I have 2 electrical questions

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Tanis143

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Do NOT replace it. I'm not a qualified electrician but I've studied up on it quite a bit (you would be surprised at how much cable can interact with house power). The reason there is a GFI in the garage is that is where people tend to over use the outlet (I've seen many people put both a freezer and a fridge on the same outlet). The GFI acts as a safety breaker before it gets to the primary breaker. This is now code. If the house is sold it would need to be replaced. The reason the breaker in the panel doesn't trip is the gfi is commonly a 15 amp limit before it trips while the breaker is a 20 amp. If it is tripping constantly you need to find what is causing the problem or move some items to a different circuit.
 

FreeSpiritBalloon

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Are any that die when it trips near water? The GFI outlet could be there to cover down stream outlets that would benefit from having one. If so, and you want to put a standard outlet in the garage, you could move or put a new GFI outlet at the potentially wet location only. Just an option as the homeowner, I am not an electrician and not current on the codes.


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okietool

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It was an easy way to get around code and still be legal. My gfi is in the garage but also protects the hall bath and all outside recepticals. It was tripping all the time. I finally put two and two together and realized it was tripping when we watered the yard or it rained. I caulked around the receptical by the front porch. Problem solved.
Sounds stupid but it protected the hall bath.

AHHH. This may be worth investigating. I think there may be one on the front porch.

The garage was wired with a GFI because it has the potential to be exposed to the elements. (Think garage door being left open or a heavy rain flooding in.) Last I knew of, this was done according to most city codes.
Thanks.
Do NOT replace it. I'm not a qualified electrician but I've studied up on it quite a bit (you would be surprised at how much cable can interact with house power). The reason there is a GFI in the garage is that is where people tend to over use the outlet (I've seen many people put both a freezer and a fridge on the same outlet). The GFI acts as a safety breaker before it gets to the primary breaker. This is now code. If the house is sold it would need to be replaced. The reason the breaker in the panel doesn't trip is the gfi is commonly a 15 amp limit before it trips while the breaker is a 20 amp. If it is tripping constantly you need to find what is causing the problem or move some items to a different circuit.
The only thing plugged in to the GFCI is a freezer. But there is a lot of dstuff on that circuit, tv, sat receiver, water softener (?) may be.

Are any that die when it trips near water? The GFI outlet could be there to cover down stream outlets that would benefit from having one. If so, and you want to put a standard outlet in the garage, you could move or put a new GFI outlet at the potentially wet location only. Just an option as the homeowner, I am not an electrician and not current on the codes.


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This may be the ticket.
 

perfor8

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Do NOT replace it. I'm not a qualified electrician but I've studied up on it quite a bit (you would be surprised at how much cable can interact with house power). The reason there is a GFI in the garage is that is where people tend to over use the outlet (I've seen many people put both a freezer and a fridge on the same outlet). The GFI acts as a safety breaker before it gets to the primary breaker. This is now code. If the house is sold it would need to be replaced. The reason the breaker in the panel doesn't trip is the gfi is commonly a 15 amp limit before it trips while the breaker is a 20 amp. If it is tripping constantly you need to find what is causing the problem or move some items to a different circuit.
LOL
 

tyromeo55

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WOW

Some OK info.... Some Bad .... And some horrible.


Its amazing how some people here would give out potentially harmful info without completely knowing what the situation is. If a person thought there was a barrel obstruction on a firearm would you just as quickly tell them to just look down the barrel and see? I'd hope not. Especially if you did not know all the pertinent info and/or believed that the OP was uneducated in the matter.



Okietool. I can't say I can diagnose exactly whats going on without being on site but If you want to talk about it on the phone with an actual electrician then PM me your number and ill give you a ring.
 

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