Thread: What happens with an incorrectly wired GFCI
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Dan Lanciani Dan Lanciani is offline
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Default What happens with an incorrectly wired GFCI
In article , zzzzzzzzzz ) writes:
| On Sat, 12 Mar 2011 13:52:58 -0800, David Nebenzahl
| wrote:
|
| Just a li'l anecdote for those who've always wondered what happens if
| you wire a GFCI to protect "downstream" outlets wrong (all 2 of
| you)--that is, if you mix up the "line" and "load" wires.
|
| The answer? Nothing.
|
| Installed a GFCI in a client's kitchen, thinking I'd need two, one for
| each outlet on a sink counter. It became clear, though, that they were
| in a chain, so I could protect both with just one GFCI. So I wired in
| the GFCI, wiring the downstream outlet on the "load" side, ass-u-ming
| that the position of the cables in the box indicated the upstream and
| downstream wiring respectively.
|
| Wrong.
|
| When I turned on the power, the GFCI's LED lit, but I couldn't reset the
| outlet, and both outlets were dead.
|
| Strange, when I made the same mistake the outlets worked normally but wouldn't
| trip on a "downstream" fault. The differential current sensing was on the
| wrong side of the device, so didn't detect the fault. I can't see how they'd
| fail the way you suggest.

Newer GFCIs are specifically designed to be idiot-proof in this respect.
They aren't failing; they are just helping you. Although older GFCIs
would not be damaged by the incorrect wiring, they wouldn't be able to
shut off the power to the local outlet even if they trip.

Dan Lanciani
ddl@danlan.*com
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