"Dick" wrote in message
...
We are redoing our kitchen & I want to put in GFI outlets (house is 30 yrs
old) in the kitchen. I believe I have read that that one GFI outlet in a
circuit will protect the whole circuit.....If this is true, can the GFI
outlet be installed in any of the kitchen outlets (as long as it's the
same
circuit) or the first one.....closest to the breaker box? How do determine
which one (that will protect the whole circuit) or should I just go ahead
&
pull all GFI outlets near the sink?



Not an electrician.But here is what I know.

A GFI can be wired to protect outlets that come after that point in a
circuit but nothing that comes before. They are required where an outlet is
within 6 foot of an open water source like a sink, tub or toilet bowl. They
are required on all exterior outlets. They are also required in garages and
unfinished basements.

How can you trace a circuit? It just takes time. Start by identifying
everything that is affected when a breaker is turned off. Then you open the
boxes and look. If there are only 3 (white, black and bare) wires it the box
that is a single outlet circuit or it is at the end of the circuit. Six
wires indicates power in and power out. Generally the closer a box is to the
service panel the closer it is to the beginning of a circuit.

If you are redoing your kitchen you may want to do a general upgrade by
adding an extra circuit or two. We use a lot more electric in our kitchens
today than we did 30 years ago. It seems like a general thing that most 20
amp kitchen circuits only have one or 2 outlets on them any more. The MW is
the only item on that circuit. Most times the Fridge is by itself. DW and
disposal each get their own. About half the breakers in a modern panel
service the kitchen.

Colbyt