ELECTRICAL PROTECTION FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY

Properly installed Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI's) in your home or cottage can provide you and your family with almost instant protection from potentially fatal electric shock caused by a ground fault in your electrical tools or appliances. The GFCI receptacles (outlets) are recommended for use outdoors, in bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms and work shops. In fact, the Electrical Safety Code requires GFCI's for new electrical installations around swimming pools and for all residential bathrooms, and outdoor outlets in new homes. Specially designed portable GFCI's can be taken from job to job to protect you where you work.

WHAT IS A GROUND FAULT?

A ground fault in an electrical circuit, extension cord, tool or appliance permits leakage of electricity. Power leaks into the casing of the tool or appliance through a faulty wire. Faults usually result from worn insulation, moisture, or in tools that have deteriorated from age or abuse, and in some cases where three-wire plugs have been replaced and wired incorrectly.

WHY ARE GROUND FAULTS DANGEROUS?

Ground faults are very dangerous when people become part of an electrical path or circuit to ground. When electrical current leaks out of faulty tools, it seeks the path of least resistance to ground and can harm or kill the person holding the tool.
The person using or touching the faulty tool, cord or appliance while standing in a damp location on the ground, cement floor, or touching a sink, tap or other conductive material becomes a good path to ground. The electrical current flowing through a person's body to ground can result in serious injury or death.

HOW DOES THE GFCI WORK?

The GFCI monitors the flow of current (electricity) to the appliance along the "hot" conductor, and back to the outlet along the "neutral" conductor. It can almost instantly sense an electrical ground fault... when less electricity returning from the appliance to the outlet indicates leakage. In a fraction of a second it interrupts or opens the protected circuit, stopping the flow of electrical current before someone is hurt.
Take for example a person using faulty electrical equipment in the garden. Without a GFCI the person turns on the switch and electric current flows through the faulty equipment into his or her body and into the ground, resulting in injury or electrocution.
If the equipment had been plugged into a GFCI protected circuit, the GFCI would have sensed the ground fault and opened the circuit, preventing serious injury or electrocution. If you have a GFCI don’t forget to test it once a month.

DOESN’T THE CIRCUIT BREAKER OR FUSE PROTECT US?

No! Fuses or circuit breakers are primarily designed to protect your electrical system wiring and equipment. They will not protect a person from serious electrical injury during a ground fault failure.

HOW DO I GET MORE INFORMATION AND HAVE GFCI’S INSTALLED?

Contact a qualified electrician or contractor for more information or to install GFCI’s.

REMEMBER...

You and your family need the protection GFCIs provide. Take a minute and order your split-second electrical protection now!