What happens when using a GFCI Tester on a non-GFCI outlet?











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I have an outdoor power outlet of which I'm not sure if it's GFCI or not (House was built in 1978). The outlet does not have Test/Reset buttons, but I don't know if outdoor outlets even have them. There's no labeling for GFCI anywhere,.



So I'm looking to purchase a GFCI Tester. (Those little three-pronged things with 2 yellow/1 red LED and a button)



But I'm not sure what should/would happen if I press the GFCI Button and the outlet is not actually GFCI. Should it trip the breaker in the breaker box, or should it do nothing and the LEDs on the tester just stay on?










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    up vote
    1
    down vote

    favorite












    I have an outdoor power outlet of which I'm not sure if it's GFCI or not (House was built in 1978). The outlet does not have Test/Reset buttons, but I don't know if outdoor outlets even have them. There's no labeling for GFCI anywhere,.



    So I'm looking to purchase a GFCI Tester. (Those little three-pronged things with 2 yellow/1 red LED and a button)



    But I'm not sure what should/would happen if I press the GFCI Button and the outlet is not actually GFCI. Should it trip the breaker in the breaker box, or should it do nothing and the LEDs on the tester just stay on?










    share|improve this question









    New contributor




    Michael Stum is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.






















      up vote
      1
      down vote

      favorite









      up vote
      1
      down vote

      favorite











      I have an outdoor power outlet of which I'm not sure if it's GFCI or not (House was built in 1978). The outlet does not have Test/Reset buttons, but I don't know if outdoor outlets even have them. There's no labeling for GFCI anywhere,.



      So I'm looking to purchase a GFCI Tester. (Those little three-pronged things with 2 yellow/1 red LED and a button)



      But I'm not sure what should/would happen if I press the GFCI Button and the outlet is not actually GFCI. Should it trip the breaker in the breaker box, or should it do nothing and the LEDs on the tester just stay on?










      share|improve this question









      New contributor




      Michael Stum is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.











      I have an outdoor power outlet of which I'm not sure if it's GFCI or not (House was built in 1978). The outlet does not have Test/Reset buttons, but I don't know if outdoor outlets even have them. There's no labeling for GFCI anywhere,.



      So I'm looking to purchase a GFCI Tester. (Those little three-pronged things with 2 yellow/1 red LED and a button)



      But I'm not sure what should/would happen if I press the GFCI Button and the outlet is not actually GFCI. Should it trip the breaker in the breaker box, or should it do nothing and the LEDs on the tester just stay on?







      gfci outdoor testing






      share|improve this question









      New contributor




      Michael Stum is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.











      share|improve this question









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      edited 3 hours ago









      Mazura

      10.2k11246




      10.2k11246






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          3 Answers
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          If the outlet, does not have test and reset buttons, it is clearly not a GFCI itself. However, it is possible that another outlet or circuit-breaker in the line before it has been wired to protect that outlet, as well. No harm will be done testing a non-GFCI outlet using the GFCI tester, but if it does trigger an interrupter elsewhere, you'll need to locate that to reset it.



          That said, an outdoor outlet definitely should have GFCI protection, whether 'upstream' or intrinsic. If the GFCI tester does not trigger a protection device, a GFCI outlet should be installed ASAP!






          share|improve this answer






























            up vote
            2
            down vote













            Those 3-lamp "magic 8-ball" testers are pretty lame, but in two ways.




            • the legends, like "hot-ground reverse" or "no hot". They are more useless than a magic 8-ball, because they are wildly speculating at the most likely (easy) cause in the context of new construction. They are wholly unprepared for the realities of maintaining old wiring, and their wrong guesses will waste hours of your time. The lights themselves can be quite useful, especially if you see them in the shade so you can see if some lights are half glowing. By the way, those should be neon, not LED.

