How GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) Breakers/Plugs work?
Suppose a bare wire inside an appliance like microwave or toaster touches a metal case. The case is then charged with electricity. An appliance can work for years without you knowing that it’s charged with electricity. “All new electrical equipment must be tested before initial use”. If you touch that appliance with one hand while the other hand is touching a grounded metal object, like a water faucet , sink, wet cement floor, (ground) you will receive a shock! If the appliance is plugged into an outlet protected by a GFCI the power will be shut off before a fatal shock would occur. The GFCI constantly monitors electricity flowing in a circuit, to sense any loss of current flow in the circuit, to ground. If the current flowing through the circuit differs by a small amount the GFCI quickly switches off power to that circuit. The GFCI interrupts power faster than a blink of an eye to prevent a lethal dose of electricity. You may receive a painful shock, but you should not be electrocuted
