Need help wiring GFCI outlets to on/off switches

[tdkee1]

Hello my DIY friends! I need your help!

I want to install a few electrical outlets and a few on/off switches inside my aquarium stand. I want to eliminate having to unplug and plug in my pump and canister every time I do a water change. It would be so much nicer to just flip a switch.

Here is what I think I need so far...


How do I wire it all so that there is just one plug going from the back of the stand and plugged into the wall outlet?
I want to have each switch control just one plug. One switch for my pump and one switch for my canister and maybe a switch for my fans. I want the other outlets to have constant power. I've been looking at wiring diagrams online but I am still confused. Please help!

 

[zukiGS500]

If something like wiring in a switch to an outlet is confusing for you, perhaps doing your own wiring is not the safest thing to be trying without someones help. Have you done any type of electrical wiring before?

 

[Oughtsix]

Plug from wall --> Incoming side of GFI outlet (Line)
Protected side of GFI outlet (Load) --> all other always on outlets
Protected side of GFI outlet (Load) --> Switch --> Switched outlet
Protected side of GFI outlet (Load) --> Switch --> Switched outlet

You can chain the protected circuits together or you can bundle all of the supply wires to the protected circuits in a great big wad.

To chain: Start from the protected terminals on the GFI outlet. Wire the first outlet to the protected GFI terminals. Wire the second outlet to the first outlet etc. Wire the first switch to the last outlet. Wire the next switch to the supply line of the first switch.

Switches only switch the HOT side of the circuit. The Hot side is the Black wire. Remember Black = Death! Do you know which side of an outlet is the hot/black side? It is the right side of the outlet when you are facing the outlet with the ground on the bottom. The screw for the HOT side is usually brass colored and the neutral side (white) is usually tin colored. The prong slot on the hot side of the outlet is usually shorter than the neutral side.

Black wire --> Switch --> Outlet
White wire -------------> Outlet

The GFI outlet should be the first in the line. All other outlets should go through the GFI outlet to receive GFI protection. The wall plug that everything is plugged into should not be GFI protected.

Get an outlet tester from harbor freight or lowes. It will tell you if you wired the HOT black wire to the correct side of the outlet.

IF you decide to go with 12 or 14 gauge stranded wire crimp on fork terminals make securing the wire under the screw much easier. If you go with solid core wire the type of outlet that you can push the stripped wire into the hole on the back is much easier.

Buy the expensive plugs at Lowes/Home depot. The will handle 12 or 14 gauge solid wire without a problem. The cheap plugs will only handle 14 gauge solid wire. The expensive plugs will hold up MUCH better over time. You should NOT be using the 20 amp plugs with one of the slots in a sideways T shape since your are going to be plugging everything into a 15 amp circuit.

IF all this doesn't make sense to you get some help from some one that is experienced with electrical wiring.

http://www.helpinaflash.com/House-Projects/GFI-Outlet-Wiring.cfm

 

[skjl47]

Hello; I just installed some GFI outlets. Your diagram shows only one GFI outlet. On the back of the GFI will be two sets of terminals and a green ground terminal. They will be marked as line and load terminals. The wires comming out of the switch to the GFI outlet will be the line ( The ones that carry electricity from the breaker box.) The load terminals should have a tape over them to be removed only if you intend to run the electricity to another outlet. Several GFI outlets can be strung together, but care needs to be taken to wire the line and load terminals properly. If not the GFI outlets cannot be reset untill you do. Ther should be instructions with the outlets.
I got the line and load wires mixed up once and the GFI would not work. I had to re do the wires into the proper terminals and all was fine.
I believe there are power strips with built in GFI that would also have a handy off /on switch. Might save some hassle.

 

[tdkee1]

Thanks Oughtsix and skjl47. I appreciate you guys for taking the time to explain to me how to do it. Now I'm going to do my part by researching it more before I go ahead with the install. Safety first. You guys have laid the template for me which helps a lot. I have a better understanding of how it's done now. Thanks! Will let you know how it goes.

 

[gmalone]

I just built something like this a couple of months ago for my 50 gallon stand. I'm embarrassed to say that I totally forgot to put in a GFI; I guess I'll be adding one before I use this.

 

[tdkee1]

That looks great gmalone! How did you wire that and how are you going to wire your gfci outlet?

 

[tdkee1]

I was planning on using one of these from Guitar Center but from the reviews they seem very unreliable...

 

[tdkee1]

 

[Oughtsix]

View attachment 741853View attachment 741854

Great idea and a very cool looking unit! Where did find that it was unreliable? On ebay I see some other brands... I.e. Pyle. I wonder if those are better?