Hey, a quick question. Does a plug-in GFCI need a three-wire grounded outlet to do it's thing, or can one safely use a 3-2 adapter?
GFCI
Nov 21, 2009
3 Replies
The GFCI will work without a ground
The difference being that with one, indirect contact (a fault to an exposed metal case) would cause it to trip a soon as the fault occurred, but without one it would need someone to touch it and start to receive a shock before it tripped. But either with or without one, the latter would occur with direct contact with live/ hot.
Yes you can safely use a 2-prong adapter, or an appliance with only a
2-prong cord. A GFI works by looking for a difference in the current between the hot and neutral and has nothing to do with using a ground prong. Once there is a difference of 6ma or more between the hot and neutral prongs the GFI trips because it means that at least some of the current is coming out of the hot prong but is not going back on the neutral prong. This means the current is going somewhere else, such as to ground. Hence the name of a GFI device, Ground Fault Interrupter, or GFCI, Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter.Join the Discussion
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