Should I replace My Kitchen Split-Circuit Receptacles With GFCIs?

Рет қаралды 10,588

10 ай бұрын

Two issues I typically see regarding split-circuit kitchen receptacles are:
1. Why does my breaker trip when I replace the receptacle?
2. Should I replace the receptacle with ground fault circuit protection (GFCI) devices?
In this video I take a deep into the mechanics of the split-circuit kitchen receptacle, and review the merit (and challenges) of replacing them with GFCIs to provide ground fault protection.
I expose the most common mistake made when replacing these devices and how to rectify it. I also demonstrate the steps to switching the split-circuit receptacle out to GFCIs, and ask the question of whether there is a need to do so.
Kitchen Split Circuit Receptacles Explained: • Kitchen Split Circuit ...
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Пікірлер: 41

@baalthazaarr5976 5 ай бұрын

This video was EXACTLY what I was looking for! It couldn't be more bang on, I was struggling to find an answer to this very specific situation. Thank you!!

@bertadelaudebri7179 20 күн бұрын

Thanks, superior advice and guidance. Your detailed explanations are quite useful for DIY's as well as professionals...

@MarioDallaRiva 10 ай бұрын

Thanks, Terry. Excellent explanation on this topic. I appreciate you sharing your expertise 👏🏻

@theinternetelectrician 10 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching!

@glenmartin7995 5 ай бұрын

Excellent, we'll thought through video. Gave me all the answers I needed in one place. Thanks so much!

@adamnriddle 5 ай бұрын

Very thorough and helpful video. Thank you!

@OtisPlunk 4 ай бұрын

Great Video, Terry. I'm extending a multi-wire branch circuit for a work-surface adjacent to the kitchen area. One phase actually splits off and becomes a dedicated circuit for the washer/dryer and the other phase serves the kitchen countertop for small appliances. It's a little goofy, I thought, but I didn't wire it.

@rocketj7449 3 ай бұрын

I have a split receptacle next to my kitchen sink, one with a switch for garbage disposal and the other is an outlet. This video helped my wrap my mind around what is going on. Thanks Terry!

@dog2man1994 10 ай бұрын

Now if only this KZfaq video could help me get over my perfectly rational fear of electricity.

@theinternetelectrician 10 ай бұрын

Golden rule! Turn off the power to the circuit! But I do know many people that feel the same way, and that's OK. That's when we leave it to the professionals.

@robchung552 6 ай бұрын

Great videos Terry! My question is what is proper way of adding a dishwasher to a split circuit outlet.

@johnmclaughlin3662 5 ай бұрын

Thank you Very much

@froglobster 6 ай бұрын

Hello, I have the red black white on a regular receptacle by the sink. Recently I put in a double gang box and tapped into the receptacle for single switch and pot light over sink all good. Now to switch out receptacle to GFCI, do I use red and black and white somehow? Thanks

@Caitlin.EJ.Meyer7008 10 ай бұрын

Hi there Terry Peterman! Do you have to replace a GFCI in a kitchen every few years or is it fine to just leave them be as long as you know they are working? For example some Home owners never replace there kitchen GFCI wall outlets from day 1 to a lifetime and seem some owners have had good luck with zero problems. Or in some cases what about home owners that hardly ever use there GFCI kitchen outlets?

@szaw4452 5 ай бұрын

Good video.

@theinternetelectrician 5 ай бұрын

Thank-you! Happy New Year!

@scottmartin7330 20 күн бұрын

Very similar circumstance. I have a split receptical in my kitchen, but the circuit only runs a single split receptical. If I want to change to GFCI, can I simply omit the red wire by disconnecting at the breaker and capping the red in the outlet box? I'd also have to change out the breaker to single pole - but I'm thinking I'm actually gaining a breaker slot. Does this make sense?

@theinternetelectrician 13 күн бұрын

Yes, you're on the right track, but as I mention in the video, why make the change? Yes, you are gaining a breaker space in the panel, but on the flip side, you're losing a full 15A circuit for your kitchen appliances. Given that the wire is presumably #14, you can't even size up the single breaker to a 20A.

@northyland1157 5 ай бұрын

My garage was turned into a room with bathroom and kitchenette and Landry room. Non of these rooms had GFCI (and not GFCI Breakers.) I ended up changing 5 outlets into GFCI.. Its been fine for 35 years, but I feel safer especially using my hair trimmer and hair drier with GFCI. Any outlet that I have ever used near water, I changed to GFCI.

@meetanandan 2 ай бұрын

My electrician ran a 12/2 (20 Amps) wire from breaker box to kitchen with 20 Amp breaker (GFCI) and did a split circuit on same receptacle using 14/3 wire to power dishwasher (10 amps) and food disposer (7.5 amps). Is this OK?

@jeffbenedet8342 7 ай бұрын

Well Done. My question for my kitchen split plug 15 A, normal 2 pole breaker. I see a new product that has 1 GFCI on the bottom and a switch on the top. (Leviton) With the 14/3 wire coming into the box, can i use the black live to power the GFCI and the red live to power the switch ( for say a pot light above the sink) ? So basically instead of capping off the red wire, I am using it to power a switch.

