Ground-Fault Protection of Equipment (GFP)

There are two applications where ground-fault protection of equipment is intended to be used, where there may be excessive ground-fault leakage current from equipment, or when equipment and conductors are to be protected from damage in the event of a higher-level ground fault (either solid or arcing). These types of protective equipment are for use only on alternating-current, grounded circuits, and will cause the circuit to be disconnected when a current equal to or higher than its pickup setting or rating flows to ground. They are not designed to protect personnel from electrocution. Equipment ground-fault protective devices are intended to operate upon a condition of excessive ground-fault leakage current from equipment. The ground current pickup level of these devices is from above 6 mA to 50 mA. Circuit breakers with equipment ground-fault protection are combination circuit breaker and equipment ground-fault protective devices designed to serve the dual function of providing overcurrent protection and ground-fault protection for equipment. The ground current pickup level of these breakers is typically 30 mA. They are intended to be used in accordance with NFPA 70, National Electrical Code®, Articles 426 and 427. Ground-fault sensing and relaying equipment is intended to provide ground-fault protection of equipment at services and feeders. They are rated for ground current pickup levels from 4 amperes to 1200 amperes.