We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
DIY

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is a GFCI Outlet?

Mary McMahon
By
Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 33,114
Share

A GFCI outlet is an electrical outlet which is designed to protect people from deadly electric shock. In addition to preventing electrocution, GFCI outlets can also reduce the risk of house fires caused by electrical problems, and reduce damage to appliances caused by faulty electrical circuits. These outlets use ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI or GFI) technology; it is also possible to install a GFCI at the breaker box, or to use a portable GFCI device.

The way in which these outlets work is rather ingenious. The GFCI outlet monitors the flow of energy through the circuit. If an imbalance between the “hot” and “neutral” poles in the circuit occurs, indicating that there is a ground fault, the outlet trips off. Ground faults can be caused by a wide variety of things, including a human being touching an energized part of the circuit, and this can be deadly. A classic example of a ground fault which has been utilized as a plot device in numerous films is a hair dryer which falls into the bathtub, turning the water in the tub into part of the electrical circuit and electrocuting the unfortunate occupant.

The design of a GFCI outlet includes two small buttons labeled “test” and “reset.” People with GFCI outlets should make a habit of regularly testing them to confirm that they are working properly. This can be done by plugging a lamp into the outlet, turning the lamp on, and hitting the test button. The lamp should go out, and the reset button should pop out, allowing people to turn the outlet back on.

GFCI outlets are mandated by law in many regions of the world in locations like bathrooms, garages, kitchens, crawl spaces, unfinished basements, and outdoor outlets. While people are encouraged to install them everywhere for safety, these areas are the locations of most concern, because they are prone to the development of ground faults. Any electrician should be able to install GFCI outlets, and people who are experienced with electrical wiring can also install them.

If a GFCI electrical outlet is tripped, people should ascertain why the outlet cut off the supply of power before resetting it. For example, if a kitchen outlet suddenly stops working, it might be because a wire inside the outlet is coming into contact with something which is causing a ground fault, which means that people would not necessarily be aware of the fault. An electrician can run diagnostics to determine why the outlet turned off, and reset or replace the outlet as necessary.

People should be aware that they can still be shocked by a ground fault associated with a GFCI outlet. The outlet will detect the imbalance in energy quickly enough to prevent a severe or fatal shock, but the victim will still experience a shock in the fraction of a second it takes for a GFCI outlet to respond to a ground fault.

Share
HomeQuestionsAnswered is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Mary McMahon
By Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a HomeQuestionsAnswered researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Discussion Comments
By anon1003219 — On May 22, 2020

A GFCI is any device that interrupts a ground fault in an electric circuit. It simply compares the current flowing into the circuit with the return current. If there is a difference, then the GFCI will open the circuit.

The GFCI can be an outlet (receptacle) or circuit breaker. The circuit breaker will protect everything downstream of it. The GFCI receptacle will protect anything plugged into that outlet AND any downstream outlets daisy-chained from it.

The RCD is the European nomenclature for GFCI.

By anon153944 — On Feb 18, 2011

I still find some confusion about GFCI outlets and GFCI's.

I presume that protected outlet(s) is the former, and the latter is the actual device?

Also I do not properly understand how a GFCI differs from an RCD.

Finally common sense surely dictates that knowledge of "time to trip" is important info.

I have seen comment somewhere that GFCI's may be faster acting than RCD's.

I'd like to know more, and in what circumstances both might be used in the same circuit.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a...

Learn more
Share
https://www.homequestionsanswered.com/what-is-a-gfci-outlet.htm
Copy this link
HomeQuestionsAnswered, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

HomeQuestionsAnswered, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.