How to Wire a GFCI Plug
- 1). Remove all electrical power to the circuit in which you are going to install the GFCI. Shut off the circuit breaker or pull the fuse supplying power to the circuit.
- 2). Observe the rear of the GFCI plug. Note that there are four separate screw terminals on the sides of the device -- two copper-colored screws and two silver screws. There is also a single green screw near the bottom of the GFCI plug. The upper pair of screw terminals, one copper and one silver, are identified as "line hot" and "line neutral or white". The lower set of screw terminals are marked as "load." The "load" screw terminals are for connecting other receptacles, downstream, that can be protected by the single GFCI.
- 3). Connect the incoming power feed wires to the GFCI in the following order. Attach the black wire to the screw terminal marked "line hot." Tighten the screw with the screwdriver to secure the connection. Place the white wire on the terminal identified as "line neutral or white." Secure the wire with the screwdriver. Attach the green grounding wire or bare copper grounding wire to the green screw terminal.
- 4). Connect any outgoing circuit to the terminals marked as "load" in the same order and fashion as step 3 above. Consult the manufacturer's literature for how many receptacles may be connected to the brand of GFCI.
- 5). Place the GFCI into the electrical box. Secure the plug inside the box using the vendor-provided screws. Attach the cover plate over the GFCI plug.
- 6). Turn on the circuit breaker or install the fuse to re-energize the new circuit. Push the "test" button on the face of the GFCI. No power should be going through the receptacle. Push the "reset" button. Power should now be going to the plug. Some GFCI plugs may have a small green LED light in the upper right hand corner to identify power to the plug.
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