I'm having some trouble with a GFCI outlet that's tripping constantly, even when the only thing plugged into it is a two-prong adapter for my wireless router. This outlet is in a storage room that doesn't get any water from outside—no leaks or anything. However, it's on a wall that's shared with a shower room, although that room doesn't have any outlets. Interestingly, there's another outlet a few feet away on the same wall that isn't connected to the GFCI. Can someone explain why there would be two separate outlets like this, especially one with a GFCI?
3 Answers
It’s possible that one outlet is on a different circuit than the GFCI, which could explain their independence. Sometimes, outlets are added on separate circuits during renovations or when additional electrical work is done. If the GFCI is tripping, it could be due to a faulty appliance or a wiring issue. Definitely check how everything is wired!
It sounds like the GFCI outlet might be there to protect against any potential water issues since it's near a shower room. Building codes usually require GFCI outlets within a certain distance of water sources to minimize electrocution risks. The other outlet being non-GFCI could just mean it’s located far enough from any potential water exposure to follow code. There could also be a chance that the second outlet was added later without the same requirements!
From what I've seen, the GFCI outlet would be used where there’s a risk of moisture, and you run into a problem if a device created a ground fault. Using a two-prong adapter in a GFCI isn't ideal since these outlets typically serve three-prong devices. You might want to consider grounding options or swapping it out for a different setup altogether. That might help alleviate the issue.