Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI)

At home or outside, there is no way can we do without electricity and electrical devices.
These are the indispensible necessities of our modern day lives. But sometimes their
accidental touch can give a painful shock resulting in serious injuries which at times,
sadly enough can have fatal consequences.

Do you know?
Thousands of children and adults are critically injured and electrocuted annually
from electrical hazards in their own homes.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), home electrical
problems account for more than 51,000 fires each year, resulting in more than 490
deaths, 1,400 injuries, and $1.3 billion in property damage in the United States (US).
Of the over 400 electrocutions in the US each year, approximately 180 are
related to consumer products.
A fewer than 200 people die annually from household electrocutions.
Electricity is the cause of over 140,000 fires each year, resulting in 400 deaths,
4,000 injuries and $1.6 billion in property damage.
Total economic losses due to electrical hazards are estimated to exceed $4
billion annually.
Causes of Electrical Hazards
Apart from everincreasing use of electrical power and outdated home electrical
systems lacking capacity to handle modern electrical appliances and devices, wiring
hazards are a major cause of electrocutions and home fires.
Misuse of surge suppressors, power strips and extension cords is also a cause of
electrocutions and fires.
Dont worry: Electrical Hazards are avoidable!
Incidents of electrical shock are avoidable for sure. For making electrical devices shock
free and eliminating chances of fires, electrocutions and injuries to users, all one needs
to do is eliminate electrical hazards with affordable devices.

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs): Shield against electrical hazards.

When it comes to preventing electrical fires and keeping your family members
especially kids safe, a GFCI is the top home safety device to have.
No home is safe without proper wiring. Properly installed and used GFCIs form
an important part of household electrical safety.
So, whats GFCI?
 A GFCI is an automatic device that offers personal protection against lethal
electrical shock or electrocution.
It is a special electrical receptacle or outlet that can stop electrical power within
milliseconds as a safety precaution.

Lets see how?

It trips electrical circuits whenever it detects ground faults or leakage currents. So
when a persons body starts to receive a shock, the GFCI senses this and cuts off the
power before he or she can get injured.
In general, GFCIs are installed wherever there is the potential for contact
between a person and an electrical appliance in or near moisture, water, or water
pipes.
One needs to ensure that GFCIs are installed in his or her kitchen, bathrooms,
workshop, basement, garage, swimming pools, hot tubs, outdoor outlets and fixtures,
and any other areas where water and electricity are likely to come in contact.
GFCIs are especially useful for cord-connected appliances and equipment used
outdoors or near water.
 How GFCI works?

Simply put, usually a normal electrical outlet has two vertical slots and a round
hole just below them. The larger left slot corresponds to neutral and right slot is
called hot. The third, round hole is the ground.
Normally, electricity flows from hot to neutral in the outlet. The GFCI works by
measuring the current leaving the hot side of the power source and comparing it to
the current returning to the neutral side.
If they are not equal, this means that some of the current is flowing along an
unintended path possibly through water or through a person.
The GFCI detects imbalance in the current flowing from hot to neutral, imbalance
in the current flowing from hot to neutral and quickly cuts off electricity, thus reducing
the risk of electrical shock.
The sensor inside a GFCI detects the difference between the current flowing to
the appliance and the current flowing from the appliance.
If the electricity flowing into the circuit differs by as small as 4 or 5 milliamps from
that returning, a GFCI quickly turns off all power by tripping a relay within it within a
few hundredths of a second, much before the user hardly feels the shock.
When the problem is corrected, GFCIs can later be reset to restore power to the
affected circuit.
If the problem still exists and GFCI continues to sense the difference in the
amount of electricity flowing into the circuit to that flowing out, it will not reset.
Types of GFCIs
Three types of GFCIs are commonly used in homes the GFCI outlet, the GFI circuit
breaker and the portable GFCI. All of these GFCIs perform the same function but each
has different applications and limitations.

1. The GFCI outlet:

It is like a standard electrical outlet and protects any appliance plugged into it. The GFCI
outlet can also be wired to protect other outlets that are connected to it.

2. GFCI Circuit Breaker:

It controls and protects an entire circuit, and is installed as a replacement for a standard
circuit breaker in a homes main circuit board. Compared to multiple GFCI outlets, one
GFCI circuit breaker can protect the entire circuit which may include all bathrooms or all
outdoor fixtures.

Precautions to take: The GFCI circuit breaker should match the requirements of main
electrical panel. For an older panel that utilizes fuses, GFCI outlets must be used
instead of a GFCI circuit breaker.

