Installed outlet, others don't work...

Specific Inspection Topics Electrical Inspections
1

I think I know the answer to this question but I thought I would get some additional input from you guys before answering.

I have a recent client who installed a GFCI in his laundry room, but now has the following question:

Therefore, I replaced the outlet with a GFCI outlet - upon moving in (I didn’t think it was a big deal) - and the GFCI worked fine. Unfortunately, after installing the GFCI outlet, now none of the regular outlets in the dining room work at all. Do you know why this is and what I need to do in order to have a working GFCI outlet in the laundry room and still have my four WORKING dining room outlets?

2

uhhhh…call an electrician?

3

He unconnected a branch line.

4

Have someone with a clue install the outlet properly would be a wise choice I think…

5

Besides the wiring mistake made, the dining room receptacle circuit should not be providing power to the washing machine.

Dining room receptacles are supposed to be a 20 amp circuit. They can be part of the 2 small appliance circuits for the kitchen.

6

Thanks guys, that’s pretty much where I was at. I didn’t know it was supposed to be 20 amp and only connected to the kitchen. That’s news to me. So I learned something too.
I appreciate it.
M.

7

I have a hard time encouraging homeowner’s to fix their own electrical issues. I inspected a home last week that had numerous serious and some less serious service entrance panel issues. One was improperly labeled white wires used as hot wires. The RE agent was there as I was going over all of my findings with the Buyer and said, when I mentioned that white wire issue “Isn’t that something Joe here can fix himself once he gets moved in?” I told her No, that I recommend a qualified electrician for all electrical issues. I explained that taking the dead-front off of the panel exposes one to serious risks and that "instant death’ was possible. She got a real chuckle out of that and rolled her eyes and I’m sure told her client later to ignore that issue. What did she tell him about the other more serious ones…I don’t know. Anyway, I just don’t encourage untrained folks to mess around with the electrical system but that’s just me.

8

Marc,

Read 210.52**(B) **for the small appliance circuit info. Summed up, no loads except receptacles from kitchens, dining, breakfast etc.

210.11(C)(2) tells you about the required 20 amp laundry circuit.

9

Yes they’re required to be on a 20 amp circuit, however it does not have to be on with the kitchen, that’s just one option. You could run a separate 20 amp circuit for the dining room.

10

Run extension cords to the dining room.

11

…and put a multiplyer on each cord so they can have enought outlets.