Episode
The Truth About GFCIs — UL 943, Floating Generators, Bonding & Current Paths
- Published
- Aug 12, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 5416
- Processing state
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- https://fasttraxsystem.com
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Summary
The Truth About GFCIs — UL 943, Floating Generators, Bonding & Current PathsThere may be more misconceptions about GFCIs than almost any other electrical safety device. Does a GFCI need an equipment grounding conductor to work? What does the toroidal sensing coil actually monitor? Why might a GFCI behave differently on a truly floating generator? And what happens when a bonded-neutral generator is connected to a dwelling through an interlock where the neutral is not switched? In this episode, Paul Abernathy breaks down the actual operating principles behind UL 943 Class A GFCIs and explains why understanding the current path is far more important than simply memorizing terms like “grounded,” “bonded,” or “floating.” We explore how a GFCI compares current leaving and returning through its monitored conductors, why an equipment grounding conductor is not required for differential-current sensing, and why a GFCI should never be thought of simply as a device that “detects current going to ground.” You'll also learn why a truly floating generator may have little or no first-fault current path, how a second fault can completely change that condition, and why connecting a generator to a dwelling can change its electrical relationship to ground. Then we tackle one of the most misunderstood generator issues in the trade: Bonded neutral vs. floating neutral. If a generator is connected through an interlock or transfer arrangement that does not switch the neutral, the generator neutral remains connected to the dwelling's grounded conductor system. Adding another neutral-to-ground bond at the generator can create parallel paths for normal neutral current through equipment grounding and bonding conductors. We also cover: How a GFCI's toroidal current transformer actually works…