TIL that some no-name GFCI outlets are failing right out of the box. Just had one not trip during a test, scared me straight.

3 comments

3 Comments

I mean, a dud outlet is definitely annoying, but is it like, a huge widespread problem? Maybe you just got unlucky with a single bad unit from a sketchy batch. Stuff like that happens with all electronics sometimes. Idk, I'd just return it and get a different one, maybe from a brand you've heard of. It's a good reminder to test them when you install, but I wouldn't panic about every outlet out there.

skyler_mitchell2mo ago

Hey @nguyen.piper, testing is smart, but what if the problem isn't just bad units? Often, folks mess up the wiring or have loose connections, making the outlet seem dead. It's easy to blame the outlet when it could be the install, lol. Older homes with aluminum wiring can cause issues too, not just the outlet itself. So even with a known brand, you might hit snags if the wiring isn't right. Just a thought before assuming it's always a factory flaw.

jadel652mo ago

Yeah, older homes with aluminum wiring can be tricky! I had a similar issue and tightening all the connections at the terminals fixed it for me.