On an inspection yesterday I came across this outlet with the GFCI tester positioned separately from the actual outlet and this the first time I’ve seen this set up.
The outlet tripped when tested with my tester but did not reset and as a result another other outlet in a different bathroom stopped working as well.
My initial thought was to write it up as faulty wiring and recommend an electrician to come out but I wanted to get some advice before hand.
Thanks in advance guys!
When it tripped did the remote unit pictured trip (made the noise and button extended) or did it trip at another location (GFCI at another bathroom). If the first situation then it is a bad GFCI, if the latter then you haven’t found the correct GFCI. I generally see those GFCI with no outlets for whirlpool tubs.
@rkenney No the remote unit pictured did not trip when I tested it.
Here is a narrative for that situation - GFCI outlet in the xxx room and xxx room are double-protected by a 2nd GFCI being wired on the load side of the GFCI outlet in the xxx room. Although the outlets will provide shock protection, when tripped they will become a nuisance when attempting to reset.
@ringalls Thanks Richard and just for my own edification, when that happens will you be able to reset all outlet by switching the breaker off and on or is that in indication the outlets involved need to be serviced/corrected?
Switching the panel standard breaker will NOT reset things. The answer is - it is simply a nuisance. It does not ‘need’ to be ‘serviced/corrected’. If buyer wants to remedy the nuisance - refer them to an electrician.
@ringalls Ok got it thanks again
The secondary GFCI device on the bathroom wall might be for a shower luminary, SPA/Hot Tub/Jacuzzi, or another receptacle downstream.
Test as requested by the GFCI manufacturer. With the test button on the GFCI device.
@ryoung7 Thanks Robert! Now I’ll know what to check for if I see that GFCI device in the future.
And remember to look behind all bathroom doors, especially in a toilet room. Sometimes they like to hide them there.
So the GFCI device in the photo has nothing to do with the receptacle circuit? The receptacle is GFCI protected by an upstream device. Sounds like nothing is faulty or if there are two GFCI devices on the same circuit. These blank face GFCI devices are typically installed for hydromassage tubs. How dumb was the person who put those stickers on the device.
