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For all regular gfi outlets, the power travels through two wires. Think of it as a wire coming from the power company, delivering power to the appliance, and a wire going back, sending any leftover power to be reused.

Now, the earth is a huge mass, which can absorb a lot of electricity, and it will do so gladly. If lightning hits a tree. the power is transmitted through the tree to the earth. Usually the tree doesn't fare very well. The earth doesn't seem to mind at all.

Likewise, if a person is well grounded, by standing on wet ground, touching a grounded pipe or object or soaking in a tub, and they come in contact with electricity, it can travel through them to reach the ground. This can cause intense pain, burns and, sometimes, death.

A GFI has a very sensitive detector that notices if any of that power that came in isn't going back to the power company. It assumes that it is going to ground and shuts off. Wet appliances, wet outlets, frayed wires, evn excess damp in the air can cause GFIs to trip.

A GFI can also protect outlets that are "downstream" of it. If other outlets are wired to it, they will cause the GFI to trip if a ground fault occurs.

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Why do CFL's keep blowing in my lamp that is pluged into a GFI outlet?

Are you sure it is the bulb that its blowing and not the Gfi tripping? Try resetting the gfi. Also try swithing to an incandescent bulb and test your gfi. Also test the cfl in a non-gfi outlet. Cfls return power they don't use and may make the gfi trip. I am not an electrician, just personal experience.


GFI electrical outlet at the garage where the freezer hook up keeps on tripping but when plug at the electrical outlet of the garage door openner does not trip. What is mostly the problem?

Electric motors and GFI's do not get along. the initial draw to get the compressor going is usually enough to trip the GFI. Turn the breaker off and switch the GFI for a regular outlet and you will solve your problem.


What are the features of GFI LanGuard?

The features of a GFI LanGuard are faster speed, built in patch management system, regular vulnerability checks, interactive dashboard and security applications.


How do you find a triped circuit?

Check the circuit panel / breaker box. The tripped breaker should be partway between 'OFF' and 'ON'. If nothing else, turn the breakers off then on, one at a time and when the tripped breaker is reset, the circuit should be live again. Also check GFI outlets. If one is in fault condition, it will need to be reset. If the tripped GFI outlet is protecting other outlets, they will come back when the tripped GFI is reset. These sockets seem to hide in many cases... Behind microwave ovens for example or refrigerators.


Do both the breakers and the outlets need to be GFI if you are running two 15 amp GFI circuits?

If you're using a GFCI breaker then the entire circuit will be protected by just the breaker alone. Every receptacle, switch, etc on that breaker will utilise the GFCI protection. You may have problems with it tripping if you plug in a motor (vacuum, etc) on the circuit.

Related Questions

How does a GFI switch work?

An electric flow-monitoring switch (GFI switch) detects the difference between the entering and exiting current. So, it is concluded that if the breaker detects some difference then it indicates that the current is flowing through an undesirable path like water or a person is the case, so, it cuts off the power immediately, thus preventing the danger.


When was GFI Software created?

GFI Software was created in 1992.


When was GFI Russia created?

GFI Russia was created in 1996.


When was GFI Group created?

GFI Group was created in 1987.


What is the population of GFI Group?

The population of GFI Group is 2,010.


Can GFI's be used to repair short circuits?

No. That is not the purpose of a GFI.


How do you connect the wires when replacing a socket that has a gfi button with one that does not have the gfi button?

Don't ! get another GFI plug. there 4 dollars and the instructions come with it


Difference between nessus and gfi languard?

GFI surpasses Nessus when targeting Windows hosts


What is the symbol for GFI Group Inc in the NYSE?

The symbol for GFI Group Inc. in the NYSE is: GFIG.


Why won't my GFI reset?

Your GFI may not reset due to a faulty GFI outlet, a tripped circuit breaker, a ground fault in the wiring, or a connected device causing the fault.


How do you wire a garbage disposal between the disposal and the GFI?

White and the ground go to the disposal, black goes through a switch and then to the disposal. All three go through the switch box, the white and ground just pass through on the way to the disposal. Break the black with the switch.


In what year did GFI Group Inc - GFIG - have its IPO?

GFI Group Inc. (GFIG)had its IPO in 2005.