GFCI
| Subject: | GFCI |
| From: | Email address hidden |
| Date: | Thu Apr 25 06:35:49 1996 |
>Paul,
>
>Thanks for your info. I can only imagine what a GFCI really is; my image
>was an ammeter on both legs of the circuit:
>
> -----(A)-----
> line load
> -----(A)-----
>
>and the thing tripped if the ammeter outputs differed by more than an mA
>(which means that the mA is sneaking off somewhere where it shouldnt).
>If thats true, why would the "GFCI have to be grounded to earth?". I
>kinda thought the ground wire was just there to provide a connection to
>the third prong of the outlet, not really part of the GFCI circuit.
>
>Regards,
>
>Jim Burrows
Hmmmm....... after I thought about it a bit, I think you may be right. I
have never actually looked at the design of a GFCI, so I am not sure, but I
guess it really is a current comparator, looking at the two sides of the AC
line. That function would not have to be ground referenced.
Paul
