Whenever there is leakage current in the GFCI outlet, it will trip itself. Once it trips itself, the appliance connected to it will not receive power. You won’t be able to operate it.
In that case, you will have to find out a way to reset the GFCI outlet. Once you reset the GFCI outlet, it will supply power to the device connected to it once again.
The question is, how to reset GFCI outlet?
I will answer this below.
With the help of the step-by-step procedure below, resetting the GFCI outlet is easy.
How to reset gfci outlet?
GFCI outlet’s come with a small button that is located near the center. Whenever the tripping occurs, the button will pop out. In that case, pressing the button again will reset it.
However, you have to keep in mind that if you do not eliminate the cause of tripping, it will trip once again. In that case, resetting will not benefit you at all.
If it starts tripping again and again and you aren’t able to find the fault, there will be no other alternative but to call the electrician. That can be costly.
There is, however, a way in which you can find the cause of tripping. Once you find the reason, it will become easy for you to fix the problem.
1. You have to unplug each device connected to the GFCI outlet or in the circuit.
2. After that, you have to think about resetting the GFCI outlet. To reset it, you have to just press the button which has popped out.
3. You have to, after that, try plugging every item in and turning on the GFCI outlet after plugging each item. Once you are sure that the item which you have connected is not tripping the circuit, you have to turn the outlet off and connect the next gadget.
4. You have to after that repeat the process for the next gadget. Once you do so, it is easy to understand which appliance is tripping the outlet.
5. It might so happen that the GFCI outlet might not trip even after connecting all the gadgets. In that case, the problem lies with the circuit breaker of your home.
With this method’s help, it will become really easy for you to find out the faulty appliance. Once you find the defective device, it will become easier to replace it or fix it.
When you replace it or fix it, the GFCI outlet will not trip again and again.
Resetting the GFCI outlet is undoubtedly easy but diagnosing the faulty appliance is not. With my method above, finding the faulty device is equally easy as well.
In some cases, you won’t be able to reset it despite your best effort. If you face this problem, it is time to fix this problem and, after that, reset the GFCI outlet.
I will let you know how to do so below.
What to do if you can’t reset it?
There are essentially 3 reasons why you won’t be able to reset the GFCI outlet. I will cover all these 3 reasons below.
1. Check the circuit breaker:
The 1st thing you have to keep in mind is that the circuit breaker of the entire circuit might have tripped. It might so happen that the circuit breaker of the whole home might have tripped as well.
When that is the case, even if you reset the GFCI outlet, it will trip once again. Irrespective of how many times you reset the GFCI outlet, it will trip again and again.
The best way forward is to check the circuit breakers associated with the circuit. You have to check the circuit breaker associated with not just that circuit but also the entire home as well.
If it has tripped, you have to reset that circuit breaker 1st. Only when you reset that circuit breaker can you reset the GFCI outlet as well.
Thus, when you aren’t able to reset the GFCI outlet, the 1st thing you have to do is check the circuit breakers.
2. Eliminate the moisture:
If the circuit breakers are fine, it is time to look at moisture’s effect on the GFCI circuit.
Many times, due to excessive moisture, there might be a continuous flow of leakage current. When the leakage current flows consistently, the GFCI outlet will trip itself again and again. When you reset the GFCI outlet, in that case, it will trip once again.
Fortunately, eliminating moisture from the circuit is easy.
Firstly, you have to ensure that the circuit is disconnected. Once it is disconnected, you have to use a Hair Dryer to eliminate the moisture. You have to use the hairdryer at the gentle setting. You have to ensure that the hairdryer does not directly come in contact with the circuit. You have to keep a distance of a couple of inches, at least between the circuit and the hairdryer.
Once you eliminate moisture by hair drying the circuit for 5 to 10 minutes, you can connect it back and reset it.
If the cause of constant tripping is moisture, this method will certainly help you solve the problem.
3. Short-circuiting of wires:
Whenever any wires in the circuit are short-circuited, the leakage current will flow consistently. In this case, even if you reset the GFCI outlet, it will trip itself once again.
If you have checked for the above 2 faults and none of them are the cause for tripping, it is time to look at the wires’ shorting.
However, an ordinary person is not knowledgeable enough to examine the circuit entirely. Only an electrician can spot shorting of wires and solve the problem.
If any 2 wires are short, no matter how many times you reset the GFCI outlet, it will trip again and again.
These are the 3 probable reasons why a GFCI outlet trip itself.
So, resetting the GFCI outlet is undoubtedly easy. My guide above will help you out with the same. In case you aren’t able to reset it, I have highlighted 3 probable causes for the same.
A GFCI outlet can undoubtedly make your life easier. To buy a light with a GFCI outlet for outdoor applications, you can read my post here.