21 Feb
2007
21 Feb
'07
7:32 p.m.
On 2/21/07, Chuck Guzis <cclist at sydex.com> wrote:
Here in the US, GFIs are commonly installed on branch
circuits, often
incorporated in the first receptacle of a string.
I've seen plenty of those in bathrooms and kitchens, where the
upstream-most outlet is GCFI, and all the downstream outlets are
ordinary (but protected by the upstream one).
I don't believe I've ever seen a GFI as part
of the main breaker.
I saw some in a new-build on Monday night. They were described to me
as "bedroom GFCI". Dunno why they had to have them, but it seemed to
be a new code requirement here in Columbus, OH. These were apparently
only to bedrooms, not the living room, lighting, etc., thus the name.
Never seen them before, but there they were.
The breakers themselves were longer than the others, by 25%-50%, with
a small light-colored switch that would normally be covered by the
panel cover. I'm guessing the switch is the trip indicator. There
did not seem to be a "test" button.
And a question for the US experts. On a 120v circuit,
will a $6.00
GFI detect a leak between neutral and ground? Or is the detection
circuitry only on the high side of the line?
I do not know for a fact, but I _think_ the cheap GCFIs in the States
only have detection circuity on the high side.
-ethan