There is often a question that comes up in surge protection queries and that is does a surge protector offer gfci protection? The answer is: it can, but it will most likely be a combination device with GFCI integration. A GFCI surge protector is a combination device that offers such protection on two different fronts: Elimination of potentially harmful power spikes along with the safety afforded by a ground fault interruption circuit. The ground fault function of GFCI surge protectors is something you might be familiar with if you have an outlet near a bathroom or kitchen sink; also, outdoor outlets are required to have ground fault circuits by most city electrical code.
The concept works simply: By detecting current flowing to ground, the GFCI knows when to disable the circuit. This offers added safety over your circuit breaker; circuit breakers trip when current exceeds specified amperage. They cannot, however, determine where that current might be flowing. In the case where electricity flows into ground, it’s doing so because the circuit is faulted, which could cause injury or death if a person were to come in contact with any conductor attached to ground.
As an example, the metal case of a home computer is grounded. Were there to be a fault, touching the metal case would deliver a shock. A ground fault outlet would detect this and open the circuit, cutting power and preventing injury.
Personal computers are good examples of home devices that could benefit from the use of GFCI surge protection. The surge protection component can save expensive electronics by absorbing and diverting a sudden boost in line current. Line surges occur when something goes wrong in the electrical grid; a damaged line strikes another and sends excessive current through the incorrect system, human error or, in most cases, lightning during a thunderstorm. The surge suppression circuitry senses the increase in voltage and sends the excess into the ground.
If you were to use a separate GFCI along with a surge protector, you might end up in a scenario where the dumping of the line spike into the ground would then cause the GFCI to trip and open the circuit. A combination device is designed with this in mind and can handle a line spike without tripping the ground fault. The minimal cost of a GFCI surge protector pales in comparison to the cost of replacing damaged high-end electronics; it is an effective way to protect your electronics and your family from costly, dangerous electrical faults.
