answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

A GFCI receptacle can pass it's "protection" to other outlets wired from it. If the GFCI trips, all outlets wired from it will "trip" also. A GFCI tripping will not necessarily trip the circuit breaker in the service panel.

User Avatar

Wiki User

19y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: Plugging an electric heater into a GFI outlet caused the lights and other outlets to go out but didn't trip the circuit breaker why?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Continue Learning about Natural Sciences

Can you use a 15 amp 115 volt device in standard outlet?

The outlet is connected to and protected by a breaker or fuse in a main electric panel. The outlet should be sized to the protection. Usually utility outlets in a residence are either 15 A or 20 A. If there are multiple outlets on a circuit then the total current cannot exceed the protection value of the breaker or fuse.


Can you replace a 20 amp circuit breaker with a 25 amp circuit breaker?

No. The breaker must protect the circuit components such as wiring, outlets and switches that are connected to the breaker. Therefore if you have a 30 amp circuit as dictated by its components you need to protect it with a 30 amp or less breaker.


How many outlets and lights on a 60 amp breaker?

120 amps The above answer is wrong. A 60 amp breaker is designed to trip at 60 amps be it a single pole, double pole or a triple pole that is used on three phase equipment. The number on the handle of a breaker is the trip capacity.


Should you use 14-2 or 12-2 for garage outlets and lights in Richfield mn?

The only determining factor is the size of the circuit breaker that you will be using. If the garage circuit will be protected with a 15 Amp breaker, you may use a 14 AWG wire. If the circuit will be protected with a 20 amp breaker, you must use a 12 AWG wire. Note too that garage outlets should be protected with a GFCI breaker or outlet. If you have any concerns regarding your ability to adequately design and install the garage outlets, please, for your own safety, contact a local electrician.


What Voltage type are in outlets at home?

Your home electrical wall outlets current capacity is governed by the breaker that feeds that circuit. In most home situations the wall receptacles are fed with a 15 amp breaker. Dedicated outlets could have a higher ampacity as they are installed for specific appliances or devices. To check your circuit, plug a lamp into the outlet. Start flipping the breakers off. When the lamp goes out that is the breaker for that circuit. Look on the handle of the breaker and it will tell you the capacity of that particular circuit.

Related questions

What size circuit breaker do you need for kichen counter outlets?

Two 20 Amp circuits with the outlets staggered so a different circuit is on two adjacent outlets. Should be GFCI protected.


Can a circuit with a GFCI be shared at the box?

Your question is a bit vague, but let's try a two part answer. If you have a GFCI breaker in an electric panel you should only have one connection at the breaker, but the breaker will protect all devices on the circuit. If you are talking about a GFCI outlet, they are equipped to extend the GFCI protection to other non-GFCI outlets by using the proper "output" connection on the GFCI.


Can you use a 15 amp 115 volt device in standard outlet?

The outlet is connected to and protected by a breaker or fuse in a main electric panel. The outlet should be sized to the protection. Usually utility outlets in a residence are either 15 A or 20 A. If there are multiple outlets on a circuit then the total current cannot exceed the protection value of the breaker or fuse.


Is a ground fault indicator outlet installed at the breaker box?

There are tow places to put a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter. There is a GFCI breaker which would be installed in a breaker box and a GFCI outlet that can be installed anywhere. Most GFCI outlets allow you to connect regular outlets to the GFCI and those outlets will also be protected.


Can you replace a 20 amp circuit breaker with a 25 amp circuit breaker?

No. The breaker must protect the circuit components such as wiring, outlets and switches that are connected to the breaker. Therefore if you have a 30 amp circuit as dictated by its components you need to protect it with a 30 amp or less breaker.


How many outlets and lights on a 60 amp breaker?

120 amps The above answer is wrong. A 60 amp breaker is designed to trip at 60 amps be it a single pole, double pole or a triple pole that is used on three phase equipment. The number on the handle of a breaker is the trip capacity.


How are the outlets on a circuit in a house wired together?

Assume a single breaker controlling a number of outlets. The black wire is HOT, the white wire is Neutral and the green or bare wire is Ground. The wires and outlets should match the rating of the breaker in Amps. Typically 15 A for 14 Gauge wire. (I prefer 20A outlets and 12 gauge wire). You must calculate the expected load at each outlet. The electric code may be different in each locale, but 8 to 10 outlets on a circuit might be typical for general usage. That is over an amp per outlet. If you had a situation where you knew you would be plugging in a high amp device liek an electric heater you might only have 1 outlet on circuit. You wire the outlets in a circuit in parallel and make certain each is wired identically. The Black wire should always be on the copper colored screw and the white on silver screw and the ground on the green screw. For a couple of bucks you can buy an outlet tester. It is usually yellow with a three prong plug and lights that tell you if an outlet is wired correctly with power turned on. The lights identify problems based on which lights are lit.


Do you have a 15 0r 20 amp circuit?

Go to your distribution panel and shut off the breaker that you think is the circuit in question. If the circuit becomes de-energized then the breaker you just turned off feeds that circuit. Look on the handle of the breaker and the number you see is the amperage of that circuit. <<>> Determination of a 15 or 20 Ampere circuit is normally indicated by a combination of a 20A breaker and a 20A dedicated outlet. A 15A circuit normally has multiple outlets; not typical in a 20A circuit.


Should you use 14-2 or 12-2 for garage outlets and lights in Richfield mn?

The only determining factor is the size of the circuit breaker that you will be using. If the garage circuit will be protected with a 15 Amp breaker, you may use a 14 AWG wire. If the circuit will be protected with a 20 amp breaker, you must use a 12 AWG wire. Note too that garage outlets should be protected with a GFCI breaker or outlet. If you have any concerns regarding your ability to adequately design and install the garage outlets, please, for your own safety, contact a local electrician.


What is a dedicated circuit?

A "dedicated" circuit is one to which only one device is or can be connected; therefore the circuit is "dedicated" to the device. A NON dedicated circuit will therefore be one to which multiple devices can connect, such as the wall outlets in your home. Multiple wall outlets are connected to a common circuit breaker, making that an example of a non-dedicated circuit.


What Voltage type are in outlets at home?

Your home electrical wall outlets current capacity is governed by the breaker that feeds that circuit. In most home situations the wall receptacles are fed with a 15 amp breaker. Dedicated outlets could have a higher ampacity as they are installed for specific appliances or devices. To check your circuit, plug a lamp into the outlet. Start flipping the breakers off. When the lamp goes out that is the breaker for that circuit. Look on the handle of the breaker and it will tell you the capacity of that particular circuit.


The maximum number of duplex outlets that can be served by a single 15 ampere 120V circuit is?

10 outlets as defined by the national electric code