GFCI Combo Switch Wiring Diagrams

This page contains wiring diagrams for a ground fault circuit interrupter (gfci) with a built in switch, often called a gfci outlet switch combo. This device can be used for ground fault protection near water sources such as in a kitchen or bathroom where space is a minimum and both devices are needed. Check here to see wiring diagrams for a standard outlet switch combo that can be used in areas without need for ground fault protection.

Diagrams include a switch to control a gfci protected garbage disposal, wiring a protected light, wiring a protected duplex receptacle and unprotected light with the builtin switch, and connecting the switch to control the gfci outlet itself.

Wiring a GFCI Outlet with Switched Garbage Disposal

This diagram illustrates the wiring for a Cooper gfci combo switch device to control a garbage disposal. Here, the gfci outlet, the switch, and disposal are all protected from ground faults. If a load plugged into the outlet or the disposal causes a short, the whole device will trip and neither will work until the danger is removed.

To wire this circuit, the source wires are connected to the LINE terminals on the receptacle half of the combo. A 2-wire cable runs from there to the garbage disposal and the black wire is spliced with one of the builtin switch wires. The other switch wire is connected to the LOAD hot terminal on the combo device. The white wire running to the disposal is connected to the neutral LOAD terminal on the combo.

Wiring a GFCI Outlet with a Light Switch and Protected Receptacle

In this wiring, the gfci protects a standard duplex receptacle connected to the LOAD terminals on the combo. The builtin switch controls an unprotected light fixture on a separate electrical source. The source to the outlet is connected to the LINE terminals on the gfci. The LOAD terminals are connected to the standard receptacle using a 2-wire cable. This will protect that outlet and any other devices connected to it further down the line.

A switch loop runs from the light fixture to the builtin switch on the combo device. Either wire on the switch loop can be spliced with either switch wire but the white wire should be marked black on both ends to identify it as hot. With this arrangement, the source to the light can be controlled at the combo but the light will stay on if the gfci trips due to a short.

Wiring a GFCI Outlet and Light Switch

This wiring show the connections for a gfci outlet switch combo used to control an unprotected light fixture. Here, the source hot wire is spliced to the LINE hot terminal on the combo and one of the builtin switch wires. A 2-wire cable runs from the GFCI device to the light fixture and the black wire is spliced with the other builtin switch wire. At the fixture the black wire is connected to the hot terminal on the light. The source neutral is spliced with the LINE terminal on the GFCI and the white wire running to the neutral on the light fixture. The LOAD terminals on the GFCI remain available to connect more receptacles or other protected devices.

Wiring Diagram for a Switched GFCI Combo Outlet

In this diagram, the switch built into the combo device is wired to control the gfci outlet itself. The source hot wire is spliced with one of the switch wires and the other switch wire is connected to the hot LINE terminal on the device. The source neutral is connected the LINE neutral terminal. The LOAD terminals are not used in this arrangement.

Wiring for a GFCI Combo Switch and Bathroom Exhaust Fan

In this diagram a GFCI combo is used to control the exhaust fan providing both a switch and GFCI outlet in one device. The source hot is spliced to one of the builtin switch wires and a pigtail to the hot LINE terminal on the GFCI receptacle. The other switch wire is spliced to the black wire running to the fan. The source neutral is spliced to the white wire running to the fan and a pigtail to the GFCI LINE neutral terminal.

These exhaust fans usually come with a small electrical connection box welded to the side of the housing. There will be a cover on the connection box that fastens with a small screw. Open it, pop the plug out of one of the wire holes and thread a wire clamp into it. Strip about 6 inches of cable sheathing off the wires at the fan end and remove about 3/4 inch insulation from the black and white wires. Put the wires through the clamp and pull them into the box leaving an inch of sheathing showing. Tighten the clamp snugly around the cable sheathing but don't pinch it. In the box, splice the black cable wire to the black fan wire and the white to the white using wire nuts. Connect the ground wire to the grounding terminal in the connection box and the ground wire from the fan, if there is one.