Good morning to all my fellows, this is Patrick with American Home Inspectors. https://www.americanhomeinspectors.net/
Working on master class homework: GFCI and electric receptacles.
Upon inspection of the electrical outlets in the half bath. I observed a defect at the GFCI in the bathroom. It was improperly wired. The hot and neutral wires are reversed. This has the potential to be a hazard and cause a fire. Evaluation and immediate correction buy a license qualified electrician is recommended.
Thank you so much for the feedback, the article was very helpful Neil and gave me two great scenarios under my belt!
And I realize now, moving forward I will use shock hazard rather than fire hazard. Noted. Thank you!
FYI- The GFCI device can still function with reverse polarity or open ground.
If the Receptacle tested open ground and has a sticker attached to it stating “NO EQUIPMENT GROUND” it is not a defect, without the sticker, it is.
I would keep from stating the receptacle itself was improperly wired, as it could be a problem upstream.
That must be a very old GFCI receptacle because all of ones manufactured in the last decade or so will not energize if they’re wired with the hot and neutral reversed.
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ndegaris
(Neil DeGaris, CMI KY License # 102167)
8
I have a few of the Red & Black buttons left in my house, from the mid 90’s, not sure if they still make them or not.
Working on my homework for the Master Class. This is a picture of an outlet within 15 inches of the Vanity sink. The outlet is not a GFCI protected outlet and operates on the switch that gives power to the Vanity lights. This is a defect, all outlets in Bathrooms should be GFCI protected. I recommend Further evaluation by a Qualified Licensed Electrical Contractor.
You are correct but how did you test the receptacle to see if it was not protected by an upstream GFCI device? Does that tester how a GFCI testing function?
What Robert said about testing the GFCI devise and the possibility that it is protected upstream.
I also add I occasionally find the bathroom counter receptacle switched, which I also consider a defect, beacuse if someone wants to charge their electric toothbrush, razor, etc., and turn the lights off on their way out of the bathroom, the receptacle is also now de-energized.
This is the loan bathroom outlet. When tested with a GFCI tester it did not trip, this means the outlet is not part of a GFCI protected circuit. All outlets in the bathroom should be a GFCI or on a protected GFCI circuit. This outlet is energized by the switch that turns on the vanity lights. I recommend further evaluation and correction by a Qualified Licensed Electrical Contractor.
That’s correct, the receptacle must be GFCI protected. As far as being switched I cannot think of a code requirement that would prohibit that from being switched but it is probably not convient for the reasons Kevin mentioned.
I agree with Jim’s statement that a GFCI devise will still function as intended on an ungrounded circuit, but will add if they are ungrounded circuits and don’t have the following stickers attached, I write them up as open ground.
Thanks for the clarification.
