Thread: Power squid
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Old 01-27-2006, 06:56 AM   #13
tw
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Join Date: Jan 2001
Posts: 11,933
Quote:
Originally Posted by zippyt
[i]So is this AGFI like a circut breaker for the nuteral as well ????
A conventional circuit breaker cuts off power when current in the hot (black) wire becomes excessive. This so that wires do not get hot and burn down a house. That is tens or hundreds of amps only on hot wire.

GFCI circuit breakers do same AND monitor for a current difference. If the current going out does not match the current coming back, then a human may be at risk. This current difference is 0.005 amps. So the GFCI monitors for excessive outgoing tens or hundreds of amps AND monitors that all current going out also comes back - detects 0.005 amps difference between hot (black) and neutral (white) wire.

AGFI breakers contain both above functions AND monitors for a sudden increase of those tens or hundreds of amps. That sudden increase would be two AC wires inside the cable shorting. That would be an arc that could create a fire. This last function monitors current changes to quash an arc that would ignite the Christmas tree or bedroom rug.

Those are the three basic circuit breakers now required in home wiring.

Meanwhile, the 15 amp breaker is required on all power expansion devices. This requirement from a completely different safety standards organization: UL.
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