GFCI receptacles and appliance loads?

[Jim]

I understand that a GFCI receptacles work by comparing the incoming
current to the outgoing. However, if you are using an applicance that
draws current (let's say 3.0 amps)does that not create a difference in
the incoming and outgoing loads? What am I missing here? I must not
fully understand this process.

Jim

 

[[email protected]]

I understand that a GFCI receptacles work by comparing the incoming
current to the outgoing. However, if you are using an applicance that
draws current (let's say 3.0 amps)does that not create a difference in
the incoming and outgoing loads? What am I missing here? I must not
fully understand this process.

Jim

I like to give the analogy using a kitchen sink. The faucet is the
positive, and the drain is the neutral. (120v USA) The water coming
out of the faucet is the electrons. If you turn the faucet on and
stick a fan under the water, the water will spin the fan and run down
the drain. No water is "lost" in the process. So if you measure how
much water is coming out of the faucet and how much is going down the
drain, it should be equal, no matter how many gallons per minute are
flowing.

 

[Sam Goldwasser]

I like to give the analogy using a kitchen sink. The faucet is the
positive, and the drain is the neutral. (120v USA) The water coming
out of the faucet is the electrons. If you turn the faucet on and
stick a fan under the water, the water will spin the fan and run down
the drain. No water is "lost" in the process. So if you measure how
much water is coming out of the faucet and how much is going down the
drain, it should be equal, no matter how many gallons per minute are
flowing.

Very nice.

So, the answer to the original question is that you can put any load
on the GFCI up to the maximum for the wiring and it will be fine.

More info on GFCIs at:

http://www.codecheck.com/gfci_principal.htm#top

--- sam | Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ Home Page: http://www.repairfaq.org/
Repair | Main Table of Contents: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/
+Lasers | Sam's Laser FAQ: http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/lasersam.htm
| Mirror Site Info: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/F_mirror.html

Important: The email address in this message header may no longer work. To
contact me, please use the feedback form on the S.E.R FAQ Web sites.

 

[Jerry G.]

You can put on any load, that is rated to the maximum of the socket, and the
wiring. If there is any type of overload, or power leakage in the load, the
socket will shut the power.

--

Greetings,

Jerry Greenberg GLG Technologies GLG
=========================================
WebPage http://www.zoom-one.com
Electronics http://www.zoom-one.com/electron.htm
=========================================


I understand that a GFCI receptacles work by comparing the incoming
current to the outgoing. However, if you are using an applicance that
draws current (let's say 3.0 amps)does that not create a difference in
the incoming and outgoing loads? What am I missing here? I must not
fully understand this process.

Jim

 

[Ken Weitzel]

I like to give the analogy using a kitchen sink. The faucet is the
positive, and the drain is the neutral. (120v USA) The water coming
out of the faucet is the electrons. If you turn the faucet on and
stick a fan under the water, the water will spin the fan and run down
the drain. No water is "lost" in the process. So if you measure how
much water is coming out of the faucet and how much is going down the
drain, it should be equal, no matter how many gallons per minute are
flowing.

Nicely done...

Until you run into that durned old reciprocity failure,
anyway

Ken

 

[[email protected]]

Very nice.

So, the answer to the original question is that you can put any load
on the GFCI up to the maximum for the wiring and it will be fine.

More info on GFCIs at:

http://www.codecheck.com/gfci_principal.htm#top

--- sam | Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ Home Page: http://www.repairfaq.org/
Repair | Main Table of Contents: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/
+Lasers | Sam's Laser FAQ: http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/lasersam.htm
| Mirror Site Info: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/F_mirror.html

Important: The email address in this message header may no longer work. To
contact me, please use the feedback form on the S.E.R FAQ Web sites.

A GFCI looks at te current flowing out the hot wire and compares it
with whats coming back on the neutral wire (ignoring ac for the
moment). If there is a difference, it means current is leaking out
somewhere - perhaps due to a short or someone getting shocked and the
current going to ground.

I'll also suggest getting a good quality GFCI if you intend to plug in
a refridgerator. This is someplace you don't want nuisance trips
caused by el cheapo GFCIs. Usually the 20amp variety are better
quality (and more expensive)

-Chris

 

[Sam Goldwasser]

You can put on any load, that is rated to the maximum of the socket, and the
wiring. If there is any type of overload, or power leakage in the load, the
socket will shut the power.

One should note that if the GFCI is at the outlet or an outlet upstream
of this one, it will kill power on leakage but NOT on an overload. That
is the function of the fuse or circuit breaker at the service panel. In
the USA at least.

--- sam | Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ Home Page: http://www.repairfaq.org/
Repair | Main Table of Contents: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/
+Lasers | Sam's Laser FAQ: http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/lasersam.htm
| Mirror Site Info: http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/F_mirror.html

Important: The email address in this message header may no longer work. To
contact me, please use the feedback form on the S.E.R FAQ Web sites.