gfcireceptacleswitchwiring
I’d like to wire a switched GFCI combo such that the switch controls the GFCI plug. I found this diagram for doing so:
This looks easy enough. However, after unscrewing the current outlet, I’m seeing there are two hot wires and two neutral wires (and one ground):
My house was built in 1948.
What do I do with the extra hot and extra neutral wire?
And, is there a difference between the two neutrals or a difference between the two hots?
I found some helpful diagrams at do-it-yourself-help.com.
Wiring Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter Switch
With this arrangement a receptacle, switch and disposal are protected with the ground fault breaker built into the device.
Wiring Ground Fault Interrupter and Light Switch
With this arrangement the receptacle is protected but the switch remains outside the circuit. This arrangement can be used to control a light or other device where the extra protection of a gfci is not necessary.
No, this will cause inductive heating if it passes through anything ferrous. Like a Romex clamp, locknut, MC cable, or steel conduit. It is called splitting a neutral and is really bad workmanship. Depending on the current load, it could become hot enough to start a fire. Change it as soon as possible.
Best Answer
If you look carefully at your old outlet, you’ll see that there is embossed on the outlet “line” near one pair and “load” near the other.
The line wires are the power feed and the load wires run onto more outlet and/or lights that are also protected by the GFCI.
If you want, you can connect the load wires to the load terminals of the new GFCI. However, then whatever is there will also be controlled by the switch.
To avoid controlling those by the switch, you’ll need to connect the two pairs together. However, that will remove the protection from whatever is downstream and you’ll need to add one or more additional GFCIs to replace that protection.
You may want the trip off the current GFCI to see what else loses power. It could be another bathroom or even garage or outdoor outlets.