Do I need 15 amp or 20 amp GFCI?

The amp rating of the receptacle and circuit do not depend on whether the receptacle is a GFCI or not: If you have a 15 amp circuit, you must have 15 amp receptacles. If you have a 20 amp circuit, you can either have 20 amp receptacles, or 15 amp receptacles if there is more than one (e.g. a duplex receptacle).

Can I replace a 15 amp GFCI with a 20 amp GFCI?

According to National Electrical Code, only a 15-amp or 20-amp electrical receptacle can be installed to a 20-amp circuit. A 15-amp receptacle may also be installed on a 15-amp circuit. However, a 20-amp GFCI outlet may not be installed to a 15-amp circuit.

What happens if you put a 20 amp GFCI outlet on a 15 amp circuit?

First off, connecting a 20 Amp load to a 15 Amp circuit will overload the circuit but shouldn't cause a fire because the 15 Amp breaker will trip. A 20 amp GFCI doesn't pose any threat just by being there.

Do you need GFCI for 20 amp?

Kitchen outlets are often wired to provide 20 amp, 120-volt circuits to GFCI outlets, especially for countertop areas. Must kitchen outlets be 20 amp? Kitchens must have at least two 20 amp outlets. These outlets are used to power high voltage appliances such as toasters, blenders, and microwave ovens.

Should bathroom outlets be 15 or 20 amp?

The minimum requirement for outlet receptacles in a bathroom is one GFCI-protected receptacle served by a 20-amp circuit. This is a bare minimum, however, and most bathrooms will have at least two receptacles, and often as many of four or five.

Shall I Use a 15A or a 20A Receptacle on a 20A Circuit? + 2020 NEC 210.21(B)(1) and 210.21(B)(3)

Are outdoor outlets 15 or 20 amp?

Too often, people trip breakers with Christmas lights because the outdoor outlet is wired to the same 15-amp circuit that powers the lights and outlets in the house.

What GFCI do I need?

Where GFCIs Are Required. GFCI protection is required for 125-volt to 250-volt receptacles supplied by single-phase branch circuits rated 150 volts or less to the ground. GFCI receptacles are required in bathrooms, garages, crawl spaces, basements, laundry rooms and areas where a water source is present.

Is it OK to replace a 15 amp outlet with a 20 amp?

For instance, it is crucial that the amperage of an outlet doesn't exceed the amperage of the circuit it uses. As a result, both 15 amp and 20 amp electrical sockets can be installed to a 20 amp circuit, yet only 15 amp receptacles should be used for 15 amp circuits.

Can I use 15 amp GFCI in kitchen?

Requirement: All 15 amp and 20 amp outlets, whether GFCI or not, must be tamper-resistant in the following kitchen-related places: small appliance circuit, countertop space (including kitchen island countertop outlets), walls, and hallway space.

Why does my new GFCI keep tripping?

Electrical Fault

If your GFCI outlet trips consistently, it could be an electric fault resulting from faulty structural wiring. An electrical outlet connected to the same circuit could also be the source of the problem, especially if it was not part of the original wiring of your home.

What amp do I need for GFCI?

It's not unusual to have a 20 amp GFCI in a residential setting since kitchens are A) required to have GFCIs, and B) required to have 20 amp circuits. You don't generally see 20A receptacles elsewhere in a house since there are virtually no home appliances that require 20 amps @ 110V.

Are there 15 amp GFCI?

Eaton 15-Amp GFCI Residential Decorator Outlet, White (3-Pack)

How many amps is an outdoor GFCI outlet?

Outdoor receptacles—the official name for standard power outlets—include those mounted to exterior house walls as well as on detached garages, decks, and other outdoor structures. Receptacles also may be installed on poles or posts in a yard. All 15-amp and 20-amp, 120-volt receptacles must be GFCI-protected.

Do bathrooms require 20 amp circuit?

The NEC requires that all outlet receptacles in a bathroom be GFCI protected. Outlet circuit must be 20 amps: The outlets in a bathroom should be served by a 20-amp circuit, separate from the lighting circuit, to provide power items such as curling irons, razors, and hairdryers.

When did bathrooms require 20 amps?

2017 NEC. In the 2017 Code cycle, the electrician was permitted to use the one 20-amp branch circuit required in Section 210.11(C)(3) to feed all receptacles located in all bathrooms of the home.

Is there a difference between GFI and GFCI?

Ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) and ground fault interrupters (GFI) are the exact same device under slightly different names. Though GFCI is more commonly used than GFI, the terms are interchangeable.

Will a surge protector keep a GFCI from tripping?

GFIs protect YOU when current is leaking outside of the circuit, such as through your body, by detecting a tiny amount of current leak and shutting the circuit down before you can even feel it. A surge suppressor will not prevent a GFI from tripping, nor should it.

How do you fix a GFCI outlet that keeps tripping?

When should you use a 20 amp outlet?

Large consumers, especially kitchen appliances, such as microwaves, blenders and toasters, need a dedicated 20 amp circuit, to ensure a constant energy flow, which means they cannot share the circuit with other devices.

Should a refrigerator be plugged into a GFCI outlet?

In a dwelling unit (residential), GFCI protection is only required for kitchen receptacles that serve the countertop surfaces. There's no requirement to GFCI protect receptacles that serve a refrigerator. Unless the fridge is plugged into a countertop receptacle.

Can a refrigerator trip a GFCI?

Reset the GFCI Outlet

The first step is to check the GFCI outlet. When your refrigerator turns off and it is plugged into a GFCI outlet, it could have simply been caused by “nuisance tripping.” It's called that because the GFCI is very sensitive and can randomly trip when it shouldn't.

Can a extension cord cause GFCI to trip?

Excessive lengths of temporary wiring or long extension cords can cause ground fault leakage current to flow by captive and inductive coupling. The combined leakage current can exceed 5 ma, causing the GFCI to trip.

Can you plug a computer into a GFCI outlet?

It is OK to have the computer plugged into a GFCI, although it may not be preferable. Hard shutdowns, as would be the case if the GFCI tripped (and the computer's receptacle is actually protected as @keshlam's comment suggests), are not the greatest for computers.

Is it safe to put an outlet extender on a GFCI outlet?

You can absolutely plug in an extension cord to the GFCI outlet, and as long as the GFCI outlet was wired correctly, the GFCI protection extends to all the devices plugged into it.