            • we're seeing a new generation of those which actually have computers inside, and the computer gets between you and the lights. Good chance those lights are actually LED. Again, the computer is aiming to troubleshoot only the most obvious faults, particularly the ones that arise in new construction - if you have a real stumper, the computer will only mislead you.


            Pushing the GFCI test button will cause a small (10ma) amount of leakage between hot and safety ground. Any common 8ma GFCI devices upstream of this point will trip.



            If there is no GFCI upstream, the GFCI will not trip because it doesn't exist. The overcurrent protection device (the breaker) will not trip because it isn't a GFCI device and 10ma is not anywhere near an overcurrent.



            If the receptacle is not grounded, the upstream GFCI will not trip because the intended 10ma of leakage is going from hot to nowhere. Since current flows in loops, it won't flow.






            share|improve this answer




























              up vote
              1
              down vote













              The "gfci" plug in testers put a resistor from the ground to hot in most cases to pull 6 ma of current this creates an imbalance that will trip every GFCI out there, if there is no ground the testers don't work. The no ground with the testers is more common on 2 wire upgrades that are protected by a gfci outlet in older homes to allow 3 wire outlets. In 78 there should be 3 wire outlets in most of the US. If you still have 2 wire electrical with no ground the tester won't work but the test button on the gfci will work.






              share|improve this answer





















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                3 Answers
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                active

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                active

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                up vote
                2
                down vote













                If the outlet, does not have test and reset buttons, it is clearly not a GFCI itself. However, it is possible that another outlet or circuit-breaker in the line before it has been wired to protect that outlet, as well. No harm will be done testing a non-GFCI outlet using the GFCI tester, but if it does trigger an interrupter elsewhere, you'll need to locate that to reset it.



                That said, an outdoor outlet definitely should have GFCI protection, whether 'upstream' or intrinsic. If the GFCI tester does not trigger a protection device, a GFCI outlet should be installed ASAP!






                share|improve this answer



























                  up vote
                  2
                  down vote













                  If the outlet, does not have test and reset buttons, it is clearly not a GFCI itself. However, it is possible that another outlet or circuit-breaker in the line before it has been wired to protect that outlet, as well. No harm will be done testing a non-GFCI outlet using the GFCI tester, but if it does trigger an interrupter elsewhere, you'll need to locate that to reset it.



                  That said, an outdoor outlet definitely should have GFCI protection, whether 'upstream' or intrinsic. If the GFCI tester does not trigger a protection device, a GFCI outlet should be installed ASAP!






                  share|improve this answer

























                    up vote
                    2
                    down vote










                    up vote
                    2
                    down vote









                    If the outlet, does not have test and reset buttons, it is clearly not a GFCI itself. However, it is possible that another outlet or circuit-breaker in the line before it has been wired to protect that outlet, as well. No harm will be done testing a non-GFCI outlet using the GFCI tester, but if it does trigger an interrupter elsewhere, you'll need to locate that to reset it.



                    That said, an outdoor outlet definitely should have GFCI protection, whether 'upstream' or intrinsic. If the GFCI tester does not trigger a protection device, a GFCI outlet should be installed ASAP!






                    share|improve this answer














                    If the outlet, does not have test and reset buttons, it is clearly not a GFCI itself. However, it is possible that another outlet or circuit-breaker in the line before it has been wired to protect that outlet, as well. No harm will be done testing a non-GFCI outlet using the GFCI tester, but if it does trigger an interrupter elsewhere, you'll need to locate that to reset it.



                    That said, an outdoor outlet definitely should have GFCI protection, whether 'upstream' or intrinsic. If the GFCI tester does not trigger a protection device, a GFCI outlet should be installed ASAP!







                    share|improve this answer














                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer








                    edited 2 hours ago









                    ThreePhaseEel

                    29.5k104590




                    29.5k104590










                    answered 3 hours ago









                    DrMoishe Pippik

                    74637




                    74637
























                        up vote
                        2
                        down vote













                        Those 3-lamp "magic 8-ball" testers are pretty lame, but in two ways.




