GFI & storms

[mike31154]

Originally Posted by asmodeus

I believe, but don't quote me that in order for the GFI to work its got to be grounded too right.

Negative, as in no. GFI devices only need the hot (black or red) and neutral (white) to do their thing. While all newer homes (circa post 1950s) are wired with hot, neutral and ground, homes built in the 50s and earlier do not necessarily have the ground wire. I still have several wire runs with ungrounded cables in my place. Purchased the BC edition of the 'Electrical Code Simplified' published by PS Knight some time ago and it states in there somewhere that one way to make an ungrounded circuit safer is to install a GFI in that circuit. The GFI does not care if the load imbalance required to trip it is caused by current leak to the ground in a circuit or through another object (you) and ground through your arm, body, leg, to that wet floor you're standing on.

Doug, I'd be interested in finding out more about this combined ARC fault/GFI breaker you have. I've never heard of these either. Can you post another link or photo? Must have cost a few bucks and use a bit of space in the panel. I managed to snag a couple of 3-wire ARC fault breakers on eBay some time ago and they're monsters, although you can wire two circuits with them since they can acommodate two hot wires. Code book says you can't use them for a 3 wire circuit but they're clearly designed to do just that. I reckon the code needs to catch up with the newer devices and I've installed one of them anyway.