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Why not GFCI everywhere?
I think that GFCI outlet look smarter than the regular outlets. Is
there a reason, other than cost) not to use them everywhere in the house? Thanks! Aaron Fude |
Why not GFCI everywhere?
On Mar 12, 11:03 am, wrote:
I think that GFCI outlet look smarter than the regular outlets. Is there a reason, other than cost) not to use them everywhere in the house? Thanks! Aaron Fude I believe that they are not recommended for use wherever medical equipment may be installed, if that is a concern. If you like the look of the GFCI devices, check out the "Decora" line of wiring devices; they look pretty much like a GFCI without the buttons. nate |
Why not GFCI everywhere?
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Why not GFCI everywhere?
On Mar 12, 12:03 pm, wrote:
I think that GFCI outlet look smarter than the regular outlets. Is there a reason, other than cost) not to use them everywhere in the house? You think they look better? I don't think the push buttons add to the aesthetic, but different strokes and all that. http://members.tripod.com/~masterslic/FAQ-2/6.html Not definitive, but it makes valid points. R |
Why not GFCI everywhere?
On 12 Mar 2007 09:03:19 -0700, wrote:
I think that GFCI outlet look smarter than the regular outlets. Is there a reason, other than cost) not to use them everywhere in the house? By "look smarter", are you thinking of the shape of wall plate needed? You can get non-GFCI outlets shaped like that, and they cost a lot less than GFCI ones. There's switches shaped like that too. Thanks! Aaron Fude Also, I prefer white to ivory. The ivory plates look like they're always dirty. -- Mark Lloyd http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com "How could you ask me to believe in God when there's absolutely no evidence that I can see?" -- Jodie Foster |
Why not GFCI everywhere?
On 12 Mar 2007 09:09:53 -0700, "N8N" wrote:
On Mar 12, 11:03 am, wrote: I think that GFCI outlet look smarter than the regular outlets. Is there a reason, other than cost) not to use them everywhere in the house? Thanks! Aaron Fude I believe that they are not recommended for use wherever medical equipment may be installed, if that is a concern. As well as refrigerators and freezers, where an unexpected trip while you're out can have expensive (and smelly) consequences. If you like the look of the GFCI devices, check out the "Decora" line of wiring devices; they look pretty much like a GFCI without the buttons. nate The Lowe's here has a lot of Decora style receptacles and switches. They're as easy to find as the conventional style ones. -- Mark Lloyd http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com "How could you ask me to believe in God when there's absolutely no evidence that I can see?" -- Jodie Foster |
Why not GFCI everywhere?
On Mon, 12 Mar 2007 09:03:19 -0700, aaronfude wrote:
I think that GFCI outlet look smarter than the regular outlets. Is there a reason, other than cost) not to use them everywhere in the house? Thanks! Aaron Fude More parts = lower reliability. Most outlets seem to have a huge lifetime, but GFCI is nowhere near the life of a standard outlet. But when opportunity presented itself, I did install GFCI and some AFCI breakers in my panel eventhough they were not strictly required. |
Why not GFCI everywhere?
wrote in message oups.com... I think that GFCI outlet look smarter than the regular outlets. Is there a reason, other than cost) not to use them everywhere in the house? Thanks! Aaron Fude Well, aside from expense... They can occassionally be a pain to shove in a box, and you sure don't want a nuisance trip on your refrigerator. If those don't matter to you, go for it! |
Why not GFCI everywhere?
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Why not GFCI everywhere?
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Why not GFCI everywhere?
This may be reality if your local government adopts the 2008 code.
AFCI protection will be required on all 15 and 20a circuits in 2008. That includes 30ma or 5ma ground fault protection by design Sounds like revenue generation. AFCIs are not all that they are tauted to be. So far. They will improve. It is premature to require them in 1 or 2 years. Sounds like the lobbyists are earning their huge salaries. |
Why not GFCI everywhere?
wrote:
In article , says... This may be reality if your local government adopts the 2008 code. AFCI protection will be required on all 15 and 20a circuits in 2008. [Residential, 120V] My usual question - from your vast connection to the rumor mill, what is the status of the new "combination" AFCIs. Do physical manifestations of this mythical creation exist? Will they soon? Many manufacturers? Do they actually work? Hope the added volume brings down the cost of AFCI breakers a bit. After 1-1-08 AFCIs must be of a new type that detects "series" arcs in addition to "parallel" arcs that are now detected. In its omniscient wisdom, and in an example of exquisite timing, the code requires that these new AFCIs, last I heard nonexistent, be installed 'everywhere'. Do you suppose the prices will go down soon? -- bud-- |
Why not GFCI everywhere?
On 12 Mar 2007 09:09:53 -0700, "N8N" wrote:
On Mar 12, 11:03 am, wrote: I think that GFCI outlet look smarter than the regular outlets. Is there a reason, other than cost) not to use them everywhere in the house? Thanks! Aaron Fude I believe that they are not recommended for use wherever medical equipment may be installed, if that is a concern. Anywhere where its very important that the circut not go dead when it doesn't have to, you shouldn't use GFCIs. That's mostly refridgeration, medical equipment, sump-pumps, emergency lighting, and heavy fixed equipment. For regular convenience outlets, no, I can think of no reason other than cost not to use GFCIs. |
Why not GFCI everywhere?
