GFCI's are to detect and prevent leakage currents. They monitor the current in the hot and the neutral lines. Ever stood barefoot on the ground and held a drill or saw and gotten shocked? A GFCI, working properly, will prevent that from killing you, or even shocking you for more than a few mS In properly working equipment, basic electrical theory shows that the current in the hot line and current in the neutral lines must be equal. If the currents are not equal, then current is 'leaking;' out of the circuit. The GFCI senses the imbalance and interrupts the circuit to stop the leakage. They are not perfect, though. You can hook up an old 2 prong hair dryer and drop it in a bathtub full of water without tripping the GFCI if you know how. I was an electrician for the Navy for years... I won't plug a tower into one. Every time the lighting flashes for 30 miles around, they trip... On 3/16/2012 11:45 AM, DJ Anderson wrote: I thought GFCI's were to protect circuits from moisture mainly, AFAIK they do not provide any type of protection for devices other than cutting the circuit if it senses a ground fault. -- West Michigan Wireless ISP Allegan, Michigan 49010 269-686-8648 A Division of: Camp Communication Services, INC |
_______________________________________________ Wireless mailing list Wireless@wispa.org http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless