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No relationship exists between a GFCI and a surge protector. GFCI protects a human. Surge protector protects a transistor.

Most transistorized appliances already contain some robust surge protection. A protector is often unnecessary except for rare events that might occur maybe once every seven years.

GFCI is essential to protecting humans especially in locations that have water such as bathrooms and kitchen. GFCI is so important in some locations as to be required by safety codes for over 40 years.

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Q: What is better gfi outlet or surge protector?
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What happens when you plug a GFI plug into an extension cord and plug it in to a regular outlet?

It may work but will probably surge it...power coming in from both directions


The light on my gfi outlet is dim and sometimes out i am getting no power to it but the circuit breaker is not tripped i just replaced the gfi and it didn't help any ideas?

If the GFI outlet is tripped (the outlet, not the breaker) then it is telling you there is a ground fault which must be fixed. If the GFI outlet is not tripped, and the breaker is not tripped, but it is still not providing power, then you have a loose connection or a wiring error.


Why do CFL's keep blowing in my lamp that is pluged into a GFI outlet?

Are you sure it is the bulb that its blowing and not the Gfi tripping? Try resetting the gfi. Also try swithing to an incandescent bulb and test your gfi. Also test the cfl in a non-gfi outlet. Cfls return power they don't use and may make the gfi trip. I am not an electrician, just personal experience.


GFI electrical outlet at the garage where the freezer hook up keeps on tripping but when plug at the electrical outlet of the garage door openner does not trip. What is mostly the problem?

Electric motors and GFI's do not get along. the initial draw to get the compressor going is usually enough to trip the GFI. Turn the breaker off and switch the GFI for a regular outlet and you will solve your problem.


If an outdoor outlet gets wet will it trip the gfi breaker?

Answer If it doesn't trip, then the logic sensor is bad and the whole thing needs to be replaced. A residential grade gfi is about five bucks and is relatively easy to replace. Turn the power off first. This failure was common with older style GFCIs that could be surge damaged and then fail to protect human life. Newer designs will (should) not reset if a GFCI has been damaged.

Related questions

What happens when you plug a GFI plug into an extension cord and plug it in to a regular outlet?

It may work but will probably surge it...power coming in from both directions


The light on my gfi outlet is dim and sometimes out i am getting no power to it but the circuit breaker is not tripped i just replaced the gfi and it didn't help any ideas?

If the GFI outlet is tripped (the outlet, not the breaker) then it is telling you there is a ground fault which must be fixed. If the GFI outlet is not tripped, and the breaker is not tripped, but it is still not providing power, then you have a loose connection or a wiring error.


Why do CFL's keep blowing in my lamp that is pluged into a GFI outlet?

Are you sure it is the bulb that its blowing and not the Gfi tripping? Try resetting the gfi. Also try swithing to an incandescent bulb and test your gfi. Also test the cfl in a non-gfi outlet. Cfls return power they don't use and may make the gfi trip. I am not an electrician, just personal experience.


GFI electrical outlet at the garage where the freezer hook up keeps on tripping but when plug at the electrical outlet of the garage door openner does not trip. What is mostly the problem?

Electric motors and GFI's do not get along. the initial draw to get the compressor going is usually enough to trip the GFI. Turn the breaker off and switch the GFI for a regular outlet and you will solve your problem.


How do you replace a GFCI outlet?

The GFI outlet was there for a reason, such as a bathroom or other location around water where there is more risk of a shock being harmful or lethal. If it was a GFI, keep it a GFI. Also that outlet may be protecting other standard outlets being fed from the GFI. You can only after the house has passed inspection after the house was finished being built. It's a requirement that all new houses have to have a GFI wherever there's water, but it's perfectly legal once you buy the house to do this modification. However, it's highly not recommended unless there's more than one GFI outlet hooked up to the same circuit. If there's more than one, it's optional to take one off and replace it with a standard outlet because you really only need 1 GFI outlet to protect the rest of the outlets on the same circuit. But if it's already there, just leave it as is. Example: power box>GFI>normal>normal>GFI>normal; end; You can take off the second GFI and and every normal non-GFI outlet will function like GFI. If you take off the left one, only the last normal outlet will be GFI protected, the ons to the left wouldn't.


If an outdoor outlet gets wet will it trip the gfi breaker?

Answer If it doesn't trip, then the logic sensor is bad and the whole thing needs to be replaced. A residential grade gfi is about five bucks and is relatively easy to replace. Turn the power off first. This failure was common with older style GFCIs that could be surge damaged and then fail to protect human life. Newer designs will (should) not reset if a GFCI has been damaged.


Can you add an outlet onto the gfi next to the circuit breaker panel?

If t hat GFI is the only plug on the circuit then yes. If there are other plugs you have to find out how many so that you don't exceed the capacity of that circuit. If the GFI is the only plug there, turn the power off to it at it's breaker and run the appropriate wire to the new plug you want to install. Wire in the new plug, then make the connections at the old GFI plug. Always work towards the power, even if the circuit is dead. It's good practice. This way you rarely if ever have to work on live circuits. Start at the furthest point in the circuit away from the electrical panel and work toward it. You can have the new outlet protected by the GFI if you connect the wires from the new outlet to the LOAD side of the GFI. If the GFI is still new there is usually a yellow sticker covering the screws, those 2 screws are the LOAD side meaning that if anything happens downstream on that circuit to make a GFI trip the GFI will sense it and turn the circuit off. If you want just a standard outlet then put the new wires on the same screws as the old wires on the GFI. Once you're done, and all the boxes are closed and safe, turn the breaker back on.


Why would an in line fan work on a GFCI outlet then trip the outlet and Nothing changed?

gfi is going bad or you are leaking 3 mA or more current to ground


Does a food waste disposal wire have to be in conduit?

Not in residential use. Most use a cord plugged in to a GFI outlet.


Is an outlet plug that says gfci on it but doesn't have a reset button really a gfci outlet?

It depends. It could be improperly installed. Outlets can be GFI protected by using a GFI rated breaker in the main panel box. Look for a breaker in the panel box that has a push to test button on it. Press the push to test button then plug something into the outlet to see if it still works. If the breaker turns off the power then it is GFI protected. To reset it flip the breaker to the fully of position then back to the on position.


What is the application and use of circuit protection equipment?

A fuse (old technology), a circuit breaker, a ground fault interrupter (GFI), and a surge protector designed to shunt surges such as lightning strikes to ground. GFI outlets are required when located near plumbing. Whole house surge protectors are available and, even though expensive, can keep a lightning strike from frying a houseful of electronics.


What is the minimum distance from the rim of a kitchen sink can you install a GFCI receptaclel?

An electrical outlet can not be placed behind a sink. If the outlet is witin 6 feet of a sink it must be GFI protected.