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This question requires answering by a VERY knowledgable electrician, or an electrical engineer. I am neither, but until the right answer comes along, I will attempt to provide some information which hopefully will allow a better understanding of the issues involved. A GFCI [ground fault circuit interrupter] is much different from, although similar to, a circuit breaker. The DIFFERENCE is WHAT they are designed to detect and react to. The purpose of a fuse or circuit breaker is to detect excess or MASSIVE current flow [ie. a SHORT CIRCUIT, a direct short to ground], and then very quickly turn off the electrical current to the circuit, in order TO PREVENT a FIRE. This is the only thing the breaker is designed and intended to do. This limited capability will not prevent a person from being electrocuted when a fault occurs within an electrical device, if the current flow happens to be low. Voltage and current faults which can kill a person usually will not be detected by a circuit breaker. A ground fault circuit interrupter [GFCI], on the other hand, is designed to, and will, detect those low level currents which can kill a person, BUT which are not great enough to trip a breaker. When a GFCI detects potentially dangerous current it, like a breaker, trips in order to open the circuit. Now as to WHY, when you placed two GFCIs in series [one in the breaker panel feeding one in an electrical receptacle], the first GFCI tripped when the second GFCI is "tested." When you press the TEST BUTTON on a GFCI it puts a high resistance load on the circuit, which simulates a "small" ground fault, and I think both GFCIs "see" the same fault and react as designed and intended. Again, a true professional should "bless" my comments, but I think that there is no danger or hazard in placing two GFCIs in series. On the contrary, I think there is redundant capability in the pairing, with the first GFCI functioning with, and as a backup to, the second. I suggest you contact your local electrial inspection department regarding what the code(s) say about this issue, and also call the tech support people at the 800 number on the packaging for the GFCIs. Another source of information is a local electrical engineer, if you know someone who can help you make contact. Until a more informed answer comes along, I hope this helps you to understand the issues involved.

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13y ago
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12y ago

One is enough. If you have a 20 amp GFI for a 20 amp ckt. The load on any number of outlets being protected by the GFI that exceeds the 20 amp ckt. capacity should be on a separate 20 amp ckt. with its own GFI protection.

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12y ago

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters come in two basic types. The circuit breaker in your electric panel and as an outlet. In both cases only one GFCI should protect a circuit. Have no idea what you have in mind since a GFCI is not typically defined as a switch and you only need a single GFCI to protect circuit at the rating of the GFCI.

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13y ago

yes

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Q: How many gfci outlets can you have on one circuit?
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Can you control 10 outlets with one 20 amp GFCI outlet on one 20 amp circuit?

Yes. I know of no limits to how many regular receptacles (outlets) you can "piggy back" onto one GFCI receptacle. However, in commercial and industrial construction there are limits to how many receptacles can be placed on any one circuit. These limits in the United States and according to the NEC are: 10 receptacles on a 15 amp circuit and 13 receptacles on a 20 amp circuit.


Do all electrical outlets in a garage need to be GFCI?

Yes, but you can feed multiple outlets from one GFCI outlet. Make the first outlet fed in the cicuit a GFCI. Search for GFCI outlet with Google, etc. and I'm sure you will find an explanantion of how. Most GFCI's come with instructions also.


How do you determine if an outlet is after or before the gfci?

GFCI receptacle has the ability to protect all receptacles down stream from the device. One way to see what is on the circuit after the GFCI is to trip (test) the device. Every thing that is connected downstream will shut off and there will be no voltage present to test. Any outlets ahead or upstream of the device on the same circuit will not be effected. <<>> Trip the gici. If the outlet goes out it's after, if not, it's before.


GFCI outlet outside this line feeds your two bathrooms can you install gfci outlets in these 2 bathrooms?

Yes. You can wire more than one gfci to a circut.


All of the outlets in one room in your basement quit working none of the breakers are tripped what might cause this and how can it be repaired?

They're either connected to a tripped/faulty GFCI, or you have a loose hot wire somwhere in the circuit.

Related questions

Can you control 10 outlets with one 20 amp GFCI outlet on one 20 amp circuit?

