Electrical issue has me puzzled.

[lonestardiver]

Had that happen one time after a lightning strike outside the east wall of my 2-story house. 3 GFCIs on that wall but only one was bad. Some of the strangest things did and did not get damaged.

Been there before....it was only items on one leg of the incoming power feed that got hit in my case.

 

[Axxe55]

This is pretty well answered but I will add that the other outlets wired in series with the GFCI should have a sticker on them indicating that they are protected by a GFCI outlet.

They are suppose to be, and if not, they should be.

 

[oohrah]

Also, outside outlets have to be on GFCIs, and they are usually connected to bathroom or garage outlets. You might check and see if your kitchen GFCI also has an outside outlet on it that has become corroded or ant filled. It happened to me.

 

[G O B]

Replace them BOTH!
Use a GFCI rated for exterior use, and a 15a "heavy duty" duplex receptical.
The 'contractor' grade outlets you have are crap.

 

[vmax]

Replace them BOTH!
Use a GFCI rated for exterior use, and a 15a "heavy duty" duplex receptical.
The 'contractor' grade outlets you have are crap.

Aren’t kitchen plugs 20A?

 

[G O B]

Not always.

 

[rotor]

I like the ones with a little light in them that shows if they are on or tripped.

 

[Axxe55]

Aren’t kitchen plugs 20A?

Mine have a 15a breaker, but when I replace an outlet, I use the 20a outlet.

All three bedrooms have 20a breakers though.

 

[cvgunman]

They are suppose to be, and if not, they should be.

Glad I read in on this as I kept thinking "this isn't a GFCI plug, what idiot put the sticker on the wrong one"

 

[Axxe55]

Glad I read in on this as I kept thinking "this isn't a GFCI plug, what idiot put the sticker on the wrong one"

The three circuit breakers for the bedrooms, are 20a GFCI breakers.

First time I have ever seen GFCI breakers. Our house was built in 2005.

 

[TxStetson]

I have a GFCI circuit in each bathroom, 2 separate circuits in the kitchen, and 2 in the garage that control the outlets on both porches.

 

[TJjerry]

At the time your house was built the codes likely required Arc-fault circuit interrupters (AFCI) in the bedrooms, quiet a bit different from the GFCI. This may be what you see for the bedrooms in the breaker box. Today they are becoming a requirement for almost all outlets (except refrigerators and a few other items). Take a moment if you have and read up on AFCI.
I had issues with my laptop line filter tripping the bedroom AFCI, removed it and the issue cleared.

 

[SQLGeek]

Mine have a 15a breaker, but when I replace an outlet, I use the 20a outlet.

IAANAE

But I'm pretty sure this violates the NEC if I'm reading this correctly:

https://forum.nachi.org/t/20-amp-outlet-on-15-amp-circuit/24871/5

At the time your house was built the codes likely required Arc-fault circuit interrupters (AFCI) in the bedrooms, quiet a bit different from the GFCI. This may be what you see for the bedrooms in the breaker box.

Agree with this, these are probably AFCIs.

 

[DoubleDuty]

IAANAE

But I'm pretty sure this violates the NEC if I'm reading this correctly:

https://forum.nachi.org/t/20-amp-outlet-on-15-amp-circuit/24871/5



Agree with this, these are probably AFCIs.

20 amp receptacle on a 15 amp circuit is fine. If it pulls more than 15 amps the breaker in the panel will trip. It is a waste of money though.

 

[DoubleDuty]

The three circuit breakers for the bedrooms, are 20a GFCI breakers.

First time I have ever seen GFCI breakers. Our house was built in 2005.

Those would be arc fault detectors.

 

[SQLGeek]

20 amp receptacle on a 15 amp circuit is fine

Well not per the NEC it seems but physically it is fine.

 

[SA_Steve]

AFCI's for the home are just more 'code drift' to encourage you to let your electrician bring you up to code. They are useful for industrial high current motor protection, but are not enough, osha still has lots of PPE requirements for working in or around rooms full of switch gear even with AFCI protection in place.

 

[SA_Steve]

I've upgraded to lots of GFCI's for garage and outdoor sockets. They can be troublesome to protect the outdoor sockets in wet weather with strong winds.

I had one trip that controlled only the hydro massage tub in the master BR.
Could not find it, drove me crazy looking for it so I put in a dedicated one.

Well, a year later I found it behind the toilet where it got wet during floor mop activity. Not in a place where you could ever plug anything into. Never bothered to reset it.

 

[Axxe55]

IAANAE

But I'm pretty sure this violates the NEC if I'm reading this correctly:

https://forum.nachi.org/t/20-amp-outlet-on-15-amp-circuit/24871/5



Agree with this, these are probably AFCIs.

Went and looked. They are AFCI breakers. I have read them wrong all these years!

 

[hooper]

Another thing to check is the ground at the panel (outside). Had a buddy with issues on his GFCI in the kitchen and one of the issues was a bad ground at the panel (outside). It was a brand new house and the ground was barely connected outside.