Master bathroom: GFCI combination outlet/switch to a dimmer to 3 recessed lights. I am not an electrician but I've wired most of the house myself with advice and Internet diagrams. This GFCI combo to a dimmer has me baffled. I've had trouble grasping the 3 wire situations (two switches). Thank you for any help. Dave

What device are you replacing... a switch or a outlet?

1) If you are replacing a switch with 3 or 4 wires?
That is either a 3-way switch, 4-way switch, or a DPDT switch and cannot be replaced with GFCI

2) If you are replacing outlet with 4 wires, then it can be replaced with GFCI combo.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-wire-GFCI.html#8

3) If you are replacing ordinary single-pole switch, then you can replace with GFCI combo IF the box has a neutral wire
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-wire-GFCI.html#6

4) You can install GFCI protection on any circuit by installing GFCI earlier in the circuit.
http://waterheatertimer.org/Basic-house-wiring.html


Gene

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Question is vague. Arc fault and ground fault are slightly different.

Are you installing arc fault breaker?
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-wire-GFCI.html#arc-fault
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-replace-circuit-breaker.html

Code says Maximum 12 boxes per circuit breaker.

Arc fault breaker and GFCI outlet in bathroom?
>>> do not connect this way.
Do not install 2 fault protections on same circuit.
Install the arc fault circuit breaker, and then remove bathroom GFCI, and replace with ordinary outlet, or switch-outlet.

How many outlets can be connected to a bathroom GFCI?
It depends on total boxes on circuit.
Count the boxes. Max 12 boxes per circuit breaker.

How many amps can be connected to 15 amp device?
15 x 80% = 12 amps
Electricians use 80% rule to calculate safe maximum
http://waterheatertimer.org/Color-codewire.html
http://waterheatertimer.org/See-inside-main-breaker-box.html

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1) Copy following link for wiring combo device:
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-wire-switches.html#combo2

2) Neutral wire is required for outlet to work.

3) Outlet will be ON all the time.
Some combo devices can be wired so that switch controls outlet, but other models cannot be wired so switch controls outlet.
Look for break-away fin located between dark screws on combo device. If device has break-away fin, then switch can control outlet.

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1) In this situation we need to test the wires.
Electricians don't guess, they test, and a diagram would be guessing which wire color does what.

2) FYI: non-GFCI receptacle located in bathroom is not code, and device will have to be replaced when property is sold. The reason for GFCI is the likelihood of you holding defective electrical gizmo from China in one hand while putting other hand in running water. Or electrical gizmo falling into bathtub occupied by wife with large life insurance policy.
If you have kids using that bathroom, I want you to avoid using non-GFCI device.

3) Your new device has color-coded screws: Dark, brass, and silver.
These colors tell electrician how to wire the device.

4) Let's test to see which wire connects to which screw:
Separate wires.
Use ordinary 2-wire tester from hardware store.
Tape tester leads to wood sticks so hands are away from power.
Turn power ON.
Test each wire to bare ground wire.
Tester lights up on Hot wire. Hot wire connects to dark-colored screw on device.
Hot wire is identified.
Test Hot wire to all other wires in box, except bare ground wire.
Tester lights up on Neutral wire. Neutral wire connects to silver screw, and will complete circuit to receptacle.
If box does not have a Neutral wire, the circuit to receptacle can be completed using ground wire on silver screw, but I am not recommending that.
Last wire goes to Load (light, fan, motor). Load wire connects to brass screw, and will complete circuit to Load.

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For a price, fixya expert speaks with you over phone while you work on electrical device.

Leviton and Lutron both make GFCI switch-outlet combo.
Buy at Home Center or on-line
Leviton 7299
http://www.amazon.com/Leviton-7299-NI-15-Amp-125-Volt-Combination/dp/B000UJADW6

You only have two wires, because it is wired for a switch leg. You only have the incoming hot and outgoing hot to the light. You need a neutral and grounding conductors also. If you're putting this in a bathroom, it should be a GFCI receptacle. You will have to add another wire, or just add another box in the wall.

have 5 wires where to put them

Can you tell me where the outgoing wires are going to. Bare wire is ground goes in green color screw, white wire is neutral and goes in silver color screw, black wire is hot or live and goes in gold color screw. It is difficult to help you with little information. how do you know what is incoming and outgoing.

power coming in from the breaker box: black wire will go to line-hot screw, and the white wire will go to the line-white screw. the switch wires coming out of the back of the gfci- 1 will go to the load-hot screw & the other black wire will wire nut to the black wire going to the light. the white wire going to the light must go to the load-white screw.

you may have agfi outlet in the circuit. the outlet has 2 push buttons in the middle. it maybe an outside outlet that is tripped some contractors hook up the circiut like that

the old outlet or switch do not have "ground" per-say, if the junction box is steel and you have romax (steel jacket) cable. the casing is the ground.
you need a special cutter to cut the jacket, once you do that, you will see a steel wire inside, that is your ground.

if you have the present day 30wire cable (plastic jacket) then the green wire is the ground. it should be grounded on both end, on the switch or outlet and in the breaker box.