3. Portable GFCI:
It is used for mobile applications and can work as well as the ones installed in a house.
Portable GFCIs are frequently used by contractors on worksites. But Portable GFCI
protection could also be put to use whenever electrically-powered equipment is used in
garden related works and when using electric tools in and around the house.
 Precaution to take: Portable GFCIs should not be used in place of permanent ones in
home. They are intended to be used only in situations where you must bring power from
an unprotected outlet into a hazardous situation.

GFCI is a must!
The National Electrical Code (NEC) requires GFCIs to be installed at following spots at
home and outside:

Underwater Pool Lighting

Outdoor Receptacles
Bathroom Receptacles
Garage Receptacles
Kitchen Receptacles
Crawl Spaces
Unfinished basements
Wet Bar Sinks
Laundry Receptacles
Utility Sinks
NEC Code Requirements for GFCI

The NEC Code Requirements for GFCIs are aimed at providing protection to anyone
who plugs into an electrical system. As per the NEC Code, the installation of GFCIs is a
must in following areas: 210.8(A) Dwelling Units

210.8(A) Dwelling Units

406.3(D)(2), (3) Receptacle Replacement
424.44(G) Electric Space Heating Cables
511.12 Commercial Garages
517.20(A) Healthcare Facilities
525.23 Carnivals, Circuses, and Fairs
527.6 Temporary Installations
547.5(G) Agricultural Buildings
555.19 Marinas and Boatyards
680.32 Swimming Pools, Storable
 680.62 Therapeutic Tubs
680.71 Hydromassage Bathtubs
620.23, 620.85 Elevators and Escalators
680.43, 680.44 Spas and Hot Tubs
680.22(A), 680.23, 680.27 Swimming Pools, Permanent
680.51(A), 680.56(A), 680.57 Fountains
Thousands of lives saved:
Since the 1970s, GFCIs have saved thousands of lives and have helped cut the
number of home electrocutions in half.
If GFCIs were installed in older homes, experts suggest 70 per cent of the
electrocutions that occur each year in the home could be prevented.
Installing a GFCI in every home and workplace could prevent nearly 70 per cent
of the approximately 400 electrocutions that occur each year.

Types of Switches
Switches:
In electrical and electronic system, a switch is a device, which can make or break an electrical
circuit or we can say that switch is a controlling device, which interrupt the flow of current or
direct the flow of current in another direction. Almost all the electrical and electronics systems
contain at least one switch, which is used to make the device ON or OFF. In addition, a switch is
used to control the circuit operation and user may able to activate or deactivate the whole or
certain parts of the connected circuit.
 Types of Switches
| Image credit: Wikipedia

Generally, Switches can be categories as.

1) Mechanical Switches 2) Electrical/Electronic Switches

Both of these types of switches are widely used in Electrical and Electronics systems. Type of
switch selection depends upon the system in which they are going to be incorporated. Switches
can also be categories on many different bases. We will discuss them one by one later in this
article.

Switches can also be categories on the basis of holding the current state.

1) Late Switch
The latch switch holds its state whether ON or OFF until the new commands initiated.

2) Momentary Switch
Momentary switch holds the state only when the specific command is presented only.

Mechanical Switches:
Mechanical switch is a switch in which two metal plates touch each other to make a physical
contact for the current to flow and separate from each other to interrupt the flow of current.
There are many types of Mechanical switches and they are also be categories on the basis of
power handling capacity. The contact material is chosen by keeping in mind that the metal
oxides, which produced due to corrosion, are mostly insulator and layers of such oxides on the
switch plates will hinder the normal operation of the switch.

Mechanical Switches can be categories on the basis of their operation:

SPST (Single Pole Single Through)

This is a simple ON/OFF switch. It is also called as On Way Switch (in the US, they called it
Two-Way Switch). When a user press the button of the switch, then the plates of the switch
connect with each other and the current starts to flow and vice versa.

SPST (Single Pole Single Through) Switch

SPDT (Single Pole Double Throw)

This button has three pins in which, one pin is used as common and called a Two-Way Switch
(in US, they called it Three-Way Switch). We can send two different signals to same pin by using
this switch. Because of this functionality, this switch is also called selector switch.

