Gfci Breakers & Outlets - Monaco Cayman 2005 Owner's Manual

GFCI Breakers & Outlets
A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) is incorporated in an outlet.
The GFCI offers two types of protection. One type of protection is from over-cur-
rent or shorts to guard against hazardous ground fault currents that can result in injury
or death. Ground fault currents are currents that flow from the "hot"or power ter-
minal through a person to the ground. For example, touching a faulty appliance while
standing on or making contact with an electrical ground such as a water fixture,
bath tub or the earth. The device will offer protection against the type of shock that
can result from faulty insulation, wet wiring from inside an appliance, or any device
or equipment plugged in or wired to that circuit. The ground fault portion of the out-
let uses sensitive electronics inside the outlet to detect a ground fault problem. The
electronics monitor the normal current flow to the black, hot wire through the load
(eg. a light bulb or appliance) and back to the white neutral, or white wire. If just a
small amount of the current comes back on the safety ground wire, the electronics
will trip the outlet, stopping the flow of electricity. The amount of current it takes to
trip the device from a ground fault varies slightly from the different outlet manu-
facturers (approximately 30 milliamps or less).
Electrical shocks resulting from ground faults can be felt, but such a shock is considerably less
than one without ground fault protection. People with heart conditions, or other conditions that make
them susceptible to shocks, can still be seriously injured. A GFCI outlet will not protect against shock
from a normal current flow. For example, a shock from touching both metal prongs of an electrical
cord or appliance while plugging it in.
WARNING:
If an outlet continually trips, DO NOT continue to reset the outlet until the problem
has been identified and corrected.
NOTE:
The ground fault outlet should be tested once a month to ensure it is operating. Use
the TEST button on the outlet. It should trip with an audible "click." The outlet will
not trip if AC power is not present at the device. If power is present and the device
will not trip, replace it before using that circuit.
NOTE:
One milliamp is 1/1000 of one amp.
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Section 8 --- Electrical Systems - House
Reset
Button
060072
GFCI Outlet
Cayman 2005