What is the name of the electrical outlet near the sink (bathroom/kitchen) that has "test" /"reset" buttons?

It is a GFI receptacle Ground Fault Interrupt. Not so much for overheating, but for an electrical short, such as a device like a hair dryer or curling iron, electric shaver, etc being dropped in water. It cuts the circuit break time to a thousandth of a second instead of the normal half second it would take to trip the regular circuit breaker.

I'm guessing you're asking about a GFCI outlet (ground fault circuit interupting). How the GFCI Works In the home's wiring system, the GFCI constantly monitors electricity flowing in a circuit, to sense any loss of current. If the current flowing through the circuit differs by a small amount from that returning, the GFCI quickly switches off power to that circuit. The GFCI interrupts power faster than a blink of an eye to prevent a lethal dose of electricity. You may receive a painful shock, but you should not be electrocuted or receive a serious shock injury. Here's how it may work in your house. Suppose a bare wire inside an appliance touches the metal case. The case is then charged with electricity. If you touch the appliance with one hand while the other hand is touching a grounded metal object, like a water faucet, you will receive a shock. If the appliance is plugged into an outlet protected by a GFCI, the power will be shut off before a fatal shock would occur.

GFI stands for Ground Fault Interrupter. Also sometime referred to as GFCI or Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters. The purpose of this device is to reduce the chances of you getting severe or fatal shock from electricity.

Cheers

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Bathroom And Kitchen Outlet

GFCI Ground Fault Circuit Inturrupt http://www.google.ca/search?q=GFCI+gfi&ie=UTF-8&sa...

I believe it's GFI. can't say why though other than G is for ground/grounded. I think the I is for interrupt electric flow.

Good luck.

GFI stands for ground fault interrupter. Used in moist enviroments.

GFCI - ground fault circuit interrupt