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GFCI Protection for Kitchen Counter Top Outlets


To make the counter top outlets GFCI protected while not interrupting the power to the refrigerator…



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Providing GFCI Protected Kitchen Outlets
[ad#block]Electrical Question: To make the counter top outlets GFCI protected while not interrupting the power to the refrigerator, which happens to be the last outlet in the circuit, in pigtailed in a GFCI receptacle to both the outlets which allowed me to keep uninterrupted power to the refrigerator. My question is this allowed by code and if it is which NEC section is it in.
This is a question about a Town Home built in 1984.
Thanks.

This electrical question came from: Matt , from Colorado springs, Colorado
See more about Home Wiring for Colorado

Dave The Electrician’s Reply:
Thanks for your electrical question Matt

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FAQs Frequently Asked Questions and Comments

2 Responses to “GFCI Protection for Kitchen Counter Top Outlets”
  1. vince says:

    I have 3 outlets on my kitchen counter wall, all have 4 wires, 2 black and 2 white, plus ground. I want to replace one outlet with a GFCI so all the outlets will be protected. How do I know which outlet to replace, being they each have 2 line and 2 load wires?
    Thanks

  2. Dave Rongey says:

    Great question Vince,
    We generally look for the outlet that is closest to the electrical panel, then we turn off the circuit breaker, remove the wires from the outlet, insulate them with wirenuts, turn the circuit back on and then test the remaining outlets to see if they lost power. If so, then we know we have located the outlet preceding the others. Next, the wire pairs in the outlet box are tested to identify the Line and the Load for proper connections to the GFCI outlet. The process is repeated until the first outlet has been identified. To make the process easier, just locate the circuit breaker and replace it with a GFCI circuit breaker, however resetting a GFCI breaker is not as convenient as resetting a GFCI outlet.
    I hope this helps,
    Dave