GFCI Ground Fault


One of the most basic and essential tools for ensuring electrical safety is Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) devices. The main purpose of GFCI devices is to guard people from getting affected by electrical shocks caused by ground faults. Ground faults are a hazardous occurrence that take place when electrical currents travel where they aren’t supposed to—by following unsafe paths through other devices or even through individuals. Without this type of protection, there is always a risk when any electrical equipment is being operated in a wet environment, when currents are “leaking” from electrical appliances or power tools, and when wiring itself has suffered from wear or fraying.

Because of the unique circuitry construction of Leviton GFCI outlets, they can regularly monitor the electrical power of anything plugged into them. If a ground fault is ever detected, the device immediately shuts off the power of the connected item. This happens instantaneously, so it is a reliable way of stopping preventable electrical injuries to people from occurring.


Advantages of Leviton's SmartLockPro and Self-Test Devices
When compared with standard Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter outlets, Leviton SmartlockPro devices stand out for a variety of reasons. First, they include a specially patented reset lockout feature that keeps the device from being reset in the event that it suffers damage. Such damage could happen because of things like miswiring, a lack of power supply for the GFCI, or the device’s inability to pass an internal test.


If the device’s internal test shows it to not be functioning properly, it will be prevented from resetting. But the self-test GFCI goes a step further by offering a visual indication that its protection ability has been harmed. Aside from this benefit, Leviton SmartlockPro GFCIs are designed with a slimmer appearance and demand less space in wallboxes (up to 25 percent) than traditional, competing devices of the same type. This makes them that much easier to install and maintain, even in shallower electrical boxes.
 

Ensuring Compliance and Improving Safety
You may already be aware that the installation of GFCI devices in kitchens, laundry rooms, bathrooms, basements, and a number of other household areas is required under the National Electrical Code (NEC). This is certainly not the only reason to install them, however. The biggest reason that Leviton GFCIs continue to be a go-to product in the home is their unmatched safety features. Aside from offering protection to devices that are already connected to them, a GFCI outlet is also capable of giving feed-through protection to other non-GFCI outlets that are wired on their same circuits. One of the latest additions to UL standards since 2015, too, is that these products must be capable of self-testing to confirm that they are always working the way they ought to be.

 

Safety benefits are found in the other Leviton Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter products sold through OneStopBuy.com as well. Leviton offers models with guide lights and higher-visibility, LED pilot lights for additional illumination at night in areas like laundry rooms and bathrooms, as well as in darker spaces like storage closets, garages, and basements. Another model even has an audible alert option.