[R-390] R3 GFCI clarification

[Joe Foley]

> Good question. In my case, the shack and bench are
> in the basement, and
> electrical code requires that the basement outlets
> be protected by GFCI.
+++++++++
According to my reading of the code a dedicated
circuit doesn't need to be GFCI protected, the
inspector argues with me on that one though.  I
contend that a freezer should NOT be on a GFCI circuit
because of the loss incurred by nuisance tripping. 
The same goes for sump pump circuits.

Many inspectors are stumped by such things as
explosion-proof wiring so they aren't neccessarily a
good reference to the code,..... what are the
requirements to be an electrical inspector?


> 
> This was not the case just a few years ago (well,
> not that long ago
> GFCI's
> didn't exist at all.)
++++++++
Right, and I'm sure everyone's grounding systems are
up to date, too.  HAH!  In some cases there is NO
GROUND!


> 
> The most recent code revisions add arc-fault
> interrupters too... gets
> complicated!
++++=
Yup, I can't even find a supplier yet!


> 
> While others here emphasize the added safety of
> testing equipment while
> on a GFCI protected circuit, I tend to agree with
> you: it adds a
> complication
> that (especially with the Y2K safety text) can
> confuse a newbie into
> making
> things more dangerous. Witness a couple of posts
> here in the past couple
> of years where people say "I had to remove the
> ground from my radio
> to stop it from tripping the GFCI and now whenever I
> touch the chassis
> I get this big tingle".
+++++++++++
I just have to give them more credit than that, if
they can't think that through then they should go
watch American Idol.

While we're on this subject.  Have you guys with the
big 120 volt transmitters checked your neutral
connections throughout the house?  Those put a big
load on the neutral which could fail if the
connections are loose.

Joe



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