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GFI and saving lives
GFI and saving lives
How does a GFI outlet save lives in the bathroom?
Basically a GFI kills the power instead of killing the person.
A GFCI or Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFI) contains a sensitive coil encircling both the black and the white wires. It works like an electrician's "Amp Probe" It has some electronics that constantly test to make sure all the power leaving the plug outlet via the black wire returns on the white wire.
If there is as little as 5 miliamps difference, then the electronics turns the power off. It takes quite a bit more than 5 MA to make a person's heart flibricate or start beating unevenly. The assumption is that if some power is leaking (not returning) it might be going through a person.
Bathrooms were the first place required by code to have GFI's and they have saved many lives. In the old days a child was taking a bath and a portable radio or hairdryer accidentally fell in the tub. The child had no way to escape the confines of the bathtub and was killed.
Currently the code requires GFI several places. Any plug "serving" the kitchen counter is required to have GFI protection. Laundry rooms need a GFI. Also garages, unfinished basements and other unfinished areas as well as any outdoor plugs need a GFI.
Copyright (c) 2010 John A. Peters
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