Outlet question - CGIF

[Newman39Fan]

So while doing my design and planning, I thought to myself "hey, I have some outlets in a bag in the basement from my last house. Use these and you can save some $ on your TD". So I went to the basement and found them, brand new, still in the box. However they are CGIF outlets rated at only 15amp, not 30. My design calls for only 3 outlets. The first one would be a 30amp CGIF outlet that I now have to buy. My question is can I use these 15amp outlets for the other 2 outlets or will that cause an issue? I know it is not a big cost save but every little bit helps.

Thanks

[chorizon]

What are you going to run on that 30 Amp circuit, an electric blast-furnace?

[Newman39Fan]

OK, So maybe I am stupid, would not be the first time someone said so. I thought from reading all of the electrical threads that the 110 power should have a 30amp CGIF outlet as the first one in line as the fuse and then the rest of the outlets as standard outlets. Am I wrong about this?

[Lou Park]

So I went to the basement and found them, brand new, still in the box. However they are CGIF outlets rated at only 15amp, not 30. My design calls for only 3 outlets.
Thanks

Just the fact that you didn't know the difference scares me.
Lou

[bobhenry]

A 15 amp GFCI will run 1500 watts so when you are at the next shivaree and you are flat out on your 1500 watt ceramic heater you are there.

At below zero I have ran a 12-3 cord adapted to the 30 amp plug in the state parks and ran it direct to the heater leaving me plenty for lights and other items on my other 15 amp feed to the trailer. Realize you are not at home you will not run the toaster, the coffeemaker ,the microwave , and the toaster oven all at the same time. One heating element appliance is about all you can include along with a couple of lights. If you really need that many appliances wire the trailer with a right and a left side feed. This will give you 2 circuits potentially to 45 amps ( 15 on 1 ond 30 on the other but only if the source is fused seperately) Since you GFCI's are both 15 watt just settle for it. We have survived on one 15 amp feed for the 10 or so plugs on 12 outings without a problem. I do need to continue to fortify that if it gets hot with electricity only one at a time honey.

[Newman39Fan]

Well since I will be running a 19"tv plus a DirectTV box or a WII, I am guessing my 15amp CGIF is OK then. See I did save some money!!!YEAH!!!!!

[Miriam C.]

Mine are 15amp. Just look at the amps of the things you will run on it.

[BPFox]

OK, So maybe I am stupid, would not be the first time someone said so. I thought from reading all of the electrical threads that the 110 power should have a 30amp CGIF outlet as the first one in line as the fuse and then the rest of the outlets as standard outlets. Am I wrong about this?

A couple of points to help with your confusion. A GFCI is not a fuse. GFCI stands for Ground Fault Circuit Interupter. It breaks the circuit only when a ground fault exists. You use them to protect yourself from electrical shock. A Circuit Breaker is used to interupt power in the case of an overload. The Circuit Breaker is used to protect your wiring and prevent fires. Two different things, two different uses. It's very important that you know the difference. It's a good idea to have all of your outlets GFCI protected. You should only need one GFCI outlet for each circuit. For the most part you should only need one circuit unless you plan on using some high energy stuff. Your high energy stuff would be anything with a heating element in it. For example, electric hot plate, toaster, electric frying pan, curling iron, blow dryer, coffee maker, etc, etc, etc. Lights and tv stuff are pretty low draw and one 15 am circuit should be ok. Probably not a good idea to trust the campgound's power for you circuit breaker. Install one of your own and protect your investment. Peace.

[Greg M]

And remember; Only install one. GFCI's have an input and a load side. Install your other , non GFCI, outlets off of the load side of the first.

-Greg

[Newman39Fan]

Does it matter if you install more then one? I am only going to have 3 outlets in my TD and since I already have 3 CGIF outlets I can avoid buying 2 standard outlets if I just use all 3 CGIF outlets. Is there any disadvantage to this?

[bobhenry]

Does it matter if you install more then one? I am only going to have 3 outlets in my TD and since I already have 3 CGIF outlets I can avoid buying 2 standard outlets if I just use all 3 CGIF outlets. Is there any disadvantage to this?

Arne : Cut that out !

I am trying hard to maintain my title as "KING OF CHEAP " but you are making me look bad. Here you are unwilling to purchase two 87 cent duplex outlets.

Someone will chime in and explain that they down work well installed in series.

Just put them on the shelf for your next build. Don't believe me ! You just hide and watch it will happen.

[Greg M]

Well, yes you could. Just don't use the load side of the outlets at all.

-Greg

[MceeD]

Most common 15amp GFCI outlets are actually rated for 20a feed though and are commonly used in household kitchens. Most of the ones that are actually rated for 20a will have a slightly different pin configuration. With a one side of the recp having a vertical with a half horizontal pin.

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&productId=202026835&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&ci_sku=202026835&ci_src=14110944&cm_mmc=shopping-_-googlebase-_-D27X-_-202026835


Line is for the power feeding into the receptacle and the Load is for feeding out GFCI protected power to a normal receptacle. There are two common reasons for using the load of a GFCI, cost i.e. using less GFCI's. The other reason is convenience, not having to run to another room to reset a GFCI if it trips.

If you want to use multiple GFCI's on the same circuit then just make sure your feeders are all in the line terminals.

And Don't forget to test them regularly....