CyberFox
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I don't have 240V outlets yet, but I am going to have a few installed in my garage by an electrician. Since I'm starting from scratch, what would you (or anyone willing to chime in) recommend for me to have installed?Do you already have a 240 Volt outlet with a NEMA 6 - 20R receptacle? If so, you really don't need the GFCI. If the outlet was installed by a electrician, they probably put it on a GFCI breaker or the outlet is not where GFCI is required. Assuming you are in the USA. If you are in another country, then your building codes apply.
Where I am from GFCI only used to be required in "wet areas", e.g. bathrooms (although now are required for any new sub circuits). This was due to the increase likelyhood of water being present, which is one on the main reasons a GFCI is recommended by most on here when electric brewing. While it may not be needed for code compliance as the area the sub-circuit feeds in not normally "wet" brewing in that area changes those assumptions made in the code.Ask if it's felt that a GFCI is required for the location you are putting the induction burner. Breakers for the breaker box can be GFCI as well as arc fault protecting. I'm not certain if I've ever seen a GFCI or arc fault outlet for 240 volts. But they probably exist. I've just not looked for them. And I think GFCI is only required when there is a danger of the appliance falling in water. Not you falling into the water on top of the appliance.
Anywhere with an electric brew kettle is by definition a location needing GFCI protection. An existing 240V receptacle could have been for some dry application. (edit: to elaborate, NEC says appliances shall be used in accordance with manufacturer instructions, and every manufacturer I'm aware of says provide GFCI. If you're wiring your own, it's unlisted and a whole other can of worms re insurance etc, but the applicable listing standards if you're "doing it right" likely require GFCI.)Do you already have a 240 Volt outlet with a NEMA 6 - 20R receptacle? If so, you really don't need the GFCI. If the outlet was installed by a electrician, they probably put it on a GFCI breaker or the outlet is not where GFCI is required. Assuming you are in the USA. If you are in another country, then your building codes apply.
Really good info! I'll definitely make sure the electrician knows exactly what I'm planning to use the outlets for. I'm actually having a house built, so it truly is from scratch. I didn't even know about GFCI breakers. I figured that each outlet had to be GFCI rated. Told you that I didn't know much about electricity. Like I said, I'll let the electrician know what I'm doing. Let's just hope they know what they are doing.
And AFCI isn't far behind.Changes in NEC over the last few years have been such that for practical purposes every circuit 50A or less requires GFCI.
Awesome idea. I'll definitely look into getting the 120V circuits wired for 20 amps. Really good info from everyone. Thanks!GFCI is only needed at one point, upstream from the other outlets on that circuit. That provides a single point of protection for all the outlets (and their loads) downstream.
If you are building a new house, consider spending a little more and having all 120v circuits being wired for 20 amps, instead of 15. That requires thicker copper--12 gauge wire instead of 14 gauge. Some circuits already require 20A (bathrooms are one--for hairdryers). Having the whole house wired for 20A will mean less worry about overcurrent situations when you have multiple devices running. A small investment for a little future-proofing.
We had our house built new, in the 1990s. In hindsight, I wished I had opted for 20A 120v wiring.
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If you are building a new house, consider spending a little more and having all 120v circuits being wired for 20 amps, instead of 15. That requires thicker copper--12 gauge wire instead of 14 gauge. Some circuits already require 20A (bathrooms are one--for hairdryers). Having the whole house wired for 20A will mean less worry about overcurrent situations when you have multiple devices running. A small investment for a little future-proofing.
We had our house built new, in the 1990s. In hindsight, I wished I had opted for 20A 120v wiring.
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