Other switches related to SPDT are SPCO (Single Pole Changeover) and SPTT (Single Pole
Center Off or Single Pole Triple Throw)

SPDT (Single Pole Double Throw) Switch

DPST (Double Pole, Single Throw)

This switch is basically two SPST switches in one package and can be operated by a
single lever. This switch is mostly used, where we have to break both ground and lines
at the same time.
 DPST (Double Pole, Single Throw) Switch

DPDT (Double Pole Double Throw)

This switch is equivalent to two SPDT switches packaged in one pack. This switch has two
common pins and four signal pins. Total four different combination of singles can be applied to
the input pins of this switch. Another switch, related to DPDT is DPCO (Double Pole
Changeover or Double Pole, Centre Off).

DPDT (Double Pole Double Throw) switch

2P6T (Two Pole, Six Throw)

It is a type of the changeover switch with a common (COM) which may be connected to six lines
with a second two pole switch, which controlling and the operation of the switch is same.

2P6T (Two Pole, Six Throw) Switch

Intermediate Switch (Also known as four way switch in the US)

What is intermediate switch, Its Construction and Application

Types of Latch and Momentary operation switches:

Push Buttons:

This button is used in many electronics circuits and can handle a small amount of current. When
a user press the button, its metal plate connects with each other, hence the circuit is completed.
When the user removes its finger from the button, contact of the pins detached.

Toggle switch:

Toggle switches are actuated by a lever angled in one or more directions. This switch is stable
in state and remain in that state unless or until lever is pushed in another direction. Most of all
household applications have toggle switch and it can fall into any category as mentioned above

e.g. SPST, DPDT etc.

Electrical and Electronic Switches:

The Above discussed switches are Mechanical switches and they are user manually operated.
Now, we are going to discuss Electrical switches, which are faster in response than mechanical
switches and can be switched automatically by an electronic circuit like microcontroller or
microprocessor. They can also be categories on the basis of current and voltage rating like
mechanical switches.

There are the most widely used electronic switches

1)Transistor 2) Mosfets 3) Relays

The question arises here, why we need electronics switch? The answer of the question is that
sometimes, it is necessary that circuit, which makes decision also turn OFF or ON certain
devices based on the decision. If only mechanical switch is used, then there should be one
person present there all the time to make the device ON and OFF after getting indication
message from the circuit. To eliminate this problem, electronics switches are used then. They
are very much fast and accurate as compared to mechanical switches. Electronic switches are
small in size and do not make noise while switching operation and they make sure the stability
and reliability of the system.

Lets discus types of electronic switches in detail.

Transistor as a switch:

Transistor can be used in different mode of operation but we are going to discuss the transistor
as a switch. If we apply a large amount of current at the base of the transistor (keeping in mind
the maximum allowed current for the this type of transistor) then we can run this transistor in
deep saturation mode i.e. this transistor can be used as a switch.

Typical Circuit of Transistor as a Switch:

No current flowing, when there are 0 volts at the base of Transistor.

When the base is at logic level 1.

Lamp Starts glowing.

Mosfet As a switch:

Mosfet can also be used for switching purpose at high frequencies. They can operate at Mega
hertz frequencies. Mostly, Mosfets used for PWM (pulse width modulation).

Mosfets have three terminals.

1) Gate

2) Drain

3) Source

If we apply logic 1 by keeping in mind the maximum allowed voltage for the base, then the
resistance between the drain and source become low and current starts flowing in this channel
and vice versa

So lamp would not glow, i.e. it would be Off, when the Gate at logic 0.

Gate at logic 1, lamp is glowing.

Relay as a Switch:

A Relay is an electromechanical device, which consists of an electromagnet. When a current is

flowing through the coil, it becomes an electromagnet and this electromagnet can be used for
switching purposes. Their contacts can fall into any category, e.g. SPDT, DPDT etc. (We will
discuss Relay in detail in next posts)
When, we energies the coil, Lamp will glow.

Relay as a Switch

When we de-energies the coil, lamp would not glow.

These were the types of switches. We will discuss in detail their construction, operation and
application one by one in detail in next coming posts. Thanks.

Fuse and Types of Fuses

What is a Fuse:
The fuse is an electronic device, which is used to protect circuits from over current,
overload and make sure the protection of the circuit. There are many types of fuses
available in the market, but function of all these fuses is same.
Fuse consists of a low resistance metallic wire enclosed in a non combustible material.
Whenever a short circuit, over current or mismatched load connection occurs, then the
thin wire inside the fuse melts because of the heat generated by the heavy current
flowing through it. Therefore, it disconnects the power supply from the connected
system. In normal operation of the circuit, fuse wire is just a very low resistance
component and does not affect the normal operation of the system connected to the
power supply.

