How does a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter GFCI work? |
Question And Answer Category: Electrical |
Question: |
| Dear BlankHelp Team, I was installing a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) receptacle and wondered how do they actually work. I understand it protects people from electrical shocks, but how? Thank you, Bob |
Our Advice and Answer: |
| Hello Bob, Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI's) work by detecting a ground fault. Before you ask, what is a ground fault let me answer. A "fault" is when electricity, or a electrical circuit, is doing something it is not suppose to. This case a ground fault, means a circuit has developed continuity(a path for electricity) to a grounded object. In this case of the purposes of a GFCI, that grounded object can be a human. Note, sometimes electricity will leave a circuit, and stray into the air. This is why sometimes GFCI's will randomly trip in moist area's like bathrooms. The moist air is allowing for a path to ground("Earth", or a conductor to Earth/ground). So, as you can tell from name, GFCI, it doesn't prevent ground faults, it interrupts them. Meaning, a ground fault has to happen. So how does a GFCI protect a human, by preventing the duration that the ground fault continues. GFCI's per UL listings need to open, or shut off electricity, in fractions of a second. This time that a person is subjected to a current is long enough to be felt, but short enough to not overcome any person's autonomous involuntary functions, like breathing or the heart beat. So in summary, a GFCI protects people by: 1. Detecting Ground Faults. 2. Limiting the effect of electrical current on the human body's natural functions. If you have any further electrical questions, please feel free to contact us. Sincerely, The BlankHelp Team |
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