Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters

”GFI” is slang for ”GFCI” an acronym for Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter. These are the receptacles with the funny little buttons on the front of them that are pushed to test and reset the device. They are a safety device to detect a ground fault or an imbalanced load on a circuit. An unintentional electrical path between a source of current and a grounded surface is referred to as a ground fault. When there is a current leak and how it leaks is very important. If you or your tenant provides that path, you be in trouble and it ain't gonna tickle. Adding GFCI outlets/breakers in all appropriate locations is very inexpensive and can keep your derriere (French term that's still cool) out of court.

The GFCI outlet/breaker constantly monitors current flowing in a circuit to sense any loss/imbalance of current. If the current flowing through the black and white wires differs by a very very very small amount (5 milliamps), current is almost instantly (1/13second) interrupted and will stop the flow of electricity through your body to reach ground and prevent serious injury. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), there are still approximately 300 electrocutions per year that could be prevented with the installation of these protection devices. Have you ever touched an appliance and got shocked? That is stray current that has gone through your body to find ground.

GFCI devices are intended for use in “wet locations” like bathrooms, garages, kitchens, wet bars, utility rooms, on the exterior of the house and in the few basements in Florida. The Consumer Product Safety Commission also recommends them for use on power tools. You should also find them on spas, hot tubs and on lighting/receptacles in the vicinity, usually six feet or less, of water. Some older pools and pool lighting may not be protected and are thus a potential source of electrocution. Keep in mind that a GFCI receptacle does not protect against circuit overloads, short circuits or shocks, but AFCI breakers will.

GFCI Receptacles

GFCI Breaker

The first use of these devices, according to the CPSC, was in 1973 but that broad use and enforcement, according to other sources I checked, began in 1978 but who's arguing. If you don't have "em, install "em, they're cheap. About $8 from those great big stores that sell a bunch of building materials. The locations and years required is illustrated in the attached chart.

The most common types of GFCIs are the receptacles themselves (outlets with the funny buttons) and circuit breakers (breakers with the funny buttons). Installation, though easy, should be done by an electrician. GFCIs do go bad and you can even purchase bad GFCIs. Small plug in circuit testers are also available at home improvement stores for less than $10. I have found many receptacles whose button has popped out but still has current flowing through it! There are some newer types now on the market that will help eliminate such occurrences.

Now keep in mind, if you are rehabbing a kitchen and changing out cabinets and counter tops, most municipalities require that a permit be pulled and electrical standards brought current (pun intended). If you are rehabbing a pre-1960 house that has the old 2 wire system (no ground), building standards allow you to install a GFCI outlet at the first receptacle on a circuit to protect everything else down stream. Very cool because that's very cheap. Rewiring a house will run you thousands!