Types of Fuses:
There are different types of fuses available in the market and they can be categories on
the basis of Different aspects.Good to know: Fuses are used in AC as well as DC
circuits.
 Different Types
of Fuses
Fuses can be divided into two main categories according to the type of input supply
voltage.

1. AC fuses
2. DC fuses

AC and DC Fuses
There is a little difference between AC and DC Fuses used in the AC and DC Systems.
In a DC system, when the metallic wire Melts because of the heat generated by the over
current, then Arc is produced and it is very difficult to extinct this arc because of DC
constant value. So in order to minimize the fuse arcing, DC fuse are little bigger than an
AC fuse which increase the distance between the electrodes to reduce the arc in the
Fuse. On the other hand, i.e. in the AC system, voltage with 60Hz or 50Hz frequency
changes it amplitude from zero to 60 times every second, so arc can be extinct easily as
compared to DC. Therefore, AC fuses are little bit small in sizes as compared to DC
fuses.
Fuses can also be categorized based on one time or multiple Operations.

1) One time use only Fuse 2) Resettable Fuses

 One time use only Fuse
One time use fuses contain a metallic wire, which burns out, when an over current, over
load or mismatched load connect event occur, user has to manually replace these
fuses, switch fuses are cheap and widely used in almost all the electronics and
electrical systems.
Such types of fuses can be categories on the following basis.
Current carrying Capacity of Fuse
Breaking capacity
I2t value of Fuse
Response Characteristic
Rated voltage of Fuse
Packaging Size
below is the brief explanation of the above categories.

Fuse Current Carrying Capacity:

Current carrying capacity is the amount of current which a fuse can easily conduct
without interrupting the circuit.

Breaking capacity:
The value of maximum current that can safely be interrupted by the Fuse is called
Breaking Capacity and should be higher than the prospective short circuit current.
I2t value of Fuse

The I2t terms related to fuse normally used in short circuit condition. it is the amount of
energy which carry the fuse element when the electrical fault is cleared by fuse element.

Response Characteristic:
The speed at which fuse blows, depend on the amount of current flowing through its
wire. The higher the current flowing through the wire, faster will be the response time.
Response characteristic shows the response time for over current event. Fuses which
respond rapidly to the over current situation is called ultra fast fuses or Fast fuses. They
are used in Many semiconductor devices because semiconductor devices damaged by
over current very rapidly.
There is another fuse which Is called Slow burn fuse, switch fuses do not respond
rapidly to the over current event, but blow after several seconds of over current
occurrence. Such fuses found their application in motor control electronics systems
because motor takes a lot more current at starting than running.

Rated Voltage of Fuse:

Each fuse has maximum allowed voltage rating, for example, if a fuse is designed for 32
volts it cannot be used with 220 volts, different amount of isolation is required in different
fuses working on different voltage levels.

Packaging size:
As we have mentioned above that AC and DC fuses, have a little bit different packaging
type, in the same way different application requires different packages to be used
accurately in the circuit.

other factors and parameters are marking, temperature derating, voltage drop and
speed etc.

Other Types of Fuses

Cartridge fuses
Cartridge fuses are used to protect electrical appliances such as motors air-conditions,
refrigerator, pumps etc, where high voltage rating and currents required. They are
available up to 600A and 600V AC and widely used in industries, commercial as well as
home distribution panels.
There are two types of Cartridge fuses. 1. General purpose fuse with no time delay
and 2. Heavy-duty cartridge fuses with time delay. Both are available in 250V AC to
600V AC and its rating can be found on the end cap or knife blade.

Cartridge Fuses

Blade Type fuses:

This type of fuses (also known as spade or plug-in fuses) comes in plastic body and two
metal caps to fit in the socket. Mostly, they used in automobiles for wiring and short
circuit protection. to read more about Blade Type of HRC fuses, check this post. Types
of HRC Fuses.

Blade Type
fuses: used in automobiles

Other Types of Fuses like SMD Fuses , Axial Fuses, Thermal Fuses, HRC (High
Rupturing Capacity) and High Voltage fuses ( will discuss latter in detail)
 SMD Fuse and
Axial fuse

Resettable Fuses:
Resettable fuse is a device, which can be used as multiple times without replacing it.
They open the circuit, when an over current event occurs and after some specific time
they connect the circuit again. Polymeric positive temperature coefficient device (PPTC,
commonly known as a resettable fuse, poly-switch or poly-fuse) is a passive electronic
component used to protect against short current faults in electronic circuits.
Application of such fuses is overcome where manually replacing of fuses is difficult or
almost impossible, e.g. fuse in the nuclear system or in aerospace system.

