gfci amps.

[HARRY BUCKLEY]

I have several gfci receptacles that do not work and I want to replace them. How do I know what amperage the exisiting receptacles are?

[gfretwell]

15a is a safe bet. A 15a GFCI will still pass 20a OK.

[Brian V]

If both prongs on a single outlet are vertical it&#39;s a 15a < ( | | ) >. If 1 prong is vertical and the other is a combination of vertical and horizontal, only goes half way from vertical (-| | ) then it&#39;s a 20a.

Here&#39;s a good link to show you what they look like.

-Brian

[Dave]

Go to your breaker panel and find the circuit breaker that turns them off. Match the value of that circuit breaker. Also buy a $10 outlet tester at Lowes to make sure a GFCI is wired correctly and is working.

[Keith]

This is the correct answer. Most GFCIs are rated as above.

Most outlets on 20A circuits are only capable of 15A. Code only requires

20A recepticals on 20 circuits in a few circumstances (the only outlet on a 20A circuit). GFCIs don&#39;t pose any exception to this.

[Vince]

Does this apply to GFCI outlets? The link seems to refer to "Outlets" in power strips.

The GFCI duplex outlet in my recently remodeled bathroom has a 20 amp circuit breaker homerun circuit. The prongs are simply two verticals, just like any other non-GFCI receptacle.

Vince Long Island, in NY

[Chris Lewis]

According to Vince :

US code permits the installation of that pattern outlet on 20A circuits. Doesn&#39;t matter whether it&#39;s GFCI or not.

It&#39;s legal for it to "live on" 20A circuits and "pass thru" 20A to other outlets. Just not plugging in a 20A device.

[Bud--]

Brian is describing individual receptacles which are rated for 15A or

20A in any use - regular receptacle, GFCI, power strip ... Your GFCI is 15A. If you have a device drawing more than 15A it will have a 20A plug which will not plug into your GFCI.

A duplex 15A receptacle, while each individual receptacle is only rated

15A, a total of 20A can be drawn from both of them. That is why they can be, and often are, used on a 20A circuit.

A 15A or 20A plug can be plugged into a 20A receptacle. Thus on a 20A circuit there is some advantage to using a 20A receptacle, but there aren&#39;t a lot of devices with a 20A plug.

bud--

[Mark Lloyd]

A GFCI with 15A receptacle is likely to be capable of 20A (considering feedthru).

[Keith]

Which is pretty much what I said.

[Mark Lloyd]

Pretty much, with a little clarification.