Gfi Vs. Gfci Receptacles

A GFI or GFCI outlet has a "reset" and a "test" button.

Whenever you use electrical appliances near water, you have an increased risk of electrical shock. Plugging your appliance into a GFI or GFCI outlet reduces that risk as the outlet will open at the slightest imbalance of the circuit.

GFI

GFI stands for "ground fault interrupter." If the "hot" wire of the electricity shows a slight difference in current from the neutral wire, such as would happen if someone gets shocked, the GFI opens the circuit to shut off the electricity.

GFCI

GFCI stands for ground fault circuit interrupter. A GFCI operates exactly like a GFI. The only difference is the addition of the word "circuit" in the name.

Uses

You should use GFI or GFCI outlets anywhere where water and electricity appear together. Use them in kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms and outdoors.

References

• Hyper Physics: Ground Fault Interrupter
• Acme How To: What is a GFCI Outlet?