Is an ungrounded GFI safe for my electrical equipment?
USA First, do not confuse surge protection and ground fault (GFI) protection. They are two completely separate items. A surge protector will protect equipment – not persons – from instantaneous spikes of electrical current. Instantaneous spikes result from lightning, or an automobile hitting/knocking down a utility pole, or a transformer shorting out. Be aware that surge protectors are rated in joules, which is a measure of energy. The higher the rating of joules, the more protection you have. Your typical $10 multi-outlet surge protector from Home Depot won’t protect your stuff from a major surge. My surge protector cost $100, but the mfr guarantees it and will pay if my computer or TV is hurt from a surge. Surge protectors must be grounded in order to safely dissipate the energy to ground. The inspector is correct. A GFI receptacle monitors the current between hot and neutral on the downstream side of the receptacle; a surge from the upstream side will go right through it. This is tr
