here is using GFCI

Thanks, Eric

 

[Sacohen]

My understanding of GFCI is everything after the GCFI outlet on that circuit is protected.
So if you have other outlet that come after the GCFI they will be protected as well.

But the answer to your question is Yes the power strips will be protected as well.
To me that would mean the grounding probe would be protected.

I had to do the same thing, for some reason the plug to the grounding probe would not plug into the outlet so I plugedt it into a strip.

 

[moreef]

Thanks Sacohen. I do know the GFCI outlet is at the end of the line cause it only has 2 wires. I wanted to use the outlet behind the stand but one of the outlets is controlled by a switch on the wall and it looked way too hard. It had a mini fuse attached to a few red wires.

 

[ReeferBob]

You can replace any electrical outlet in your house with a GFI outlet. There should be no confusion as to how to wire it. Just wire it as the original one is wired, the terminals are the same. Black on the right, white on the left (as you look at it from the front).

You can also replace the breaker switch in the breaker box with a GFI breaker to protect the entire circuit.

 

[moreef]

Thanks Bob, The outlet I wanted to use had 2 red wires connected to what looked like a fuse. Never seen that before and didn't feel comfortable doing it so I installed it at another location and ran and extension cord in some raceway to the stand.

I do have a grounding probe that either plugs into an outlet or you can use the clip attached near the plug and clip it on the outlet ground or a screw in the box. Could I just plug this into one of my powerstrips or should I attach the clip to the grounding screw in the box? Both outlets in that box are in use.

 

[ReeferBob]

Any ground should work. You powerstrip should have all grounded outlets.

 

[moreef]

cool that's what i was thinking, Thanks for your advice

 

[Eggs]

There should be no confusion as to how to wire it. Just wire it as the original one is wired, the terminals are the same. Black on the right, white on the left (as you look at it from the front)

There's alittle more to this. You have to make sure the incoming hot/neutral wires from the power source (from breaker) is connected to the "Line", and the outgoing hot/neautral wires connected to the "Load" - these are marked on the back of the GFI receptacle (The "Line" is generally on the bottom, and the "Load" the top - but that would depend on how you have the receptacle oriented).

The outgoing "Load" goes to the additional outlets you want covered with the GFI protection. If you have them wired backwards, the receptacle will work, but you won't have GFI protection on the outlets down stream.

 

[Sacohen]

You can replace any electrical outlet in your house with a GFI outlet. There should be no confusion as to how to wire it. Just wire it as the original one is wired, the terminals are the same. Black on the right, white on the left (as you look at it from the front).

You can also replace the breaker switch in the breaker box with a GFI breaker to protect the entire circuit.

You can not have multiple GFCI outlets on the same circuit.

If you place one on a circuit everything after it will be protected, but having multiple on the same circuit will cause it to trip constantly.

 

[moreef]

I wimped out and used the outlet at the end of the chain with only 2 wires. Anyone know what the fuze connected with 2 red wires is for? It looks just like the one in my car's fuze box. This outlet is a combo with one hot and one on a switch.