GFCI AND AFCI DEVICES
Protect Your Home with Ground and Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter
Safety features in your home typically include the electrical panel or fuse box, and a GFCI outlet installed in bathrooms. The ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) is a common protection device that’s required by the National Electric Code. It keeps your family and your home safe from electrocution and accidental home fires.
Dynamic Electricians can help to ensure that GFCI, and arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) are installed properly in your home and are functioning correctly to keep you and your family safe.
GFCIs, Function and Testing
These circuits are required to be in any room with a water source (kitchens and bathrooms) or where high load devices such as power tools are going to be used (garages or the outdoors). These devices detect when a ground fault condition occurs, and shut down power on the circuit to prevent shocks and fires.
This is done by carefully watching the current entering an outlet and comparing it to the current flowing out of an outlet. When an appliance is immersed in water, shorts out, or otherwise faults to ground (current flows somewhere other than the return on an outlet) it immediately cuts power to the system, preventing continued flow of electricity.
These devices should be tested at least once a month. This is done by simply pressing the “test” button on your device. You should hear a loud click, and the reset button should pop out. Press the reset button to restore normal operation. If you do not hear a click or the reset button does not restore service, turn off the breaker to the room and call a licensed electrician for repairs.
AFCIs
AFCIs also help to protect against home fires, electric shocks, and other injuries by detecting when a device or circuit generates an electric arc across an open circuit. These electric arcs are powerful and capable of causing severe burns or fires. An AFCI shuts down power to a circuit before it can generate a dangerous arc.
AFCIs are carefully designed and must be capable of detecting the difference between the small arcs generated by a light switch or initial contact between a plug and a socket without disengaging the circuit. They fill the gap in safety between GFCIs and your circuit breaker, giving your home complete electrical safety.
If you need a new AFCI or GFCI installed into your home, don’t hesitate to call the experts of Dynamic Electricians today at 903-402-2857.
