Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter

Exterior

One of my outdoor electrical outlets stopped working after putting up my outdoor Christmas lights. When I checked the electrical box in the basement, all the circuit breakers were in the engaged position. Hmmm.

After a little more investigation, I discovered that all of my outdoor electrical outlets were not working. Everything else was fine.

Time to call an electrician? No.

Did you know that all of your outside electrical outlets are protected by a single Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI)?

A GFCI is an electrical device that senses an electrical short and shuts the circuit down. It is much quicker than a typical circuit breaker and is intended to save you from electrocuting yourself.

The GFCI that protects all of your exterior electrical outlets is in the electrical outlet on your porch. It looks like this;

If the GFCI has been tripped, the RESET button will protrude from the surface of the outlet. Clear up the electrical problem, press the RESET button and power will be restored to all of your outside outlets.

Interior

You also have a GFCI in the Master bathroom and one on the electrical board in your basement. If anyone knows how these are set up, please let me know.