| Are you familiar with that little button on the | | | | about these is that often the difference in the |
| outlets in your bathroom or kitchen? Has it ever | | | | current is because the leakage is through the |
| popped out on you when you had a blow dryer | | | | body of a person who is grounded. When that |
| plugged in along it a curling iron and maybe one of | | | | happens, the circuit can be shut off in a thirtieth |
| two more electrical items plugged in? Did you | | | | of a second. If a person accidentally touches the |
| know what to do? Have you ever dropped | | | | energized part of a circuit and there is not a GFCI |
| something into water while it was plugged into an | | | | in the line, that shock could be lethal. Depending on |
| outlet in your kitchen and it again popped the little | | | | where you are in the world, there are different |
| button out? If so, then the GFCI was doing what | | | | names for the same device. In some parts of the |
| it is supposed to do. A GFCI or ground fault circuit | | | | world they are referred to as residual current |
| interrupt is there for your protection. It is the first | | | | devices (RCD), or residual current circuit breakers |
| line of defense when using an electrical appliance in | | | | (RCCB). In the United States and Canada they are |
| a potentially hazardous location in your home. It | | | | GFCI's or GFI, ground fault interrupter. Sometimes |
| really doesn't matter if you live in a concrete | | | | they are referred to as an ALCI or appliance |
| house or a wood house; the potential for | | | | leakage current interrupter. |
| electrocution is still dangerous because the | | | | In industrial settings the GFCI's can be used in |
| conductivity of the house material is not relevant | | | | utility structures and other areas. They serve the |
| when it comes to electrical outlets in precast | | | | same purpose as a GFCI in any setting and are |
| concrete or pre-fabricated houses. GFCI's can | | | | probably responsible for saving the lives of |
| actually be used at a precast concrete | | | | countless people around the world. Electricity is |
| manufacturer for the very same reason they are | | | | very powerful and must be respected. Even |
| used in a home. | | | | when the utmost care is taken however, |
| The GFCI device is an electrical wiring device that | | | | accidents can still happen and if GFCI's are in |
| disconnects the circuit when it detects a | | | | place, some of those accidents won't be lethal. |
| difference in the current and it is no longer | | | | That is not to say you should ever let down your |
| balanced. It can detect a difference of as little as | | | | guard around electricity because there are cases |
| four to six mille-amps or mA. What is life saving | | | | when even a GFCI can't help you. |