If I Plugged a 3 or 6 outlet adapter onto a GFCI outlet, would the GFCI still work Correctly?

Question

I have a GFCI Outlet in my bathroom. Of course, like most outlets in a house, you can only plug 2 electric devices in at a time. If I got an adapter that you plug into the 2 outlets to make it 6 outlets, would the GFCI still function properly if something came in contact with water?

We really only want to plug a Blow Dryer and an Electric Razor into the outlet but the Plug on the end of each item is too big for them to both plug into that outlet at the same time so I was thinking of getting an adapter with more outlets just to have the space to plug both items in.

Answer 1

Of course it will work still. Your GFCI should still be able to trip and you would just have to remove the plugged in outlet thing to reset. You will also have to remove the center screw that is usually supplied to hold it in since a GFI has a different screw configuration.

Answer 2

Yes, that will work and provide protection for any appliance you plug in.

The GFI operates by comparing the current that exits one lead of the socket through the appliance, and compares with the current returning in the second slot. The two currents should be equal, or there must have been some current taking another path to ground. If the difference between the exiting and returning current exceeds about 0.010 Amps, the internal relay, interupts the current. It is very fast, and can prevent serious injury by opening the circuit in a few thousandths of a second.
GFI are circuit interupters, they are not circuit breakers, and can not handle large short circuit currents. Thats the job of a circuit breaker.

Assuming the GFI was wired properly.
If you are familar with electricity/electronics and have a voltmeter.
Set the voltmeter to measure VAC, and measure the voltage with the black common lead connected to the water pipe at the sink, ( which should be earth ground), and the red lead connected to the smaller of the two prong recepticles, (on one of the GFI outlets).
Be sure you are on the volts scale and not on the Ohms, and dont have your probes incorrectly plugged into the current measure connector on the meter.
The meter should show about 117VAC or so.
Press the TEST button on the GFI, you should hear a click, as the GFI shuts off the power. The meter should now read zero volts. Press the reset switch on the GFI.

Move the red lead to the larger slot, and you should read nearly zero VAC, but it might not be zero. But should be less than 7VAC. Move the red lead to the third prong ground connection. The meter should read 0 VAC.
Start the process again, but move the black common lead to the third prong on the GFI. With the red lead, measure the small slot, and expect about 117VAC. Then press the TEST button on the GFI.
You should hear a click, and the voltage on the GFI smaller slot should now be zero volts. Should also be zero volts on the larger slot.
Press the RESET switch on the GFI

If the results are not as expected, particularly, if you still measure voltage after the GFI test button has been pressed, dont use the outlet, and call an electrician.

May the force be with you . . .

Austin Semiconductor

Answer 3

Outlet Expander

Answer 4

Yes it will work properly. In fact they make GFI breakers that will trip in your breaker box. Think of it this way, the GFI is like your surge protector with multiple outlets and it protects everything that goes through it..

Answer 5

Yes it will work. It is a Ground Fault Circuit Interupter (GFCI) so if it detects a ground fault even with an adapter it will trip

Answer 6

yes it will as long as its plugged into that outlet

Answer 7

No. The item must be plugged directly into the GFCI not thru anything else.

Answer 8

Yes. No worries.