On Mon, 12 Mar 2007 15:18:48 -0600, Bud--
wrote: After 1-1-08 AFCIs must be of a new type that detects "series" arcs in addition to "parallel" arcs that are now detected. In its omniscient wisdom, and in an example of exquisite timing, the code requires that these new AFCIs, last I heard nonexistent, be installed 'everywhere'. Do you suppose the prices will go down soon? I don't know anything about this, but if no one sells them, the prices should go up. A customer is in a grocery when a guy comes in and asks how much the tomatoes are. The owner says 3 dollars a pound. The guy says, The store down the street charges 2 dollars a pound. So buy them there, the grocer says. He's out of tomatoes, the guy says. Well, the grocer says, when I'm out of them, I charge a dollar a pound. |
Why not GFCI everywhere?
In article .com,
wrote: I think that GFCI outlet look smarter than the regular outlets. Is there a reason, other than cost) not to use them everywhere in the house? Thanks! Aaron Fude I'm still waiting to hear a good reason why ANY should be used :) Seriously, if you like the look, outlets swtichers, and cover plates with similar style are available at somewhat higher cost than standard items. Oh, you would not want to use a GFCI on for instance, a refrigerator circuit, because of "nuisance" trips. -- There is always an easy solution to every human problem -- neat, plausible, and wrong." (Mencken) Larry Wasserman - Baltimore Maryland - lwasserm(a)sdf.lonestar.org |
Why not GFCI everywhere?
wrote:
On Mon, 12 Mar 2007 15:18:48 -0600, Bud-- wrote: My usual question - from your vast connection to the rumor mill, what is the status of the new "combination" AFCIs. Do physical manifestations of this mythical creation exist? Will they soon? Many manufacturers? Do they actually work? Siemens says they have done it and they even claim the "series arc" device is working. That has always been the holy grail. "Combination" device only refers to an arc on the load side of the receptacle as well as in wall wiring but it is still only parallel arcs. A good source of information on AFCIs is:: http://www.iaei.org/subscriber/magaz...gregmanche.htm from IAEI News, January/February 2003,The Truth About AFCIs (Part 1) (part 2 is at http://www.iaei.org/subscriber/magaz...gregmanche.htm According to the article, AFCIs aren’t specified to detect either series or parallel arcs. The currently required “Branch/feeder” AFCIs are required to detect 75A arcs. That will detect parallel arcs, but not series arcs. “Outlet circuit” AFCIs are required to detect 5A arcs, which will detect series and parallel arcs. The “Combination” AFCIs required by the NEC on 1-1-08 combine “Outlet circuit” and “Branch/feeder” requirements, so they will detect both series and parallel arcs. -- bud-- |
Why not GFCI everywhere?
On Mar 13, 12:06 am, (Larry W) wrote:
Seriously, if you like the look, outlets swtichers, and cover plates with similar style are available at somewhat higher cost than standard items. Several people read this the way you did, but I'm pretty confident that the original poster isn't talking about the aesthetics. Substitute "appear to me to be a better choice" for "look smarter". |
Why not GFCI everywhere?
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Why not GFCI everywhere?
Chris Hill wrote:
On 12 Mar 2007 09:03:19 -0700, wrote: I think that GFCI outlet look smarter than the regular outlets. Is there a reason, other than cost) not to use them everywhere in the house? Put your hand on one that has been running for a while. The closest one to me always stays warm. Sounds like a waste of electricity to put them everywhere. GFI outlets don't "use" electricity...they monitor it for miniscule shorts...which can be deadly where there is water...which is why they also aren't used in every circuit. |
Why not GFCI everywhere?
On Mar 15, 11:52 am, curmudgeon wrote:
Chris Hill wrote: On 12 Mar 2007 09:03:19 -0700, wrote: I think thatGFCIoutlet look smarter than the regular outlets. Is there a reason, other than cost) not to use themeverywherein the house? Put your hand on one that has been running for a while. The closest one to me always stays warm. Sounds like a waste of electricity to put themeverywhere. GFI outlets don't "use" electricity...they monitor it for miniscule shorts...which can be deadly where there is water...which is why they also aren't used in every circuit. I think not only the reliablity factor, such as if it trips and you don't know, you have spoiled food in the fridge, BUT ALSO, anything with a surge when it turns on, like a fridge, may trip it every time the fridge compressor starts, as the GFI does monitor for small changes in current. I asked my electrician the very same question about 2 years ago when I had my electric updated, and that's what he told me, the motor's surge will probably always trip the GFI. |
Why not GFCI everywhere?
On Thu, 15 Mar 2007 12:52:15 -0400, curmudgeon
wrote: Chris Hill wrote: On 12 Mar 2007 09:03:19 -0700, wrote: I think that GFCI outlet look smarter than the regular outlets. Is there a reason, other than cost) not to use them everywhere in the house? Put your hand on one that has been running for a while. The closest one to me always stays warm. Sounds like a waste of electricity to put them everywhere. GFI outlets don't "use" electricity...they monitor it for miniscule shorts...which can be deadly where there is water...which is why they also aren't used in every circuit. They do use a little, enough to get warm. Maybe that's what attracted the ants. I had on fail (with a buzzing noise) a couple of years ago. The electrical box was full of ants and ant ****. -- Mark Lloyd http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com "How could you ask me to believe in God when there's absolutely no evidence that I can see?" -- Jodie Foster |
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