GFCI=Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter
It's an electronic circuit breaker that compares the current on two wires. If the current is NOT equal, the breaker trips and does so quickly enough to prevent electrocution in the event of a "ground fault".
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A GFCI outlet, or ground fault circuit interrupter outlet, is a type of electrical outlet that is designed to quickly disconnect power to prevent electric shock. It constantly monitors the flow of electricity in a circuit, shutting off power if it detects a ground fault or leakage of current. These outlets are commonly used in areas where water is present, such as bathrooms and kitchens, to enhance safety.
A GFCI can detect ground faults on the specific circuit it is connected to. If multiple outlets are on the same circuit protected by a single GFCI outlet, the GFCI can protect all of them. However, if the outlets are on different circuits or not downstream from the GFCI, they would need their own GFCI protection.
It is recommended to have GFCI protection for all electrical outlets in a garage to help reduce the risk of electric shocks. This would typically involve installing a GFCI outlet at the beginning of the circuit to protect the rest of the outlets downstream.
No, if the test switch on a GFCI is faulty, it can prevent the breaker from working correctly. The test switch is an essential component for checking the functionality of the GFCI, so if it's bad, it could impact the overall operation of the device.
GFCI receptacles are designed to trip at around 5 milliamps (0.005 amps) of current leakage to ground. When the GFCI detects this level of imbalance, it quickly shuts off the power to prevent electric shock.
You can determine if an outlet is after a GFCI by pressing the "test" button on the GFCI outlet. If the GFCI trips and cuts off power to the outlet, then that outlet is downstream from the GFCI. If power is not cut off, then that outlet is upstream from the GFCI.