GFCI breaker

Status
Not open for further replies.

anbm

Senior Member
Location
TX
Occupation
Designer
If a circuit is not protected by a GFCI breaker or have GFCI outlets,
when there is a ground fault (hot wire touch comes into contact with
ground wire or J-box metal part), the breaker won't be tripped, correct?
 

kwired

Electron manager
Location
NE Nebraska
If a circuit is not protected by a GFCI breaker or have GFCI outlets,
when there is a ground fault (hot wire touch comes into contact with
ground wire or J-box metal part), the breaker won't be tripped, correct?
If the object it touches is solidly connected to the equipment grounding conductor, there will be a low resistance path for current to return back to the source which results in rapid rise in current and the instantaneous trip function of the overcurrent device will respond and open the circuit.



Ground fault circuit interrupters primary function is not to protect from this kind of fault, but to sense current flowing outside of an intended path and trip when that current reaches a certain level - which for class A GFCI protection is a pretty low current level - in the 4-6 mA range.
 

anbm

Senior Member
Location
TX
Occupation
Designer
If the object it touches is solidly connected to the equipment grounding conductor, there will be a low resistance path for current to return back to the source which results in rapid rise in current and the instantaneous trip function of the overcurrent device will respond and open the circuit.



Ground fault circuit interrupters primary function is not to protect from this kind of fault, but to sense current flowing outside of an intended path and trip when that current reaches a certain level - which for class A GFCI protection is a pretty low current level - in the 4-6 mA range.

Thank you, can fuse also protect a ground fault?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top