Electricians For Whitefish, Columbia Falls, Bigfork, Lakeside, Polson and Surrounding Flathead Valley
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) outlets are an important safety device designed to prevent accidental electrocution. It works by constantly monitoring the electrical current flowing through a circuit and instantly switching off the power (interrupting the circuit) if it detects a ground fault or leakage current – that is, if the current is flowing along an unintended path, such as through a person or water. By quickly cutting off the power when a ground fault occurs, GFCI outlets are able to prevent serious injuries and save lives.
GFCI outlets look different from ordinary outlets. They have two buttons labeled one is labeled “Test” and the other is labeled “Reset.” You can check that a GFI is working by pressing “Test.” When you press the “Test” button it should shut off current to the outlet so that the outlet no longer provides power. After the test, you can restore current to the outlet by pressing “Reset.”
