Ground-fault protection of equipment (GFPE) What is a ground fault circuit interrupter? A ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI or GFI) is a safety device that is designed to protect either a complete 120-volt, two-wire circuit or a single receptacle against ground-fault currents.
Full Answer
What is a gfpe receptacle?
I am assuming you mean GFPE (30 milliamp trip threshold). GFPE is not used for kitchen equipment but is commonly used to protect roof de-icing cable. If it is not used for Commercial kitchen equipment, we are not talking about the same thing. I am not sure that there is any GFPE type of receptacles.
What are the special rules for gfpe of electrical systems?
Special rules for GFPE of electrical systems apply to these facilities. Section 517.17 (B) indicates, when GFPE is provided at the service or feeder disconnecting means, as specified by Section 230.95 or 215.10, an additional level of GFPE is required in the next level of feeder-disconnecting means downstream toward the load.
Can gfpe be used for fire pumps?
Note that GFPE is not permitted for fire pumps or in systems where a nonorderly shutdown or interruption would introduce additional hazards. The second questioner sought input on GFPE rules for healthcare facilities, such as hospitals. Special rules for GFPE of electrical systems apply to these facilities.
Why does the NEC require gfpe?
This is why the NEC requires GFPE. Sections 210.13, 215.10, 230.95, 240.13, 517.17 and others provide GFPE requirements. GFPE is generally required for solidly grounded wye services and feeders of more than 150V to ground but not exceeding 600V phase-to-phase for each disconnect rated at or above 1,000 amperes (A).
What is a GFPE device?
Ground-fault protection of equipment (GFPE) is defined in the National Electrical Code (NEC) [1] in Article 100 as “a system intended to provide protection of equipment from damaging line-to-ground-fault currents by operating to cause a disconnecting means to open all ungrounded conductors of the faulted circuit.
What is the difference between GFCI and GFPE?
A GFCI is intended to protect persons against shock and electrocution. As implied by its name, the GFPE protects equipment from damaging line-to-ground faults and is not intended for the protection of people.
What is equipment protection on a breaker?
A ground fault equipment protector is a device intended to provide protection of equipment against damaging line-to-ground currents by disconnecting all ungrounded conductors of the faulted circuit. ... GFEPs are also referred to as residual current circuit breakers (RCCBs) in countries outside of the US and Canada.
What does GFPE stand for?
Ground fault protection equipmentGround fault protection equipment (GFPE) can either consist of an equipment leakage current interrupter (ELCI) or ground fault sensing and relaying equipment. An ELCI is a device intended to provide leakage current protection in electrical appliances and electrical utilization equipment.
Which of the following services requires that a GFPE device be installed?
GFPE is generally required for solidly grounded wye services and feeders of more than 150V to ground but not exceeding 600V phase-to-phase for each disconnect rated at or above 1,000 amperes (A). GFPE is required for nominal 480Y/277V, three-phase, 4-wire, wye-connected systems.
What are the three types of GFCI?
Three types of GFCIs are commonly used in homes – the GFCI outlet, the GFI circuit breaker and the portable GFCI. All of these GFCIs perform the same function but each has different applications and limitations.
What is used to protect the electrical equipment?
fuseThe equipment fuse or breaker protects the individual piece of electrical equipment and adds safety to the system.
Do GFCI outlets have overcurrent protection?
Typical GFCI outlet units do not provide any over current protection. They provide protection when the current in the HOT wire is not balanced with the current in the NEUTRAL wire to the local outlet outlet or to downstream circuits connected to the LOAD terminals of the device.05-Jan-2016
Which receptacles are required to be GFCI protected?
The NEC mandates GFCI protection in many areas of the home: bathrooms, garages, outdoor receptacles, crawl spaces, basements, kitchens and anything within six feet of a sink or water source.29-May-2019
Does a dedicated circuit need to be GFCI protected?
Outdoors: All outdoor receptacles must be GFCI-protected, with one exception: receptacles that are not readily accessible and are supplied by a dedicated branch circuit for electric snow-melting or deicing equipment do not need to be protected. ... Receptacles in these areas must have GFCI protection.27-Sept-2021
What amperage does a GFCI trip?
about 5 mAIf current from the line does not return to the neutral (i.e. goes to ground instead), the GFCI will trip (power will be turned off coming out of the GFCI). It takes a mismatch of about 5 mA of current (5 milliamps or . 005 A) to trip a GFCI.
How do GFCI outlets work?
It works by comparing the amount of current going to and returning from equipment along the circuit conductors. When the amount going differs from the amount returning by approximately 5 milliamperes, the GFCI interrupts the current. The GFCI is rated to trip quickly enough to prevent an electrical incident.
What is GFPE required for?
GFPE is generally required for solidly grounded wye services and feeders of more than 150V to ground but not exceeding 600V phase-to-phase for each disconnect rated at or above 1,000 amperes (A). GFPE is required for nominal 480Y/277V, three-phase, 4-wire, wye-connected systems.
