United States Department of Labor1
The Shocking Reprecutions of Carelessness
As an electician, you are aware of the dangers that come with wiring and dealing with electricity. This raw power, unfortunately, takes the lives of hundreds of people a year. It is your responsibility to make sure that this doesn't happen. A study from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission shows that, on average, there are more than 400 electrocutions in the United States each year. Of these, about 180 are related to consumer products
2. Even if lives aren't lost there is still a huge price to pay if something goes awry with your receptacle, or even an existing GFCI. The fact of the matter is that Electricity is the cause of more than 140,000 fires each year, resulting in 400 deaths, 4,000 injuries, and $1.6 billion in property damage. Total economic losses due to electrical hazards are estimated to exceed $4 billion annually
2. Don't be careless. Even if you know the difference between a Receptacle and GFCI, read on below to find out why you should ditching your current goto device for UL943 certified GFCIs.
Upgrade Your Receptacles to GFCIs (How do They Work)
Receptacles come in all shapes and sizes. Duplux, decorator, 1 gang, 2 gang, etc. You can find most receptacles for a much lower price than GFCIs. As with most things in life though, you get what you pay for. Receptacles do not offer the protection you as an electrician are obligated to provide for your customers. In order to truly understand and appreciate the safety that GFCIs provide we must look at how these revolutionary devices operate.
A GFI, or GFCI – Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter device protects us from receiving electric shocks from faults in the electrical devices we use in our home. It works by comparing the input current on the hot side to the output current on the neutral side. If there’s the slightest difference in current, on the order of a few milliamps, then there is current leaking out somewhere, possibly through somebody’s body. To protect us in this situation, the device very quickly cuts off the power supply to the leaking device, within 20-30 milliseconds, greatly reducing any possible human tissue damage from errant current.
You're probably aware of many applications where you would need GFCIs. Common places that may get wet include indoor rooms like a kitchen or a bathroom and outdoor areas protected by a weather proof cover.
Why You Should Buy UL943 GFCIs
Unfortunately, even though you may have been privy to the above information, there is still a chance that you're missing something. Are your GFCIs UL943 Certified? At Electrical Marketplace we sell these tested devices because it gives us the confidence that you will be satisfied and safe. Since 1994, the Department of Defense has approved this standard.
This Standard applies to Class A, single- and three-phase, ground-fault circuit-interrupters intended for protection of personnel, for use only in grounded neutral systems in accordance with the National Electrical Code (NEC), ANSI/NFPA 70, the Canadian Electrical Code, Part I, and Electrical Installations (Use), NOM-001-SEDE. These devices are intended for use on alternating current (AC) circuits of 120 V, 208Y/120 V, 120/240 V, 127 V, or 220Y/127 V, 60 Hz circuits.
Now that you know the importance of purchasing UL943 certified GFCIs it's time to purchase them at the lowest prices. Shop now and use code GFCI at checkout for free shipping on a minimum of 10 units. We currently carry the following devices:
- 15 Amp Tamper Proof GFCI
- 15 Amp Tamper/Weather Proof GFCI
- 20 Amp Tamper Proof GFCI
- 20 Amp Tamper/Weather Proof GFCI
Sources
1) United States Department of Labor
3) Lew Electric Fittings Company
4) UL LLC