Groundfault circuitinterrupter Receptacles

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Ground-fault circuit-interrupterReceptacles

• Electrical Shock Protection
• (Receptacles-Part 2)
• W. C. Buster Hounshell
• Spring 2002

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Ground-fault circuit-interrupter

• The ground-fault circuit-interrupter (GFCI)
  receptacle protects against electrical shock
  caused by a faulty appliance, or a worn cord or
  plug
• It senses small changes in current flow and can
  shut off power in as little as 1/40 of a second.

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Ground-fault circuit-interrupter

• GFCls are now required in bathrooms, kitchens,
  garages, crawl spaces, unfinished basements, and
  outdoor receptacle locations
• Consult your local codes for any requirements
  regarding the installation of GFCI receptacles.

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Ground-fault circuit-interrupter

• The GFCI receptacle may be wired to protect only
  itself (single location)
• Or it can be wired to protect all receptacles,
  switches, and light fixtures from the GFCI
  "forward" to the end of the circuit (multiple
  locations).

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Ground-fault circuit-interrupter

• Most GFCls use standard screw terminal
  connections
• Some have wire leads and are attached with wire
  connectors

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Ground-fault circuit-interrupter

• Because the body of a GFCI receptacle is larger
  than a standard receptacle
• Small crowded electrical boxes may need to be
  replaced with more spacious boxes

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Ground-fault circuit-interrupter

• The more receptacles any one GFCI protects
• The more susceptible it is to "phantom
  tripping,
• Resulting in shutting off power. Due to tiny,
  normal fluctuations in current flow.

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Single Location Protection

• A GFCI wired for single-location protection
  (shown from the back) has hot and neutral wires
  connected only to the screw terminals marked LINE
• A GFCI connected for single-location protection
  may be wired as either an end-of-run
• Or middle-of-run configuration

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Multiple -Location Protection

• A GFCI wired for multiple-location protection
  (shown from the back)
• Has one set of hot and neutral wires connected to
  the LINE pair of screw terminals
• And the other set connected to the LOAD pair of
  screw terminals.

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Multiple- Location Protection

• A GFCI receptacle connected for multiple-location
  protection may be wired only as a middle-of-run
  configuration.