[AMRadio] FW: 220 vac line

[rbethman]

I guess I missed the boat on this one!

I've gotten to where ALL my power tools are of the three prong variety!  
I've worked with power production and distribution long enough, that I 
have a certain level of NOT trusting ALL circuit breakers and relays.

Too many *purportedly* educated, trained, AND knowledgeable people find 
way to bypass things.  Just like the interlocks on some of our Amateur 
equipment.

Bob - N0DGN

On 7/25/2011 1:01 PM, Paul Christensen wrote:
>> There is black for HOT, white for NEUTRAL, and *INDEED* bare for the
>> ground pin of the *proper* three prong receptacles.
> The GFCI receptacle has a ground terminal, just like any other receptacle to
> perform the same fault safety protection.  Nevertheless, the GFCI function
> is performed irrespective of the ground conductor -- even in the State of
> Virginia.  The GFCI does not reply upon, nor does it take into consideration
> the ground conductor.
>
> The reasoning and method behind the GFCI is really a flash of genius.  It
> was designed to detected currents to ground, but does not reply upon the
> ground conductor to perform its task.  Any substantial current imbalance
> between line and neutral *must* be the result of a diverted, unsafe pathway
> back to the power source via ground.  That ground can be a direct
> connection, semi-conductivity through soil, etc.  It doesn't matter.  When
> the GFCI detects a difference of approximately 5 mA between line and
> neutral, the GFCI circuit opens and remains open until the fault is cleared
> and the GFCI is reset.
>
>> I'll add that I am in Virginia, AND when a contractor used a faulty
>> electrical tool - The GFCI worked as it should have!
> The GFCI would fault with or without a third-wire ground from the power tool
> since the ground conductor at the GFCI is irrelevant to performance of the
> device.  Power tools must either have a third-wire ground conductor -- or,
> if manufactured with only two conductors (line and neutral), it must be
> double-insulated.
>
> Paul, W9AC
>