How Do Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters Work & Protect Us from Shock? – 8500020

How do ground fault circuit interrupters work?

This Electrical Ground Rules white paper is Part 2 of a three-part series that takes a look at grounding and its role in protecting personnel and equipment, and ensuring the integrity of electrical signals. In this part, we will examine our use of ground as a means of protection from ground faults, and how ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) devices operate to protect us from severe shock. We also answer these questions:

1. What does a wired earth ground really protect you from?
2. Does it protect you from electrocution?
3. What if your appliance does not include a connection to earth ground and you become the path of least resistance for some sort of ground fault?

We begin with a discussion on the use of ground as a means of protection from ground faults. Additionally, we cover how ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) devices operate to protect us from severe shock.

Learn More About Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters

You can find the other whitepapers in this three part series in the links below:

• Part 1: Circuit Grounding and Why it’s Important
  • addresses the concept of grounding, the AC power system and its use of ground
  • gives three main reasons why we ground electrical equipment:
    1. safety
    2. stabilizing electrical signals
    3. limiting transient voltages and current
• Part 3: Ground as a Voltage Stabilizer & Transient Limiter
  • reviews ground and its role as a voltage stabilizer and transient limiter
  • offers tips on what you can do to improve your connection to ground to realize benefits to safety and signal integrity

Learn about Isolation: Why Do I Need Electrical Isolation?