Electrical 101

GFCI Wiring Configurations

It’s a good idea to determine what, if any, GFCI protection there is in your house. Newer houses will have more protection than older ones. Houses built before the 1970s may have no protection because it was not required when it was built. Newer houses likely have a combination of GFCI and AFCI protected outlets.

Usually a GFCI in the garage will protect standard outlets on the outside of the house. In a smaller house it may also protect the outlets (sometimes lights) in the bathroom(s). A larger house may have a GFCI in the garage protecting standard outlets outside and a GFCI in a bathroom to protect standard outlets in it and other bathrooms. A GFCI in the kitchen may protect other standard outlets in the kitchen.

Determine Existing Locations of GFCI Protected Outlets

Be prepared to document the results of this test. See the Document GFCI Location Form.
Locate GFCI outlets in the house including garage, kitchen, bathrooms, basement, crawl spaces, and outside.
Using a plug tester or nightlight, test outlets for power in the garage, kitchen, bathrooms, basement, crawl spaces, and outside, including GFCI outlets. If there is no power to any of the outlets, see Troubleshoot GFCI Outlets and GFCI and AFCI Circuit Breakers.
Push the test button on the first GFCI starting in the garage. Verify that power shuts off at this GFCI.
Test the other outlets in the garage, kitchen, bathrooms, basement, and outside, including other GFCIs, to see if power was shut off. Any outlets that lost power are connected to the load side of this first GFCI. Make a note of the results. There may be another GFCI connected to the load of the first GFCI tested.
Push the reset button on this first GFCI to restore power. Test this GFCI to ensure that power is back on using a plug tester.
Go to the next GFCI and repeat steps 2 - 6.

* See GFCI connected to the load of another GFCI

Common GFCI Wiring Configurations

Outlets and Plugs

GFCI & AFCI

GFCI & AFCI Location Requirements

GFCI & AFCI Wiring

GFCI Wiring Configuration

GFCI Location Form