GFCI
Science & Engineering abbreviation · Electronics & Electrical
| Stands for | Ground-fault circuit interrupter |
|---|---|
| Categories | Science & Engineering |
GFCI stands for Ground-fault circuit interrupter, an electronics & electrical abbreviation.
Outlet or circuit breaker that cuts power within a fraction of a second when it detects current leaking to ground, as through a person touching a faulty appliance in water. GFCIs are required in US bathrooms, kitchens, garages, outdoors and other wet locations.
Example: The outlet near the sink is a GFCI, so press RESET if the kitchen outlets stop working.
Usage notes
Charles Dalziel of the University of California, Berkeley, invented the ground-fault interrupter around 1961, and the National Electrical Code began requiring them for outdoor receptacles in the early 1970s, with requirements expanding since. They trip at about 4-6 milliamperes. Called GFI in everyday speech; the international equivalent is the RCD.
Related abbreviations
More electronics & electrical abbreviations
- EMI – Electromagnetic interference
- ESD – Electrostatic discharge
- ESR – Equivalent series resistance
- FET – Field-effect transistor
- FM – Frequency modulation
- FPGA – Field-programmable gate array
- GND – Ground
- GPIO – General-purpose input/output
- HDL – Hardware description language
- HV – High voltage
- I2C – Inter-Integrated Circuit
- IC – Integrated circuit