Kitchen outlets above sink- no gfi protection

paintdrying

I have six kitchen receptacles on a 20 amp circuit. Two of them above the sink. I checked the panel and it is a standard breaker. The circuit feeds only the receptacles in the kitchen. I have found no gfi protection for those six receptacles What I want to do is pull all the receptacles and replace them all. The first one with a gfi, as to protect all up stream. Or do I buy standard receptacles and replace the breaker with a fault interrupter. The house was built in 1977 in Cleveland Ohio. I am looking for the best most up to code way of doing this project. Cost is not a factor.

rjniles

Identify the first receptacle and replace with GFCI and connect the rest to the load side.

Or

Install a GFCI breaker.

Either one is fully compliant.

__________________
Location:
Coastal South Carolina

k_buz

Technically, those receptacles behind the sink should be blanked off so they cannot be used.

__________________

bobelectric

I don't buy that. What did the N.E.C say at original inspection?

paintdrying

Is there any reason to replace all receptacles with gfi s? I would also like to clarify the location of the receptacles behind the sink. They sit just on the very outside edge of the sink and are @ 8 inches above the counter top.

k_buz

I don't know when the code was put in place. Personally, I don't THINK it was ever legal to put a receptacle directly behind a sink, but I have nothing to back me up. If the receptacles are outside the edge of the sink, they are fine.

__________________

jbfan

I don't know if they were still using al. back then, but make sure to have a copper/al. rated device if you do.

__________________
Yes I am a Pirate, 200 years too late. "Jimmy Buffett"

Jim Port

I have never seen a gfi rated for aluminum.

__________________
Answers based on the National Electrical Code. Local amendments may apply. Check with your local building officials.

joecaption

Only need one gfi per circut as long as it's the first one in the circut.
In coming power goes to the line side, out going goes to the load side.

kbsparky

GFCI protection for kitchen counter receptacles was not required until the 1987 edition of the NEC.

So, any house built or wired before that time did not require such protection.

As others have pointed out, you can provide GFCI protection in many ways, by installing a breaker at the panel, or a GFCI device at the first outlet in the circuit.

Or, a stand-alone GFCI receptacle in place of each outlet. If your circuit includes an outlet for a refrigerator, then I'd recommend this method, leaving the fridge outlet without GFCI protection.

__________________
-KB

Life is uncertain -- eat dessert first!!
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

paintdrying

My original thought was that the fridge was feed by the kitchen receptacles, I was surprised to see the fridge on a dedicated circuit. Same with the microwave. The receptacles are worn out, I pulled one of them to just take a peek and it was back stabbed. The electrician I worked with would pull, cut and strip, then bend the wire and put it on the screw of the receptacle. In what seemed like one fluid movement. I have plenty of slack, should I cut and strip or wrestle getting the wires out of the back?

stickboy1375

There is nothing wrong with a receptacle behind a sink, code wise anyways...

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

kbsparky

If you have plenty of slack, cut and strip would be the way I'd go ...

__________________
-KB

Life is uncertain -- eat dessert first!!
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.