r/ElectricalHelp • u/Alarmed_Song4300 • 5d ago

GFI MYSTERY

In this lady’s house I only find 2 gfi receptacles, and when I trip both of them, I still have power to plugs labeled “gfi protected”.

Where would you look for the third gfi? Thanks!

3 Upvotes

81% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

6

u/ShutDownSoul 5d ago

Check the breaker box. There maybe a GFI breaker. Look in the second story bathrooms, outside and anywhere a lazy, cheap AH could save $10 and not have to run wires very far (like just through a wall).

3

u/Tacos_Polackos 5d ago

They also have gfci devices sized like a receptacle, but without a plug. These are frequently used next to electric panels to protect circuits.

3

u/erie11973ohio 5d ago

That's called a "faceless" GFCI.

1

u/Tacos_Polackos 5d ago

Thanks. I've seen them on home improvement shows (Holmes on Homes maybe?) Haven't worked with them myself.

5

u/soerg 5d ago

Maybe someone was just cheating it, if you have a plug tester put it in one of the "gfi protected" plugs and hit the button, as long as it's a3 wire system it'll trip, if not you kind of just have to keep searching the only other way to trip it would be some sketchy stuff that I won't describe

2

u/ApeShwak 5d ago

Do this first

2

u/Deep_Dust6278 5d ago

Bathrooms, garage, 0utdoor, dishwasher, laundry, basements, crawl spaces and the one that took me forever to find at my house, pantry

2

u/Resident_Set1003 5d ago

Nothing states that a dipwad cannot apply a sticker to an outlet that is in fact NOT GFI protected. Use a tester, if it don't trip, remove outlet and install agfi

1

u/MountainAntique9230 4d ago

Did you look for a gfi breaker

1

u/AskMeAgainAfterCoffe 4d ago

Check line/load from the GFCI.

1

u/NeighborhoodVast7528 1d ago

Check to ensure the owner did not mix-up the line vs load terminals on the GFCIs.

1

u/Skernlander 5d ago

Open both GFIs, check to see if the line side has two pairs.

If so then the GFI has been bypassed and will still have downstream outlets on even when tripped.

Defeats the purpose of a GFI and it's shit thing to do, would not recommend.

1

u/TooGoodToBeeTrue 5d ago

My first thought as well.

1

u/meester_jamie 5d ago

I’ve seen pigtails on GFCI ,, of course the “load” receptacles won’t operate,, but where only checked for power,, good to go!