Is a 120 volt 20 amp duplex receptacle required to be GFCI protected? It will be used for a coffee maker at a Fair.

Frank (cinkerf)

525-18(c) would have 305-6(b)(2) applied, but this is debatable given the code loop there.

Frank,

Code aside, I would say to be on the safe side it should. How can anyone tell what a duplex receptacle would really be used for? Unless for some reason the coffeemaker is incompatible with the GFCI. Just my opinion.

Bill

Bill;
agreed,obvious,no arguement...

bear with me as i entertain the inspectors wish for NEC validation...

525-13(a) states it's compliance with chap 1-4, so would location becomes an issue ?

210-8 could read a GFI into or out of this.

My take on article 525 is that it only requires GFI protection for portable wiring & equipment (525-3). I realize the coffee pot is portable, but if the receptacle is part of a fixed wiring sytem, it probably doesn't need to be GFI protected.

GFI receptacles are cheap, if nuisance tripping isn't going to be a problem, I would go ahead & use it.

Tom

how about 215-9 , i would think this would be a bid winner...

My question would be: Is the coffee maker close to a sink (within 6 feet). If so, then yes, you would need to protect your 20 amp receptacle. It doesn't matter if it's a duplex. Any receptacle within 6 feet of a sinks edge should be gfci protected. Also, I would have it protected if it's exposed to weather--outside rain, or etc.