@theinternetelectrician 7 ай бұрын

Good question! News to me about the new device from Leviton! I just had a look at the device and no, it uses the incoming hot to the device, and you can protect other outlets downstream on the load side, and the switched output terminal comes from the same source and is also on the load side of the protection so the light fixture or any device that you chose to have switched is also GFCI protected so you can only utilize one of the hot wires, cap off the other.

@jeffbenedet8369 7 ай бұрын

Thank you for clarifying.

@rocketj7449 3 ай бұрын

I have the same question too. I purchased Leviton GFSW1-KW and according to the instructions, the switch can be wired non GFCI protected. So can the wires coming off the switch be wired directly to the garbage disposal?

@rocketj7449 3 ай бұрын

@@theinternetelectrician Terry, can you clarify wiring instructions for Leviton GFSW1-KW? The instructions say you can wire the switch without GFCI protection. So you have two black wires exiting the back of receptacle. Can you wire those direct to line and load for garbage disposal? I have another hot coming into the box for the outlet portion that I wanted to wire to the GFCI. Otherwise, I may have to trim tile to open cutout for a 2 gang box so I can wire a separate switch and 2 outlet GFCI.

@lepke1979 9 ай бұрын

I possibly misunderstood things, but would the GFCI wiring you showed still apply if I have two 20-amp breakers (dishwasher [always on] and garbage disposal [on switch]) hooked to a split outlet under the sink? Your examples seem to be going outlet to outlet. But mine is (I believe) breaker to outlet under the sink and I guess another breaker to a switch to that same under the sink outlet. I'm guessing I'm going to have to go the GFCI breaker route since I don't feel like dealing with cutting holes in the cabinet under the sink to add another outlet and/or do some fancy wiring with how it is currently.

@theinternetelectrician 9 ай бұрын

Going back to my video, I must ask you why? Why do you want to change this? This is how many kitchens are wired to accommodate the dishwasher and garbage disposal and all passed inspection at the time of installation and are grandfathered in so there is no requirement to change anything here. But if you would feel better with GFCI (and now the breaker would probably be GFCI/AFCI combo), you could replace the breaker as this would be the easiest solution.

@lepke1979 9 ай бұрын

@@theinternetelectrician Costco is apparently requiring it for installation (if they do it, I guess). I'm trying to see if I can get out of it for grandfather purposes and also because they didn't require it last time four years ago. But perhaps something changed in my state. Either way, I doubt it's something I can get out of and it's probably for the best in the long run. Just annoying.

@theinternetelectrician 9 ай бұрын

@@lepke1979 then changing the breaker will be best, but I’d confirm with them why and what they will accept. Is this a garbage disposal or a new dishwasher they are installing?

@lepke1979 9 ай бұрын

@@theinternetelectrician Just a dishwasher. Can do the install myself, but it's included with the delivery. But now it's just become more of a headache than being nice.

@carolicious 3 күн бұрын

@@lepke1979 i know this is an old comment, but I’m in the same situation currently with Costco saying that I need to get the GFCI installed for the dishwasher installation, which means my split of disposal and dishwasher in it’s current set up will not work. What did you end up doing? Did you just ask them to not install it or did you everything out? Thanks for any guidance you can give!

@mtbrdude 5 күн бұрын

I'm going to sacrifice my split receptacles because I have a child who is at the age where she's old enough to do stuff around the kitchen. I remember how well I listened to instructions, at her age, and I don't want her to make the same stupid mistakes I did.

@samjones1954 10 ай бұрын

Terry, in one word, describe what happens when you hook up the new outlet and forget to remove the jumper? lol You got to it, I was too early,, your probably right, the breaker would refuse to connect. Too bad, I like fireworks.

@theinternetelectrician 10 ай бұрын

In one word? It rhymes with truck, but starts with an 'F' 🙂. But it's usually quite unspectacular. The breaker just fights back and clicks off immediately. Sometimes you do see sparks however!

@samjones1954 10 ай бұрын

Not enough. lol. I want spectacular fireworks...I know jump out the circuit breaker. lol And if your real good at it, you might take out the transformer outside your house. They make really good fireworks shows.@@theinternetelectrician

@rodsmith1612 8 ай бұрын

Will the gfci still be splits?

@bbhandar 6 ай бұрын

good question and has not been answere

@jamesyoung1172 2 ай бұрын

I couldn’t understand why there was a red wire in there.

@aurvaroy6670 3 ай бұрын

Honestly, if I went with replacing those split receptacles with GFCI ones, I'd still use the red wire so that the MWBC circuit will still have both phases utilized. Like the first outlet would use the black hot, the second one would use the red hot, and continue alternating like that. Not saying your method is wrong. It's actually simple, but I would be willing to go the extra mile by capping the red wire in the panel and replacing the two pole with a single pole breaker. That way, there's no more shared neutral and live red wire, allowing only one GFCI receptacle to protect downstream ones. This is assuming the circuit is only supplying power to the kitchen of course.