pipedown wrote:
"terry" wrote in message
...
Ran a three wire #12 AWG (Black, Red, White plus ground) from 20 amp
DP breaker to a duplex NEMA 230 volt 15 amp outlet above a garage work
bench, (concrete floor), then extended 115 volts (Black, White and
ground) from it to two regular duplex 115 volt 15 amp outlets also
mounted above bench. Purpose of the 230 is that we have a couple of
230 volt tools. Purpose of the 115 v. outlets, regular tools and small
bench mounted grinder.

Thinking best way to GFCI all those outlets would be to have a GFCI
breaker, BUT; with either of 115 duplex in use there will be unequal
currents in the two legs of the GFCI breaker. So it will trip????

Is there such a thing as a standard North American 230 volt GFCI
outlet? And if so would it also protect any 115 outlets downstream of
it?

Or GFCI the first outlet following the 230 volt so it protects both of
the 115 volt ones? The 230 volt outlet then being non GFCI protected.
Or blank it off?

Same thing could occur with what here is called a 'split outlet' (can
double the capacity and/or allow two heavier appliances, especially
kitchens, plugged into both halves of same outlet) whereby the tab
between upper and lower halves of a duplex 115 volt outlet is removed
and opposite 115 volt legs wired to each half.

BTW; As a separate topic; while we have several GFCI protected outside
outlets, if necessary to extend power outside from a non GFCI outlet
inside the house we used a GFCI duplex outlet that is of a type that
does not provided downstream protection to other outlets and mounted
it on end of a substantial extension.

Comments welcome. TIA


Simply put, you cannot have a GFCI breaker for a 3 wire cable where two
seperate branches share the same neutral. The GFCI breaker requires
independent wiring of the neutral for each branch circuit.

The only way you can do it is with a GFCI receptacle in the first fixture on
each branch after the neutral is split. You can do a split outlet, you just
need to use two seperate neutrals and break the tabs off both sides of the
receptacles not just the hot side.

I don't really follow your GFCI the 230V first to get both115V logic but I
think a 230V GFCI breaker would cost more than a 3 pack of 120V GFCI
Receptacles. Easiest thing to do is put one in each required location and
not worry about downstream wiring.



Simply put your wrong. 120/240 GFCI breakers are available and they
work just fine thank you.
--
Tom Horne

"This alternating current stuff is just a fad. It is much too dangerous
for general use." Thomas Alva Edison