GFCI FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions about Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters
Q. What is a GFCI?
A. Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter. It is a device intended for protection of personnel from electrical shock hazards.
Q. Is a GFI the same as GFCI?
A. Yes. It is used interchangeably.
Q. Why do I need a GFCI?
A. If an approval agency like UL requires you to use a GFCI for your appliance. You can also use a GFCI for marketing purpose and to provide extra safety for your appliance.
Q. What do you mean by Class A GFCI?
A. It means that it will shut down the power to the appliance when there is a ground fault current at 6mA or more but not less than 4mA.
Q. What is ground fault?
A. It is a problem in an electrical system or appliance that has an unintentional electrical connection between a part of the appliance operating normally at some potential to ground, and ground.
Q. Why is ground fault dangerous?
A. Ground fault can cause serious injury or even death if the personnel are exposed to it and the appliance has no GFCI protection.
Q. How many GFCI styles are available in the market?
A. Wall mount type, cord connected types (plug and in line), adapter type with built in receptacle(s), panel mount type, circuit breaker type, and custom made types.
Q. Do you sell all types?
A. We manufacture plug type(our popular model), in line, adapter, panel mount, exclusive custom designs for specific customers.
Q. If I have my own custom design, are you willing to work with me and give me price?
A. Yes. We can take a look and welcome your own design.
Q. What is double insulation or double insulated?
A. It is an insulation system of an appliance that has functional and supplementary insulation. You can tell if the appliance is rated double insulated by counting the number of conductors in the power cord. Double insulated appliance for outdoor use typically uses two conductor power cord.
Q. Who determines how many conductors are required for the power cord in an appliance?
A. The appliance designer and the electrical engineer will do the designing and approval agencies like UL does the testing if they can pass as double insulated and can use a two conductor power cord.
Q. Why do I need a ground wire?
A. If your appliance cannot pass as double insulated, if the appliance maker wants to provide extra protection for marketing idea or approval agencies like UL requires 100% grounding in your appliance category.
Q. What do the colors of the conductor mean?
A. Ground wire is usually green color, Hot or Line wire is black color and Return or Neutral wire is white color.
Q. Is it a problem if the power cord conductors are not connected to the correct terminal connections to your GFCI?
A. Yes, big problem and cause serious injury.
Q. Can you supply 2 conductor(2 prong) and or 3 conductor(3 prong) GFCI?
A. Yes. All our cord connected GFCI (plug and in line) are available to receive your 2 or 3 conductor power cord.
Q. Can I connect a two conductor power cord to your 3 prong GFCI and market it as grounded appliance and advertise it as extra safe?
A. No. That is cheating and approval agencies like UL will not allow it.
Q. Can I use a 2 prong GFCI to my three conductor power cord so I save money?
Q. What do you mean by auto reset?
Q. How about manual reset?
Q. How do I know if I need auto reset or manual reset?
Q. Why do you have electronic reset and mechanical reset GFCI?
Q. What do you mean by rainproof?
Q. Is rainproof same as waterproof?
Q. Can I put the GFCI underwater to test for rainproof?
Q. Are you approved for use in Canada?
Q. What is a pig tail?
Q. What is the maximum length allowed for the pig tail?
Q. Can you ship GFCI with and without cords?
Q. Can I use SPT3 or any other flat cords to your GFCI?
A. No. Only round cord and the most popular is SJTW. We can always tell you if your cord can be used or not by letting us know the cord specs.
Q. What AWG size can I use?
Q. Why don’t you change the current rating marking on your GFCI when I only use 16AWG for 13A or 18AWG for 10A?
Q. Can I use a cord with no “W” at the end like SJT and use it for outdoor?
A. No. It must be with “W” which means water resistant.
Q. Can I use your GFCI for indoor use?
A. Yes.
Q. Do I need to use a special terminal to connect to your GFCI?
A. No. It is not required and our terminal box can accept some terminal types.
Q. Why is your GFCI rated at 125V and your competition rating is 120V?
A. UL is making every GFCI manufacturer to change to 125V rating on the marking.
Q. Can your GFCI work at 50Hz?
A. Our GFCI is marketed and available for use in the USA and Canada which is 60Hz. UL tested our GFCI and approved for 60Hz. We cannot guarantee that the GFCI will continue to work over long period of time at 50Hz.
Q. My appliance is ETL approved. Can I use your UL approved GFCI with my ETL approved appliance?
A. Yes you can. ETL will allow UL approved devices to give you full approval.
Q. Can I use a 60C rated cord and can I get UL approval?
A. It depends on your appliance’s electrical and temperature performance as evaluated by UL and other approval agencies.
Q. How about 105C?
A. Yes.
Q. Can I use a cord with no approvals?
A. No.
Q. Why do you have a warning label on the power cord and can I remove it?
A. If we supply you with the GFCI with cord, we must attach this warning label. Removing this label after we shipped and received by you will be your own responsibility.
Q. Can I supply you the cord at no charge and you assemble it to your GFCI?
A. Yes.
Q. Are you sure your plug type GFCI will fit inside an outdoor outlet with a protective cover?
A. Yes. Our GFCI fits most outdoor outlets than the competition.
Q. What is open neutral protection?
A. It is a UL requirement on portable and cord connected GFCI. If the white wire or Neutral was cut or disconnected on the supply side of the GFCI, it must not provide power to the appliance.
Q. Does your GFCI have open neutral protection?
A. Yes. Our patented circuit is designed with open neutral protection feature.
Q. What is grounded neutral protection?
Q. My customer is asking if they can use an extension cord to plug the GFCI. Is this OK?
A. No. We do not recommend using an extension cord.