Ground Fault Circuit Breakers Prevent
Electrocutions and Save Lives
By Mark J. Donovan
Circuit breakers are
designed to trip when too much current runs through an electrical circuit in
your home. Ground fault circuit breakers, (aka ground fault circuit
interrupters - GFCI) are also designed to trip for overload conditions. In
addition, ground fault circuit breakers are also designed to protect people from
becoming electrocuted. More specifically, ground fault circuit breakers are
designed to sense the slightest loss or change in current draw in the circuit
and trip before a dangerous current level could be experienced by a person.
Most ground fault
circuit breakers today are designed to trip after sensing just a few milliamps
of current loss in the circuit.
Ground fault circuit
breakers are also designed to sense a ground fault condition. A ground fault
condition is when a hot power line (black or red electrical wire) comes in
direct contact with ground. For example, if an old frayed hot electrical wire
comes in contact with a grounded chassis, such as a properly grounded lamp, a
ground fault condition would be present.
After a ground fault
circuit breaker trips, it can be reset as long as the condition that caused it
to trip has been eliminated.
Ground fault circuit
breakers are commonly used on circuits and in rooms where there is a higher risk
of electrocution. Bathrooms, kitchens, basements and garages normally have
electrical circuits that include ground fault circuit breakers. In addition,
electrical circuits that include outside electrical sockets and appliances, such
as pool pumps, are normally on GFCIs or ground fault circuit breakers.
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