Quote:
Originally Posted by Aquavaj
Why is a gfci required with a ground probe? Also, are inline gfci ok or the outlet type is better suited?
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GFCI receptacles require 4 to 6 milli-amps to operate. The grounding probe provides the grounding path, versus your body. Many times we are wearing shoes, standing on carpet, or our thick skin which provides some resistance and therefore may not get to 6 milli-amps, but maybe only 3 which is still a pretty good jolt but will not trip the gfci. Before using a grounding probe you will need to make sure your wiring is up to date and your receptacles are grounded with a ground wire. I have gone to a friends home where someone changed all the receptacles to 3 wire grounding, even thought there was no grounding wire. His stealth heaters provided plenty of punch of current because his grounding probe was worthless. And last but not least Voltage Has No Power, it is the current that is shocking you so change the name to stray current. The best way to describe this is a water pump is voltage, and current is the water. You can have all the voltage in the world, but without current it is worthless. AC pumps spinning in water create stray voltage, so do open lamps to water, but without current it is worthless and not harmful to humans. I have tested a system with only two volts, but the current was over the top and the shock was painful.
In this case like many others, the light fixture / support wires just provided a great grounding path to complete the circuit.