House Wiring Diagram for GFI

The Safety Features of GFCI Outlets and for Home Electrical Wiring

The Safety of GFCI Outlets and Receptacles
Back Ground Information - Features and Benefits

The National Electrical Code (NEC) has acted in response to a Consumer Product Safety Commission study that documented injuries to children caused by their inserting pins, keys and other foreign objects into electrical receptacles.

The 10-year study (1991-2001) revealed that over 24,000 children under 10 years old were treated in emergency rooms for incidents related to electrical receptacles: an average of 2400 per year, 7 per day.

Tamper-Resistant Receptacles have been mandated in hospital pediatric wards for over 20 years and are proven to effectively prevent electrical injuries.

• GFI Features and Benefits

  • Automatically test the GFCI-receptacle every time the RESET button is pushed in.
  • The GFCI-receptacle will not reset if the GFCI circuit is not functioning properly.
  • By blocking reset of the GFCI if protection has been compromised, Smart Lock PRO reduces the possibility of end-users incorrectly assuming that a reset GFCI outlet is providing ground fault protection when it actually is not.
  • A line-load reversal diagnostic feature is provided which prevents the GFCI-receptacle from being reset and stops power from being fed to the GFCI-receptacle face or through to downstream devices.
  • A green LED indicator on the GFCI's face also illuminates to alert the installer to the line-load wiring reversal.
  • The trip latch mechanism in Smart Lock Pro GFCIs is a one piece "T" design for efficient operation.
  • There are 4 sets of contacts for load terminals and face. Smart Lock PRO GFCI-receptacles use a patented bifurcated bridge contact for efficient operation.
  • Trip threshold meets or exceeds UL requirements for tripping time.
  • Improved immunity to high-frequency noise reduces nuisance tripping.
  • Advanced electronics design provides superior resistance to electrical surges and over-voltages.
  • Expanded wiring options with nine back-wire holes (two for each line and load connection plus one for ground with an internal clamp).