What causes the ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) to trip?
The GFCI is a personal protection device that constantly monitors the flow of current through a protected circuit and senses any loss of current to an outside path. If the current flowing into an electrical appliance or fixture differs by a very small amount from what flows back out, the GFCI instantly interrupts the current flow to prevent a sustained, lethal level of electricity from reaching a person. The person may feel a painful shock but should be protected from electrocution.
