Anyone here an electrician?

[Rick Lee]

I just had a GFI outlet in the kitchen blow while Mrs. Lee was washing dishes in the sink and using the garbage disposal. The GFI outlet smoked and smelled. I have no idea where to start. Please advise.

[look 171]

Change out the GFI would be the first thing I do. It didn't trip the mail breaker. it shouldn't

[MBAtarga]

^+1
They do go bad.

[look 171]

They don't normally burn or smoke. They jsut wouldn't allow electricity to flow through when they stop working. I bet a wire came loose or grounded itself. Get it changed out. Its easy to do. Follow exactly where the existing wires is attached and you should be good. Plus, you look great with curly hair.

[Baz]

Have you checked You Tube for a solution? Seriously....a great resource!

[70SATMan]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

I just had a GFI outlet in the kitchen blow while Mrs. Lee was washing dishes in the sink and using the garbage disposal. The GFI outlet smoked and smelled. I have no idea where to start. Please advise.

The same outlet the garbage disposal is plugged into?? Under the sink or above the counter?

Usually when they go, they just won't stay engaged to complete the circuit. Have a DVM?

[Cooper911SC]

I agree with the others^^^^
Change it out. The resistance can eventually get too high and cause them to trip. Had one in a fridge circuit (why!?) and had to replace. A couple in bathrooms over the years too.

Have also had 2 instances where the outlets were located in an outside wall and during winter ants 🐜 would crawl into the wall and inside the box to get warm. The ant bodies would trip the GFCI. That was a bummer... had to vacuum them all out and seal the box with RTV to keep them out.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by Cooper911SC

I agree with the others^^^^
Change it out. The resistance can eventually get too high and cause them to trip. Had one in a fridge circuit (why!?) and had to replace. A couple in bathrooms over the years too.

Have also had 2 instances where the outlets were located in an outside wall and during winter ants 🐜 would crawl into the wall and inside the box to get warm. The ant bodies would trip the GFCI. That was a bummer... had to vacuum them all out and seal the box with RTV to keep them out.

Ants are too small to ground itself. Moisture is getting in to trip it. Its code to have them on exterior. Not my house because I don't want to have to change them out when I go and use it only to find out they no longer work. I have the cover boxes to keep water out. I haven't had any issues for 20 year.

Yeh, get rid of the one behind the ref. Its a pain in the ass when when it trips. I had a crazy young inspector demanded I install one behind the dishwasher. Called his boss to fix that and hope he got an ear full for that day.

[mattdavis11]

Replace it with a good one. I have NOT had good luck with Leviton GFI's.

[Evans, Marv]

Make sure the breaker for that circuit if off before you touch anything.

[herr_oberst]

Make a phone call to an electrician and pay him to fix your problem.

[Cooper911SC]

Originally Posted by look 171

Ants are too small to ground itself. Moisture is getting in to trip it. Its code to have them on exterior. Not my house because I don't want to have to change them out when I go and use it only to find out they no longer work. I have the cover boxes to keep water out. I haven't had any issues for 20 year.

Yeh, get rid of the one behind the ref. Its a pain in the ass when when it trips. I had a crazy young inspector demanded I install one behind the dishwasher. Called his boss to fix that and hope he got an ear full for that day.

The outlets were inside the house but located on an exterior wall. The ants were practically Packed in there. Like they were building a nest or something! 🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜 LOL!

It took a few times of the GFI tripping before I pulled the cover plate to see WTH was going on, (button would usually reset)...then ant swarm. Crazy! I’m sure it was many burning ant bodies inside after they made the “connection”! 😆

[look 171]

Originally Posted by Cooper911SC

The outlets were inside the house but located on an exterior wall. 😆

???

[DonDavis]

Well, I'm no gynecologist, but I'll take a look.

[Cooper911SC]

Originally Posted by look 171

???

Gotta be me not using the correct terminology... it’s an outlet located on one of the peripheral (outside?) walls of the structure.
In other words, not on a wall between rooms inside the house.

Ants got under the exterior siding and into the wall, then into the “warm” box where outlets were located.

I know what you mean about the outdoor/wet location rated boxes. Have several of those on exterior walls too. Never had a problem there. 😄

[Rick Lee]

Ok, just getting to read all these. I was not using the GFI outlet that apparently died. The garbage disposal is plugged into an outlet under the sink. There's a rocker wall switch a few feet away, but between the sink and the GFI outlet on an adjacent wall. I don't think I had ever touched that rocker switch, but when I did, it shut down everything on that circuit. When I flipped it again, the garbage disposal still ran, but the GFI outlet crackled and hummed some more and then finally all went dead. I'm assuming any 15A GFI outlet will do, right?

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by mattdavis11

Replace it with a good one. I have NOT had good luck with Leviton GFI's.

Same here but I don't know which brand is better. I have an outdoor GFI that needs to be replaced because it won't rest.

[red-beard]

You have multiple outlets per circuit, but only 1 GFCI per circuit. The circuit wires through the GFCI then to the other outlets, protecting all downstream circuits with 1 GFCI.

GFCI trips or goes bad, all the rest are off. Replace the GFCI, wire it exactly the same, you'll be set.

If you don't like doing electrical work, pay an electrician to do it right. Probably $200-250 for trip charge and 15 min work.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Ok, just getting to read all these. I was not using the GFI outlet that apparently died. The garbage disposal is plugged into an outlet under the sink. There's a rocker wall switch a few feet away, but between the sink and the GFI outlet on an adjacent wall. I don't think I had ever touched that rocker switch, but when I did, it shut down everything on that circuit. When I flipped it again, the garbage disposal still ran, but the GFI outlet crackled and hummed some more and then finally all went dead. I'm assuming any 15A GFI outlet will do, right?

It sounds like a loose wire. The newer outlets have a stab connection which does not need a screwdriver. I've had a bunch go bad at about 15 years, including switches and outlets. I always replace with the screw terminal type.

[911 Rod]

Like red-beard said ^^^^
Replace GFI and check all connections down stream.