                        • the legends, like "hot-ground reverse" or "no hot". They are more useless than a magic 8-ball, because they are wildly speculating at the most likely (easy) cause in the context of new construction. They are wholly unprepared for the realities of maintaining old wiring, and their wrong guesses will waste hours of your time. The lights themselves can be quite useful, especially if you see them in the shade so you can see if some lights are half glowing. By the way, those should be neon, not LED.

                        • we're seeing a new generation of those which actually have computers inside, and the computer gets between you and the lights. Good chance those lights are actually LED. Again, the computer is aiming to troubleshoot only the most obvious faults, particularly the ones that arise in new construction - if you have a real stumper, the computer will only mislead you.


                        Pushing the GFCI test button will cause a small (10ma) amount of leakage between hot and safety ground. Any common 8ma GFCI devices upstream of this point will trip.



                        If there is no GFCI upstream, the GFCI will not trip because it doesn't exist. The overcurrent protection device (the breaker) will not trip because it isn't a GFCI device and 10ma is not anywhere near an overcurrent.



                        If the receptacle is not grounded, the upstream GFCI will not trip because the intended 10ma of leakage is going from hot to nowhere. Since current flows in loops, it won't flow.






                        share|improve this answer

























                          up vote
                          2
                          down vote













                          Those 3-lamp "magic 8-ball" testers are pretty lame, but in two ways.




                          • the legends, like "hot-ground reverse" or "no hot". They are more useless than a magic 8-ball, because they are wildly speculating at the most likely (easy) cause in the context of new construction. They are wholly unprepared for the realities of maintaining old wiring, and their wrong guesses will waste hours of your time. The lights themselves can be quite useful, especially if you see them in the shade so you can see if some lights are half glowing. By the way, those should be neon, not LED.

                          • we're seeing a new generation of those which actually have computers inside, and the computer gets between you and the lights. Good chance those lights are actually LED. Again, the computer is aiming to troubleshoot only the most obvious faults, particularly the ones that arise in new construction - if you have a real stumper, the computer will only mislead you.


                          Pushing the GFCI test button will cause a small (10ma) amount of leakage between hot and safety ground. Any common 8ma GFCI devices upstream of this point will trip.



                          If there is no GFCI upstream, the GFCI will not trip because it doesn't exist. The overcurrent protection device (the breaker) will not trip because it isn't a GFCI device and 10ma is not anywhere near an overcurrent.



                          If the receptacle is not grounded, the upstream GFCI will not trip because the intended 10ma of leakage is going from hot to nowhere. Since current flows in loops, it won't flow.






                          share|improve this answer























                            up vote
                            2
                            down vote










                            up vote
                            2
                            down vote









                            Those 3-lamp "magic 8-ball" testers are pretty lame, but in two ways.




                            • the legends, like "hot-ground reverse" or "no hot". They are more useless than a magic 8-ball, because they are wildly speculating at the most likely (easy) cause in the context of new construction. They are wholly unprepared for the realities of maintaining old wiring, and their wrong guesses will waste hours of your time. The lights themselves can be quite useful, especially if you see them in the shade so you can see if some lights are half glowing. By the way, those should be neon, not LED.

                            • we're seeing a new generation of those which actually have computers inside, and the computer gets between you and the lights. Good chance those lights are actually LED. Again, the computer is aiming to troubleshoot only the most obvious faults, particularly the ones that arise in new construction - if you have a real stumper, the computer will only mislead you.


                            Pushing the GFCI test button will cause a small (10ma) amount of leakage between hot and safety ground. Any common 8ma GFCI devices upstream of this point will trip.



                            If there is no GFCI upstream, the GFCI will not trip because it doesn't exist. The overcurrent protection device (the breaker) will not trip because it isn't a GFCI device and 10ma is not anywhere near an overcurrent.



