Definition
Ground-fault and arc-fault circuit protection — shock protection in wet areas (GFCI) and fire prevention from arcing (AFCI).
What's the practical difference between GFCI and AFCI?
GFCI protects people: it senses current leaking to ground — through water or through you — and cuts power in milliseconds, which is why code requires it in kitchens, bathrooms, garages, and outdoors. AFCI protects the building: it recognizes the electrical signature of arcing in damaged cords or loose connections behind walls and trips before the arc becomes a fire. Modern code expects AFCI on most living-area circuits; dual-function breakers provide both.
Why does my GFCI or AFCI keep tripping?
Sometimes the device is doing its job — a failing appliance, moisture in an outdoor box, or a genuinely damaged cable. Sometimes it is an aging device or a shared-neutral wiring issue. The wrong response is replacing the breaker with a standard one to stop the tripping; the right one is finding what it is reacting to.
How do you test GFCI and AFCI protection?
Every device has TEST and RESET buttons — press TEST monthly; power should cut instantly, then restore on RESET. A device that won't trip on TEST, won't reset, or trips constantly with nothing plugged in has failed or is reacting to a real wiring problem. Breaker-style AFCIs in the panel test the same way. Two minutes a month is the whole maintenance program.
In the Puget Sound
Washington follows current NEC adoption cycles through L&I and city programs, so permitted remodel and panel work in the Puget Sound routinely brings GFCI/AFCI protection up to today's requirements as part of the job.
Related terms
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Trade: Electrical