What is the purpose of GFPE disconnecting?
The primary purpose for this is to ensure that a ground-fault event in the electrical system does not open the service GFPE disconnecting means but opens the feeder device closest to the fault, thus isolating the offending circuit while maintaining continuity of power to the rest of the healthcare facility.
Is GFPE required for a 120V circuit?
If a phase-to-ground voltage is 120V, GFPE is generally not an NEC requirement. In a circuit of 277V to ground, electric arcs generate significant amounts of heat and an arcing fault is readily sustained. A ground fault is typically not a solid or “bolted fault” condition, so dynamic arcing impedance is introduced in the circuit.
Who is Michael Johnston?
Michael Johnston is NECA’s executive director of standards and safety. He is a member of the NEC Correlating Committee, NFPA Standards Council, IBEW, UL Electrical Council and NFPA’s Electrical Section. Reach him at [email protected].
What is a GFCI circuit?
The basic definition of a ground-fault circuit-interrupter (G FCI) is a general-use device whose function is to interrupt the electric circuit to a load within an established period of time. There is a Class A GFCI that trips when a ground fault current exceeds 5 milliamps and there is a Class B GFCI that trips when a ground fault current exceeds 20 ...
What is a Class B GFCI?
A Class B GFCI with a 20 milliamp trip level is to be used only for protection of underwater swimming pool lighting fixtures installed before adoption of the 1965 National Electrical Code (NEC).
What is ground fault protection?
The most important thing to understand about ground fault protection devices is that one type is to protect personnel and the other is to protect electrical equipment, the latter having different trip levels for different types of protection. Three basic ground fault systems or leakage current protection devices are used in ...
What is GFCI protection?
Abstract: A ground-fault circuit-interrupter (GFCI) is an electrical device, either a receptacle or circuit breaker, which is designed to protect people from electric shock. GFCI protection should not be confused with ground-fault protection for equipment or grounding in general.
How many amps can a GFPE hold?
A GFPE can be set up to 1,200 amperes with a time delay up to 1 second for ground-fault currents of 3,000 amperes or greater, which would be lethal to a human being. Published in: 2013 IEEE IAS Electrical Safety Workshop. Article #:
What is GFPE in electrical?
Ground-fault protection of equipment (GFPE) is defined in the National Electrical Code (NEC) [1] in Article 100 as “a system intended to provide protection of equipment from damaging line-to-ground-fault currents by operating to cause a disconnecting means to open all ungrounded conductors of the faulted circuit.
Is GFCI a fault?
GFCI protection should not be confused with ground-fault protection for equipment or grounding in general . Even if a system is properly grounded, minor faults in a circuit can cause a dangerous shock to a person using an appliance or power tool.
What is the NEC code for ground fault protection?
210.8 (B) (2) requires all 125 volt 15 and 20 amp receptacles to have ground fault protection for personnel, which is defined in the NEC as a Class A device with a trip threshold of 4 to 6 milliamps. If the inspector was to approve GFPE protection which has a trip threshold of 30 to 50 milliamps IMHO that would constitute negligence on his part.
What is a GFCi breaker?
Gfci is for people protection (5 ma) and gfpe is for equipment protection (30 ma). Had a conversation here recently with a guy that claimed that some electricians were allowed to SWITCH the gfci (5 ma) breaker for the gfpe (30 ma) breaker in a kitchen because the (NEW)freezers and refrigerators were tripping them.
Why do commercial kitchens have GFCI protection?
The reason for GFCI protection in a commercial kitchen has to do with the wash down procedures and the fact that we are dealing with very conductive surfaces. The substantiation was a case where a janitor was mopping down the area in a commercial kitchen and touched a stainless steel appliance. The appliance had a broken ground prong on the cord and the motor in the appliance had faulted out to the frame. The janitor touched the appliance and was killed.
Can an indicator light replace GFCI?
Most of the times the loss of the equipment grounding conductor occurs in the equipment plugged into the receptacle so an indicator light on the receptacle would not accomplish much in the way of safety and would never replace the safety provided by GFCI protection.
What is GFPE used for?
GFPE is not used for kitchen equipment but is commonly used to protect roof de-icing cable. If it is not used for Commercial kitchen equipment, we are not talking about the same thing. I am not sure that there is any GFPE type of receptacles. Our units are 120V and come with a cord and plug standard 5-15P.
Can you unplug a 30A plug?
Because you cannot simply unplug a 30 or 50A appliance and plug in a drill, space heater, floor buffer, hand mixer, etc, with a "standard" 15A 125V plug on it.
Is GFCi a 5 or 30 ma?
That gfci is a '5 ma' not the '30 ma' . They only say this is for equipment and the people won't be using that outlet much and that section was meant for outlets people can use frequently. Also, there is no 'specific statement in the code that says what the 'ma' should be' in that section, only that gfci is required.