                            If the receptacle is not grounded, the upstream GFCI will not trip because the intended 10ma of leakage is going from hot to nowhere. Since current flows in loops, it won't flow.






                            share|improve this answer












                            Those 3-lamp "magic 8-ball" testers are pretty lame, but in two ways.




                            • the legends, like "hot-ground reverse" or "no hot". They are more useless than a magic 8-ball, because they are wildly speculating at the most likely (easy) cause in the context of new construction. They are wholly unprepared for the realities of maintaining old wiring, and their wrong guesses will waste hours of your time. The lights themselves can be quite useful, especially if you see them in the shade so you can see if some lights are half glowing. By the way, those should be neon, not LED.

                            • we're seeing a new generation of those which actually have computers inside, and the computer gets between you and the lights. Good chance those lights are actually LED. Again, the computer is aiming to troubleshoot only the most obvious faults, particularly the ones that arise in new construction - if you have a real stumper, the computer will only mislead you.


                            Pushing the GFCI test button will cause a small (10ma) amount of leakage between hot and safety ground. Any common 8ma GFCI devices upstream of this point will trip.



                            If there is no GFCI upstream, the GFCI will not trip because it doesn't exist. The overcurrent protection device (the breaker) will not trip because it isn't a GFCI device and 10ma is not anywhere near an overcurrent.



                            If the receptacle is not grounded, the upstream GFCI will not trip because the intended 10ma of leakage is going from hot to nowhere. Since current flows in loops, it won't flow.







                            share|improve this answer












                            share|improve this answer



                            share|improve this answer










                            answered 1 hour ago









                            Harper

                            64k341130




                            64k341130






















                                up vote
                                1
                                down vote













                                The "gfci" plug in testers put a resistor from the ground to hot in most cases to pull 6 ma of current this creates an imbalance that will trip every GFCI out there, if there is no ground the testers don't work. The no ground with the testers is more common on 2 wire upgrades that are protected by a gfci outlet in older homes to allow 3 wire outlets. In 78 there should be 3 wire outlets in most of the US. If you still have 2 wire electrical with no ground the tester won't work but the test button on the gfci will work.






                                share|improve this answer

























                                  up vote
                                  1
                                  down vote













                                  The "gfci" plug in testers put a resistor from the ground to hot in most cases to pull 6 ma of current this creates an imbalance that will trip every GFCI out there, if there is no ground the testers don't work. The no ground with the testers is more common on 2 wire upgrades that are protected by a gfci outlet in older homes to allow 3 wire outlets. In 78 there should be 3 wire outlets in most of the US. If you still have 2 wire electrical with no ground the tester won't work but the test button on the gfci will work.






                                  share|improve this answer























                                    up vote
                                    1
                                    down vote










                                    up vote
                                    1
                                    down vote









                                    The "gfci" plug in testers put a resistor from the ground to hot in most cases to pull 6 ma of current this creates an imbalance that will trip every GFCI out there, if there is no ground the testers don't work. The no ground with the testers is more common on 2 wire upgrades that are protected by a gfci outlet in older homes to allow 3 wire outlets. In 78 there should be 3 wire outlets in most of the US. If you still have 2 wire electrical with no ground the tester won't work but the test button on the gfci will work.






                                    share|improve this answer












                                    The "gfci" plug in testers put a resistor from the ground to hot in most cases to pull 6 ma of current this creates an imbalance that will trip every GFCI out there, if there is no ground the testers don't work. The no ground with the testers is more common on 2 wire upgrades that are protected by a gfci outlet in older homes to allow 3 wire outlets. In 78 there should be 3 wire outlets in most of the US. If you still have 2 wire electrical with no ground the tester won't work but the test button on the gfci will work.







                                    share|improve this answer












                                    share|improve this answer



                                    share|improve this answer










                                    answered 1 hour ago









                                    Ed Beal

                                    30.3k12144




                                    30.3k12144






















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