Questions About Changing GFCI receptacle to a normal three pronged outlet

07-10-2007, 02:38 PM	#1
LYTTONJ Newbie   Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 3	Questions About Changing GFCI receptacle to a normal three pronged outlet Is it possible to change a GFCI receptacle to a normal outlet? Any help would be appreciated Thanks, Jamie Lytton

Warning: The topics covered on this site include activities in which there exists the potential for serious injury or death. DIYChatroom.com DOES NOT guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information contained on this site. Always use proper safety precaution and reference reliable outside sources before attempting any home improvement task!

07-10-2007, 02:44 PM	#2
HouseHelper Licensed Pro   Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: SC Posts: 1,421	Questions About Changing GFCI receptacle to a normal three pronged outlet If the receptacle is required to be GFCI protected (kitchen, bathroom, garage, crawlspace, exterior), then no, you cannot replace with a standard receptacle unless you replace the breaker for that circuit with a GFCI breaker.

07-10-2007, 03:57 PM	#3
Stubbie UAW SKILLED TRADES     Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Kansas Posts: 4,584	Questions About Changing GFCI receptacle to a normal three pronged outlet Jamie Is there any particular reason your wanting to do this? Are you having trouble with the gfci tripping? Or maybe you want to plug in a deep freeze or fridge? Stubbie

07-10-2007, 04:41 PM	#4
LYTTONJ Newbie   Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 3	Questions About Changing GFCI receptacle to a normal three pronged outlet For some reason my brother wants to replace to make everything uniform and matching in the house. I told him just to leave it but he is determined and i thought i would check just to make sure he can do that.

07-10-2007, 06:46 PM	#5
JohnJ0906 Master Electrician     Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 332	Questions About Changing GFCI receptacle to a normal three pronged outlet Quote: Originally Posted by HouseHelper If the receptacle is required to be GFCI protected (kitchen, bathroom, garage, crawlspace, exterior), then no, you cannot replace with a standard receptacle unless you replace the breaker for that circuit with a GFCI breaker. I Second this. Safety trumps aesthetics, if he really wants uniform devices, he will have to install GFCI breakers for all these circuits. __________________ John from Baltimore One Day at a Time To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. "Experience is what you get when you were expecting something else" "The bitterness of low quality lingers long after the sweetness of low cost is forgotten"

07-10-2007, 07:14 PM	#6
redline Member   Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 2,083	Questions About Changing GFCI receptacle to a normal three pronged outlet Stay with the gfci - safer.

07-11-2007, 08:19 AM	#7
RippySkippy Member     Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Ames, Iowa Posts: 1,233	Questions About Changing GFCI receptacle to a normal three pronged outlet As previously stated, safety trumps aesthetics...every time. Encourage him to install the designer outlets in the rest of the outlet boxes, their similar in shape to the GFCI's. When bought by the contractor pack, it takes a small pinch out of the sting. The GFCI breaker is another good suggestion.

07-11-2007, 08:34 AM	#8
LYTTONJ Newbie   Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 3	Questions About Changing GFCI receptacle to a normal three pronged outlet Thanks for your help I talked him into keeping the Gfci just replacing it with a new Gfci of the same color as the rest of his outlets. I laid the knowledge on him that i got from you guys thanks again.

06-09-2008, 02:46 PM	#9
paul110h Newbie   Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 8	Questions About Changing GFCI receptacle to a normal three pronged outlet Hey Stubbie, I am having that exact problem... I want to Plug in a frig in the garage and my GFI trips after about 15 seconds of the frig running What do I need to do to get it working? Last edited by paul110h; 06-09-2008 at 02:50 PM.

06-09-2008, 03:12 PM	#10
jbfan Electrical Contractor   Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Newnan GA Posts: 5,023	Questions About Changing GFCI receptacle to a normal three pronged outlet Replace the fridge. __________________ Yes I am a Pirate, 200 years too late. "Jimmy Buffett"

05-04-2011, 03:05 PM	#11
DannyT Member   Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Groveport, Ohio Posts: 1,580	Questions About Changing GFCI receptacle to a normal three pronged outlet Does your brother have a family? would he rather have matching outlets or risk a member of his family getting electrocuted?

05-04-2011, 03:23 PM	#12
Saturday Cowboy Scared Electrician     Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 715	Questions About Changing GFCI receptacle to a normal three pronged outlet Gotta love newbie draggin up old threads. 3 years old this one __________________ Ragged Trousered Philanthropist Please follow the code - its there for your safety no matter how inconvenient.