Don't Install GFCI's (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters) on the outside of your house at the shore!

Attached is a really good article on Ground Fault Interrupters. It is easy to understand and you can a good idea of how important they are for the safety of you and your family.

So, why do I say don't install them outside?

As you can see from the article it is a very sophisticated device. It has a longtitudinal transformer, rectifiers, a trip coil, main contacts, the test button, and the reset button. When exposed to salt air, over time, these components corrode and become inoperable.

Basically, what you are doing, is putting the circuit breaker portion of you protective circuit outside in the weather.

So how do you avoid the problem? Have your electrician put the GFCI inside - out of the weather.

They can either put a GFCI outlet inside your house and connect it to the outdoor outlets or, you can use a GFCI circuit breaker at your main panel.

For the record: It is not against code to put the GFCI's outside. It is just not a good practice. Attached you can also see some of the GFCI's that failed in the outside seashore environment. Some of them caused fires. Fortunately some of them just became inoperable.