Safari motorhome TREK 2005, Instructions Manual

Page: 274 / 330

274 • Section 8 --- Electrical Systems - House TREK 2005
GFCI Breakers & Outlets
A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) is incorporated in an outlet. The
GFCI offers two types of protection. One type of protection is from over-current
or shorts to guard against hazardous ground fault currents that can result in
injury or death. Ground fault currents are currents that flow from the “hot”or
power terminal through a person to the ground. For example, touching a faulty
appliance while standing on or making contact with an electrical ground such
as a water fixture, bath tub or the earth. The GFCI protects against the type of
shock that can result from faulty insulation, wet wiring from inside an
appliance, or any device or equipment plugged in or wired to that circuit. The
ground fault portion of the outlet uses sensitive electronics inside the outlet to
detect a ground fault problem. The electronics monitor the normal current of
power, flowing to the hot (black) wire through the load (eg. a light bulb) and
coming back on the neutral (white) wire. If just a small amount of the current
comes back on the safety ground wire, the electronics will trip the outlet,
stopping the flow of electricity. The amount of current it takes to trip the device
from a ground fault varies slightly from the different outlet manufacturers
(approximately 30 milliamps or less).
Electrical shocks resulting from ground faults can be felt, but such a shock is considerably less than
one without ground fault protection. People with heart conditions, or other conditions that make them
susceptible to shocks, can still be seriously injured. A GFCI outlet will not protect against shock from a
normal current flow. For example, a shock from touching both metal prongs of an electrical cord or
appliance while plugging it in.
WARNING:
If an outlet continually trips, DO NOT continue to reset the outlet until the problem
has been identified and corrected.
NOTE:
The ground fault outlet should be tested once a month to ensure it is operating.
Use the TEST button on the outlet. It should trip with an audible “click.” The outlet
will not trip if AC power is not present at the device. If power is present and the
device will not trip, replace it before using that circuit.
NOTE:
One milliamp is 1/1000 of one amp.
060072
Reset
Button
GFCI Outlet