How do GFCi circuits operate. I have 3 enclosed outlets outside with a clear plastic cover. One on front porch, one by rear deck and one by heat pump. All outlets are brown color with a stamping WR. I don’t see the same thing as I see in my bathroom with 2 little square buttons. Will be calling electrician on Monday.
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
Listeners write in about ambitious projects and sinking patios before asking questions about old house specialists, attic headroom, and home shops.
Featured Video
Highlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Fine Homebuilding Magazine
Fine Home Building
Follow
-
Fine Homebuilding
Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.
Start Free Trial Now -
GBA Prime
Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.
Start Free Trial Now
Replies
WR is for weather resistant.
GFCI outlets work by checking current flow, and if the hot wire does not match the neutral, it assumes some has headed for ground, and opens the circuit
Most GFCI outlets (with the buttons to check and reset) have provisions to protect outlets connected after them, (referenced to the breaker box). When you buy a GFCI outlet, they come with little stickers in the box which can be used to mark outlets wired from the GFCI and protected.
Your outside outlets may be wired so they are protected, or they may not. They also could be connected to a GFCI breaker in the breaker box.
One way you can verify is to test every GFCI outlet and breaker you can find, and see if the outlets in question have been shut off.
But calling an electrician is also a fine idea.
You may have a GFCI outlet in the kitchen or bathroom that feeds the outside outlets. Mine is in the garage and feeds the kitchen, 2 bathrooms, and a porch. It took me a month of searching to find the one in the garage.
Well, this explanation clears things up a little. Best scenario is calling electrian. Have them look things over rather than myself crawling, searching and guessing. Thanks
Some info from the magazine.
https://www.finehomebuilding.com/project-guides/wiring/whats-the-difference-ground-fault-circuit-interrupters-gfci
You can buy a plug tester with a gfci test button on it. Plug it into the outlet, push the GFCI test button and see if it trips. If it does find the tripped gfci outlet, if it doesn't trip then it isn't GFCI protected. It's what the electrician will do, and it will cost a lot less.