Resettable
Fuses |Image Credit: Wikipedia
 Typical Uses and Applications of fuses:
Electronic Fuses can be used in all types of electrical and electronic applications
including:

Motors
Air-conditions
Home distribution boards
General electrical appliances and devices
Laptops
Cell phones
Game systems
Printers
Digital cameras
DVD players
Portable Electronics
LCD monitors
Scanners
Battery packs
Hard disk drives
Power convertors

ELCB, RCB and RCD Circuit Breakers

 ELCB: Ear
th Leakage Circuit Breaker
ELCB stands for Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker and it is used for protecting a person
from electric shock and injury. The needs of these devices arise because of the number
increasing in injuries as well as deaths because of electric shock. This device is
invented almost 50 years ago, but nowadays ELCB is not suitable because of its some
disadvantages hence another device RCB (Residual circuit breaker) or RCD (Residual
Current Devices) whose functionality is same with more advantages, but theory of
operation is entirely different from ELCB.
ELCB Construction:
It is international standard that each electronics device enclosure should be earthed.
So, there would be no chance of electrocutions. For proper operation of ELCB, its need
to bury a metallic rod deep in the soil and ELCB is connected between the wire coming
from the rod to the wire attached to the external metallic body of the Electrical device or
you can say that ELCB is connected to the Earth wire.

Also Read:
Wiring of the Distribution Board with RCD
Wiring of the Distribution Board without RCD
 ELCB Operation:
When the live wire (accidentally) touches the metallic body of the connected device or
appliance, then there is potential generated between the earthed rod and the metallic
enclosure of that device. The circuitry (inside the ELCB) senses the potential difference
and when this potential difference reached at 50volt then ELCB cuts off the main supply
from the connected device. This way it ensures the safety of the human beings.
However, it is not used widely nowadays because of its some major disadvantages
which are
Disadvantages of ELCB:
Without proper earth connection, ELCB will not work. If the wire attached to the
earthed rode is loose or broken, then ELCB would not able to sense the potential
hazardous voltage on the metallic body of the electrical/electronic device.
ELCB is attached between earthed wire and metallic body of the electrical
appliances. But there are many other parallel paths for the currents to flow from the
connected device body to earth without going through earthed wire. E.g. there are
many metallic pipes in the house, which can provide a parallel path for the current to
flow towards the earth. In this way, sometime ELCB is not able to detect the
hazardous voltage on the metallic body of the device, which may cause serious injury.
If someone gets in touch with live phase wire, ELCB will not Trip because in this
case, there will be no current flow in the earth wire. In fact, current is flowing from the
live wire to earth through the persons body.
When a live wire comes in contact with neutral wire, short circuit will occur,
hence, ELCB will not trip because there will be no current in the earth wire.
There are many cases in which, there is a current flow in the earth wire, but the
situation is not hazardous in such cases, but it gives false trip e.g. lightening strike,
current starts flowing in the earth wire and ELCB trips.
To overcome with the above disadvantages of ELCB, another Device named Residual
Current Breaker (RCB) is invented to use for earth leakage protection.
RCB and RCD
Residual Current Breaker (RCB):
Residual Current Breaker (RCB) works on the assumption that the current going to the
electronics device must come out from the neutral wire, if there is no other way for
current flow. In simple words, RCB measures the current going inside the connected
device and coming out from the device. If both of these current are equal, then there
would no problem with the normal functionality of the device.
This device is also known as Current Operated ELCB.
This device is more sensitive and accurate than ELCB and its functionality does not
(entirely) depend on the earthed rode wire connection like voltage ELCB.

Working of RCB or Current Operated ELCB:

The polarity of the phase winding and the neutral winding is opposite in normal
condition. Therefore, EMF generated by the phase wire cancels out by the EMF of the
neutral wire. If there is a difference in the incoming and outgoing currents, then the
resultant EMF will not be zero and can be sensed by the CT of RCB. The signal from
the RCB current transformer is fed to the RCB circuit and it opens the main power

contacts.
Advantages of RCB:
1) If there is no connection between the ground and the enclosure of the device, and a
person touches the metallic body of that device. In this case, incoming and outgoing
current will be different and RCB will Trip in contrast with ELCB.
2) Functionality of RCB (Residual Current Breaker) does not effect by lightning strikes.
3) It does not trip falsely.