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GFCI Not Working, No Power

Direct answer: When a GFCI shows absolutely no power and no reset indicator at all, the most common causes, in rough order of likelihood, are: a tripped breaker upstream, a tripped GFCI further up the same feed-through chain, an internally failed device, or an open neutral connection.

In feed-through wiring, only the first GFCI device in a chain displays a trip indicator — every outlet downstream can go completely dark with no obvious sign of what tripped.

A simple order of operations

Check the breaker panel first. A tripped breaker will make everything downstream look dead, GFCI included. Reset it and see if power returns before touching the outlet itself.

Next, look for another GFCI outlet earlier in the same room or circuit — it may be the actual device that tripped, even though the dead outlet you're looking at is somewhere further down the chain.

If both of those check out and the device still won't reset, treat it as a likely internal failure or wiring fault rather than continuing to press the same button.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why would resetting the breaker fix a 'dead' GFCI?

Because a tripped breaker cuts all power to everything downstream, including any GFCI outlets on that circuit — it can look exactly like a dead outlet even though the GFCI itself never tripped.

How do I find the 'first' GFCI in a feed-through chain?

Check every outlet on the same circuit for a reset button and trip indicator; the one showing a tripped state (if any) is usually the upstream device protecting the rest.

When should I stop testing and call an electrician?

If the breaker and any upstream GFCI both check out fine and the outlet still won't restore power, that points to an internal failure or wiring issue best handled by a professional.

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