Yes. I know of no limits to how many regular receptacles (outlets) you can "piggy back" onto one GFCI receptacle. However, in commercial and industrial construction there are limits to how many receptacles can be placed on any one circuit. These limits in the United States and according to the NEC are: 10 receptacles on a 15 amp circuit and 13 receptacles on a 20 amp circuit.


Can a circuit with a GFCI be shared at the box?

Your question is a bit vague, but let's try a two part answer. If you have a GFCI breaker in an electric panel you should only have one connection at the breaker, but the breaker will protect all devices on the circuit. If you are talking about a GFCI outlet, they are equipped to extend the GFCI protection to other non-GFCI outlets by using the proper "output" connection on the GFCI.


What is ELCB distribution box?

An ELCB (Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker) distribution box is a type of electrical box that is used for electrical GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) outlets. This is the type of outlet that requires a three-prong plug in, one wire of which is grounded. GFCI outlets are set up so that if there is a circuit overload, the outlet is shut off until it is reset, manually.


What is distribution box?

An ELCB (Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker) distribution box is a type of electrical box that is used for electrical GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) outlets. This is the type of outlet that requires a three-prong plug in, one wire of which is grounded. GFCI outlets are set up so that if there is a circuit overload, the outlet is shut off until it is reset, manually.


Do all electrical outlets in a garage need to be GFCI?

Yes, but you can feed multiple outlets from one GFCI outlet. Make the first outlet fed in the cicuit a GFCI. Search for GFCI outlet with Google, etc. and I'm sure you will find an explanantion of how. Most GFCI's come with instructions also.


How do you determine if an outlet is after or before the gfci?

GFCI receptacle has the ability to protect all receptacles down stream from the device. One way to see what is on the circuit after the GFCI is to trip (test) the device. Every thing that is connected downstream will shut off and there will be no voltage present to test. Any outlets ahead or upstream of the device on the same circuit will not be effected. <<>> Trip the gici. If the outlet goes out it's after, if not, it's before.


How many outlets can you have on a gfi breaker?

Depends on the breaker. If the load at the outlets is unknown then the standard rules of 80% apply. You can only load a circuit 80% of it's maximum value. For instance, if you're connecting your GFCI outlets to a 15 amp breaker you can only have a maximum of 12 outlets. If it's a 20 Amp breaker then you're allowed up to 16 outlets and so on. In the US, you are limited to 13 receptacles on a 20 amp circuit and 10 receptacles on a 15 amp circuit in commercial or industrial installations. Any or all of these can be gfci-protected. You can install one gfci, the first one from the panel, and protect any or all the others from that one.


Can you have two bathrooms on one run?

Yes. Also on GFCI you can run output to second bathroom outlet and will be protected. Great thanks. That make more since, because there's only four outlets for both plus the lights on a 20a run Is it considered better to run the circuit through one GFCI outlet or is that to cut cost. I don't mind buying four GFCI outlets and adding the extra pig tail wires, specially if it might work better


GFCI outlet outside this line feeds your two bathrooms can you install gfci outlets in these 2 bathrooms?

Yes. You can wire more than one gfci to a circut.


What is the wiring and gfci for a bathtab jacuzzi?

Connect incoming power to the line side of GFCI outlet and plug Jacuzzi into the outlet. Must be on a dedicated circuit. If it has a pump and heater then each one must be on dedicated GFCI protected circuit.


All of the outlets in one room in your basement quit working none of the breakers are tripped what might cause this and how can it be repaired?

They're either connected to a tripped/faulty GFCI, or you have a loose hot wire somwhere in the circuit.


What can you do if your newly installed GFCI keeps tripping unless you detach all the other outlets in the room but all outlets are wired correctly?

Is the GFCI wired correctly. Voltage in goes to LINE. Voltage out goes to LOAD. Ground wires connect together and connected to ground on GFCI. All screws tight. If all this is correct and you have no loose wires on any of the outlets and no wires are shorted out in any of the outlets then more than likely you have a defective GFCI. Replace it with another one. I get bad ones all the time.