Investigation of Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter

Abstract : The objective of this study was to ascertain the capabilities and limitations of the Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI) used on Corps of Engineers (COE) supervised construction sites. Laboratory tests were conducted to determine (1) if GFCI samples from different manufacturers met the trip threshold design specifications of 5 mA plus or minus and (2) if condensation, hot-cold environment, vibration, and RF, UHF, and microwave fields adversely affected their operation. A limited field survey of COE supervised construction sites was conducted to evaluate the actual application of the GFCI. This survey included trip threshold measurements and discussions with COE and contractor personnel after nuisance tripping had occurred.