On 2/28/2012 5:48 PM, Arthur Shapiro wrote:
I needed to replace an electrical outlet that very conveniently was downstream
of a GFCI outlet. So I just pushed the 'test" switch on the GCFI and happily
went on my merry way.

I found that at the replacement location the box itself had broken (the
threaded portion of the top side was fractured) and thus there was a midstream
trip to Lowe's to pick up a new box. I simply re-enabled the GFCI for an hour
while I ran my errand.

Upon getting home, I broke out the old box, installed the new box, and started
to reinstall the new outlet. To my surprise, I got a shock. I'd forgotten to
disable the GFCI outlet this second time.

Question: shouldn't the GFCI have triggered? I was hardly on the verge of
electrocution but am somewhat surprised at the outcome.

Art
Art
Two things and just theorizing here. GFCIs usually trigger between 1
and 2ma. Also, they do take some amount of time. You got a tingle, I'm
assuming, which may have been less than the trip level current. It's
pretty hard to get 1ma from 120 volts without squeezing real hard,
breaking the skin to the tissue below or having some other conductor
like water involved. Water by itself is not that good a conductor, but
combined with salt on you skin and other impurities, it is a better
conductor. Also, you probably didn't hold on long; you probably pulled
back quickly.