GFCI Outlet Bedroom Types

GFCI Outlets

• Ground-fault circuit interrupter outlets are usually installed in potentially wet areas such as the kitchen or bath. These outlets have a place in a bedroom suite with a master bath attached. These outlets have two buttons on them for testing and resetting the circuit. The outlet opens the circuit, shutting off the flow of electricity, when the return current is blocked. This prevents the current from continuing through the wire to you, giving you a strong jolt of electricity, especially if you or the wire are standing in water.

AFCI

• Shorts in a wire can create arcing that might not trip a circuit with a ground fault interrupter. To prevent the electrical arcing from causing a fire, an arc-fault circuit interrupter is needed to shut off the circuit. These can be either circuit breakers for the outlets in the room or outlets. These can be combined with ground fault protection in a AFCI combination circuit breaker that offers both arc fault and ground fault for the entire circuit. "The Codes Guidebook for Interiors" states that all the outlets in a bedroom must be tied to an AFCI circuit, but you can also install GFCI outlets onto the outlets protected by an AFCI circuit in the bedroom There are also AFCI outlets you can install in a bedroom where GFCI outlets are not required.

Temporary GFCI Outlets

• If you are refinishing a bedroom and anticipate that the area could get wet, use a temporary GFCI outlet. These plug into a standard, grounded outlet, and you plug your electric cord into the GFCI outlet. These temporary outlets should only be used as a short-term proposition. For your bedroom, if any outlets are within 6 feet of a sink or water source, you must install a GFCI, "The Codes Guidebook for Interiors" notes.

Outlet Wire Types

• The type of wiring in your home determines the type of outlet used in your bedroom. All outlets have a code on them to indicate whether they are for use with aluminum, copper or copper-covered aluminum. Look for a CU for use with only copper wires. The label CO/ALR should be used with aluminum wires, and a CU/AL indicates the outlet needs to be used with either copper-covered aluminum wires or copper wires.