Personnel protection devices for use on appliances

A number of devices have become available to the manufacturers of appliances to reduce the risk of electric shock resulting from insulation failures (ground fault) and accidental immersion. These devices, known generically as personnel protection devices, consist of ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs), appliance leakage current interrupters (ALCIs), and immersion detection circuit interrupters (IDCIs). An overview of these devices is presented, and it is shown how they can be used with appliances to reduce the risk of electric shock. The basic operational principals of each device are explained. Features required, including the required response time calibration, are described for each. The summary includes a tabulation of the features of each device to aid in the selection of the best protection for a specific application.<>