OCCUPANT PROTECTION & EQUIPMENT PROTECTION

• Electrocution occurs when a small amount of electrical current flows through the heart for 1 to 3 s.
• Ground Fault Interruption is the unintentional flow of electrical current between a power source, such as an ungrounded (hot) wire, and a grounded surface.
• A ground fault occurs when electrical current leaks or escapes to ground.
• When a hot bare conductor inside an appliance inadvertently touches the metal housing, the housing may become charged with electricity.
• A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) is an electrical device that detects an extremely low leak (6 mA) of electrical current (called ground faults) and acts quickly to shut off power.
• There are three types of GFCIs: receptacle outlet type, circuit breaker type, and portable type.
• Arc Fault Protection - is an unintentional electrical discharge ( an electrical arc) characterized by low and erratic current.
• Arcing generates high-intensity heat and expels burning particles, which can easily ignite combustible materials.
• Arc faults are caused by the breakdown of the protective insulation that surrounds household wiring.
• Parallel arcing faults result from direct contact of two wires of opposite polarity.
• Ground arcing faults are arcs between a single conductor and ground, such as in the cases of wire or cords that touch vibrating metal; in appliances, wall plugs or switches where the internal wires were not installed properly; and where connections became loose.
• Series arcing faults occur across the break of a single conductor — for example, in the case of an electrical wire cut by a nail or screw used to mount a wall hanging.
• A safety device, called an arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI), provides enhanced protection from fires resulting from arc faults.
• Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI) - This device uses electronics to recognize an arc fault and interrupts the circuit when the fault occurs.
• An AFCI detects low-level arc faults that traditional overcurrent protective devices (fuses and circuit breakers) cannot detect.
• Gas Discharge Tubes (GDT) A primary surge protection component with a surge rating of several thousand amps that is comprised of a sealed tube containing a special gas that breaks down at a given voltage rise time.
• Convenience Outlet Type - An outlet AFCI for protecting connected cord sets and power supply cords in the form of an outlet receptacle.
• Portable Type - protecting connected cord sets and power supply cords that can be moved from outlet to outlet.
• The SPD diverts the surge by allowing the current to flow past rather than through the protected equipment.
• Metal Oxide Varistor (MOV) A semiconductor device used mainly on AC power applications that has surge ratings ranging from a few hundred to many thousands of amps.
• Circuit Breaker Type - A branch/feeder AFCI breaker with protection provided to branch-circuit wiring in the form of a circuit breaker.
• Inrush Current Protection Inrush current or input surge current refers to the peak instantaneous current, measured in amperes (A), drawn by an electrical appliance or piece of equipment (e.g., power supplies, AC motors, lamps, and lighting ballasts) when it is first turned on.
• GFP operates on the same principle as GFCI protection, by monitoring the current drawn through the conductors of an electrical circuit and quickly shutting off power when current is not equal.
• A surge protection device (SPD) is an electrical device that prevents power surges from reaching electric and electronic equipment or other device.
• Nuisance Tripping - Because GFCIs and AFCIs are extremely sensitive, they have a tendency to trip frequently.
• Cord-Mounted type - protecting the power-supply cord connected to it (in the form of an attachment plug on a power supply cord).
• Hybrid Circuit A circuit comprising different types of surge protection component, taking advantage of each component’s strengths.
• Extremely Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Fields – are silent, invisible magnetic fields produced any time electricity runs through a wire, an appliance, or piece of equipment.
• Surge Protection - A power surge is a sudden increase in electrical current or voltage that is very short in duration.
• Zener Diode A secondary surge protection component used for accurate clamping of surge voltages.
• A power surge can damage sensitive electronic equipment such as computers, fax machines, televisions, stereos, VCRs, and electronic phone systems.
• SPDs work by instantaneously limiting the transient voltage from a power surge to a level that is safe for the equipment they protect by diverting the large surge current safely to ground.
• Ground Fault Protection of Equipment is designed to detect and rapidly interrupt low-level equipment ground faults.