GFCI outlet wiring question

[JBurt]

So I'm putting a GFCI outlet in my bathroom and there were 2 red (hot) and 1 white wire. The red goes on the left and white on the right, but every other outlet I did had 2 red and 2 white. What should I do with the 2nd red wire? It leaves the box in another direction than the other two. The previous non GFCI outlet had the red/white pair hooked up to the bottom connections and the lone red wire on one of the top connections.

Should I hook it up like this (no power connected yet), put the 2nd red wire in the connection on the top, or something different.

2019-01-05_01-36-45 by Jeff Burt, on Flickr

Sorry for the noob question, but I couldn't find an electrician open on a Saturday.

 

[psraff]

Ok, I can type in here now... I answered you via email.

 

[psraff]

Hey, I think I told you wrong in that email about the top and lower screws. Because us silly Americans actually install receptacles upside down I think I told you wrong.

Look at the back of the receptacle. The "Line" screws are coming from your panel. "Load" is going to the next device. Any receptacle you wire on the "Load" screws will act as a GFCI as well.

So what I would do is land both red wires on the "Line" side Brass Screw. And the white wire (neutral) land on the silver screw on the "Line Side".

I'm saying that only because we don't know where that red wire is going at this time. If you want, you can leave it off and turn the power back on. Then see what light or receptacle doesn't work. I'm betting it's going to a light. Because then it would go to a switch and continue to the light. The neutral for that wire is in the light going to another device (eventually ending back at the panel)

Again, call me if you have questions.

 

[JBurt]

Thanks! That sounds right as the only other electrical thing in the bathroom is the light. Something came up and I had to leave, but I'll try it when I get home later and let you know how it works out.

 

[ran]

I can't begin to tell you about the fun replacing a GFCI with a new model when I bought a 2007 house. Load IN & OUT. running around with my mulitimeter and resetting the circuit breakers. good luck guys.
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2007 SE V6 Titanium

 

[4RunnerAquasport]

Whats odd is that 2nd red wire does not have a neutral (white wire) going with it. If it's feeding your bathroom light, where is the neutral that should be going back to the service. Is all this cable run in conduit? Where ever that circuit ends it should have a neutral, which it appears it doesn't, so that receptacle or light that it is feeding might be bonded to the conduit which isn't really ideal.