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Anything I should know about putting GFCIs at a work bench?
cdev:
Basically, I have two GFCIs and I am wondering if there is anything I should know about their use in an electronics workbench setting? I am not anticipating any dangerous conditions, actually almost everything I fool around with is low voltage - I'm just planning to replace the current wall outlets with GFCIs, does that sound like a good plan?
SL4P:
--- Quote from: cdev on April 07, 2015, 04:16:20 am ---Basically, I have two GFCIs and I am wondering if there is anything I should know about their use in an electronics workbench setting? I am not anticipating any dangerous conditions, actually almost everything I fool around with is low voltage - I'm just planning to replace the current wall outlets with GFCIs, does that sound like a good plan?
--- End quote ---
The thing you need to know is that you're smarter than most semi-pro elec techs and engineers.
Make sure you test the devices before you need to depend on them, and keep in mind that you may want a 'dirty' circuit as well for permanent appliances - like phones & heaters etc that are not in the immediate workspace.
Also remember that mains leads that you run over with your chair, or drop the hot iron on - are worthy candidates!
kizzap:
In case you haven't figured it out yet, a GFCI will only trip on faults (either Line or Neutral) to EARTH. It will happily supply up to the Circuit Breaker's rated current (which can be upwards of 100A depending on the breaker/time). Basically the GFCI will do shit all if you short Line and Neutral together.
I don't know much about the American (and I am assuming you are, happy to be proven wrong), but in Australia you can get RCD(GFCI)/CB combos, which will detect either fault and trip. Might be worth looking into that?
SeanB:
In the USA ( that you get GFCI outlets anywhere in the world other than the USA I have never seen) so yes, putting them in is a good thing. I would also recommend that the regular outlets are also replaced with AFCI outlets, as they protect against arcing faults as well. GFCI on stuff to the bench, and AFCI on the rest of the room.
Zero999:
GFCI is called RCD in most other parts of the world.
I've never heard of AFCI.
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