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Outlet tester result decoder

Outlet tester reads correct but the GFCI trips

Wiring is fine, so the trip is moisture or a downstream leakage path — chase it with the GFCI diagnostic, not the receptacle wiring.

Stop and call a licensed electrician or emergency services now if there's smoke, sparks, a burning smell, heat, shock, or water near the problem. Otherwise it's safe to answer the questions below.

The likely readout

Most likely cause

Wiring reads correct but the GFCI trips — the cause is moisture or a downstream leakage path, not the receptacle wiring

Ranked by fit to your answers
1
Wiring reads correct but the GFCI trips — the cause is moisture or a downstream leakage path, not the receptacle wiring
65
2
Tester reads correct — hot, neutral, and ground are in the expected positions
60
SAFE NEXT CHECKThe wiring is fine, so chase the trip with the GFCI diagnostic: check for moisture and unplug downstream loads one at a time to find the leakage path.
Where to stop. Reading a plug-in tester is homeowner-safe; correcting any miswire means working at the receptacle terminals with live conductors — if you cannot do that safely with the power off at the breaker, stop and call a licensed electrician. A 3-lamp tester cannot detect a bootleg ground, a reversed multi-wire circuit, or undersized wiring. This is general information, not a quote and not a substitute for a licensed electrician.
CORRECT hot / neutral / ground in expected positionshotneutralgroundlamps: correct

Not your exact situation? Adjust the answers and re-rank →

What to do next

Try the safe next check above. If it doesn't resolve it, or would mean working on wiring or a panel, stop and call a licensed electrician — don't replace parts on a guess. Open the full tool to change any answer for your exact situation, or try a related check below.

source-governed · verified 2026-06-20

Sources

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