GFI vs. GFCI?

Question

Is there a difference between a GFI receptacle (ground fault interrupter) and a GFCI receptacle (ground fault circuit interrupter)? If so, what?

Answer 1

No differance just a quicker way of saying it

Answer 2

Today, it is a plastic world. The risk of getting an electric shock has been greatly reduced. No more copper pipes, iron radiators, water soaked wooden floors, iron bathtubs etc. Major places a GFI is needed would be around areas where a person comes in contact with a positive ground, like metal or concrete. If you use a little common sense, you can save yourself the cost of unnecessary GFI's andGFCI's. Contrary to some "experts", normal home voltages will NOT jump out and git you. You must come in direct contact with the conductor AND a ground to get the current to go through you.
Did you ever wonder why a little bird can sit on a high voltage (4,160v) wire and not get electricuted? It is because he is NOT GROUNDED! And the same thing is true for humans or any other kind of animal. Touching only ONE conductor while not grounded is harmless. I did it many times as a retired LICENSED ELECTRICIAN. And, I'm still alive and kicking.

You "proffesionals" that scare the heck out of people just to drum up business, like doctors do, upset me. You thing all DIY's stupid!

Answer 3

As long as you brought it up, have a look around your house and see where you have GFI outlets. Should be anywhere you can get wet --bathrooms, kitchen, laundry area, garage. Code requires them now, so you will need to be up to speed before you sell your house. There are also GFI breakers that will protect entire circuits. Get an electrician for sure for that. Also, if you decide you need more GFI outlets, usually you can use one to protect other outlets in the same vicinity. Like one in the kitchen to protect all the kitchen outlets. Yeah, more and more I'm thinking get an electrician.

Answer 4

They are the same thing. It's an electronic device capable of detecting a ground-fault around 5mA. In other words, if there is 1.1A on the hot, and 1.995 A on the neutral (return), then .005 A is leaking to ground, possibly thru a person or water. The device will inturupt the circuit around 0.025 seconds after the fault.

Answer 5

Florida_Man has a good point! If you really need to ask this question, you'd be far better off getting an electrician to do the work. Believe me, it makes a difference if you touch the black wire or the white wire. There's always going to be something you'll miss getting from us online, and it's very possible to end up looking like you've just had a very bad permanent. An electrican may be quite a bit cheaper than a funeral.

Answer 6

No, just different names for the same thing. Either one is a quick trip circuit to keep us from shocking ourselves around wet areas.

Answer 7

there is no difference in the two. they both do the same thing. all it does is it trips when obviously it senses a fault either in a voltage jump or whatever the case may be. in the end it is a safety function that may save your life or your appliance

Answer 8

GFI shuts off power only to the outlet itself. GFCI kills power to the outlet and any other outlets down circuit from it.

Answer 9

Thumbs-up for all of the "same thing" answers. They have answered your question.

Answer 10

Same thing.