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GFI and saving lives
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GFI and saving lives
How does a GFI outlet to save lives in the bathroom
Basically GFI's kill the power instead of killing the person.
A GFCI or Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (or GFI for short) 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 even 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 there fore was killed.
Currently the code requires GFI is in the kitchen. 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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