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The Rural Missouri NEWS Service April
2007 | June 2007
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October 2007 | November
2007 | December 2007 |
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January 2008 All About GFCIs What’s a GFCI? A “GFCI” is a ground-fault circuit interrupter. A ground-fault circuit interrupter is an inexpensive electrical device that, if installed in household branch circuits, could prevent more than two-thirds of the approximately 300 electrocutions still occurring each year in and around the home. Installation of the device could also prevent thousands of burn and electric shock injuries each year. The GFCI is designed to protect people from severe or fatal electric shocks. Because a GFCI detects ground faults, it can also prevent some electrical fires and reduce the severity of others by interrupting the flow of electric current. The problem Have you ever experienced an electric shock? If you did, the shock probably happened because your hand or some other part of your body contacted a source of electrical current and your body provided a path for the electrical current to go to the ground, so that you received a shock. An unintentional electric path between a source of current and a grounded surface is referred to as a “ground fault.” Ground faults occur when current is leaking somewhere, in effect, electricity is escaping to the ground. How it leaks is very important. If your body provides a path to the ground for this leakage, you could be injured, burned, severely shocked, or electrocuted. Some examples of accidents that underscore this hazard include the following:
These two electrocutions occurred because the electrical current escaping from the appliance traveled through the victim to ground (in these cases, the grounded plumbing fixtures). Had a GFCI been installed, these deaths would probably have been prevented because a GFCI would have sensed the current flowing to ground and would have switched off the power before the electrocution occurred. How the GFCI works In the home’s wiring system, the GFCI constantly monitors electricity flowing in a circuit, to sense any loss of current. If the current flowing through the circuit differs by a small amount from that returning, the GFCI quickly switches off power to that circuit. The GFCI interrupts power faster than a blink of an eye to prevent a lethal dose of electricity. You may receive a painful shock, but you should not be electrocuted or receive a serious shock injury. Here’s how it may work in your house. Suppose a bare wire inside an appliance touches the metal case. The case is then charged with electricity. If you touch the appliance with one hand while the other hand is touching a grounded metal object, like a water faucet, you will receive a shock. If the appliance is plugged into an outlet protected by a GFCI, the power will be shut off before a fatal shock would occur. Types of GFCIs Three common types of ground-fault circuit interrupters are available for home use: Receptacle type - This type of GFCI is used in place of the standard duplex receptacle found throughout the house. It fits into the standard outlet box and protects you against ground faults whenever an electrical product is plugged into the outlet. Most receptacle-type GFCls can be installed so that they also protect other electrical outlets farther down in the branch circuit. Circuit breaker type - In homes equipped with circuit breakers rather than fuses, a circuit breaker GFCI may be installed in a panel box to give protection to selected circuits. The circuit breaker GFCI serves a dual purpose — not only will it shut off electricity in the event of a ground fault, but it will also trip when a short circuit or an overload occurs. Protection covers the wiring and each outlet, lighting fixture, heater, etc. served by the branch circuit protected by the GFCI in the panel box. Portable type - Where permanent GFCls are not practical, portable GFCls may be used. One type contains the GFCI circuitry in a plastic case with plug blades in the back and receptacle slots in the front. It can be plugged into a receptacle, then, the electrical product is plugged into the GFCI. Another type of portable GFCI is an extension cord combined with a GFCI. It adds flexibility in using receptacles that are not protected by GFCls. However, these should only be used temporarily. If the outlet is used for outdoor projects or is located near water, have one of the other types of GFCIs installed. Where GFCIs should be considered In homes built to comply with the National Electrical Code (the Code), GFCI protection is required for most outdoor receptacles (since 1973), bathroom receptacle circuits (since 1975), garage wall outlets (since 1978), kitchen receptacles (since 1987) and all receptacles in crawl spaces and unfinished basements (since 1990). Owners of homes that do not have GFCls installed in all those critical areas specified in the latest version of the Code should consider having them installed. For broad protection, GFCI circuit breakers may be added in many panels of older homes to replace ordinary circuit breakers. For homes protected by fuses, you are limited to receptacle or portable-type GFCIs and these may be installed in areas of greatest exposure, such as the bathroom, kitchen, basement, garage and outdoor circuits. A GFCI should be used whenever operating electrically powered garden equipment (mower, hedge trimmer, leaf blower, edger, etc.). Consumers can obtain similar protection by using GFCIs with electric tools (drills, saws, sanders, etc.) for do-it-yourself work in and around the house. Installing GFCIs Circuit breaker and receptacle-type GFCIs may be installed in your home by a qualified electrician. Receptacle-type GFCIs may be installed by knowledgeable consumers familiar with electrical wiring practices who also follow the instructions accompanying the device. When in doubt about the proper procedure, contact a qualified electrician. Do not attempt to install it yourself.The portable GFCI requires no special knowledge or equipment to install. Testing GFCIs All GFCIs should be tested once a month to make sure they are working properly and are protecting you from fatal shock. GFCIs should be tested after installation to make sure they are working properly and protecting the circuit. To test the receptacle GFCI, first plug a nightlight or lamp into the outlet. The light should be on. Then, press the test button on the GFCI. The GFCI’s reset button should pop out, and the light should go out. If the reset button pops out but the light does not go out, the GFCI has been improperly wired. Contact an electrician to correct the wiring errors. Do not use the outlet until it has been fixed. If the reset button does not pop out, the GFCI is defective and should be replaced. If the GFCI is functioning properly, and the lamp goes out, press the reset button to restore power to the outlet. Use GFCIs in the bathroom The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends the use of a ground-fault circuit-interrupter (GFCI) to protect against electrical shock hazards when electric heaters are used in bathrooms. CPSC knows of seven electrocution deaths since 1985 in which electric heaters fell into bathtubs and killed people. Electricity and water do not mix. Consumers should keep electric heaters away from water. Most of these deaths could have been prevented by the use of a GFCI. GFCls are the most effective means for protecting consumers against electrical shock. A GFCI constantly monitors current flowing in a circuit to sense any loss of current. If the current flowing through two circuit conductors differs by a very small amount, the GFCI instantly interrupts the current flow to prevent a lethal amount of electricity from reaching the consumer. The consumer may feel a painful shock but will not be electrocuted. Since 1973, homes built according to the National Electrical Code have varying degrees of GFCI protection. GFCls were first required in outdoor receptacles in 1973, in bathroom receptacles in 1975, in garage wall receptacles in 1978, in some kitchen receptacles in 1987, and in all receptacles in unfinished basements and crawl spaces in 1990. Three common types of GFCIs are available for home use circuit breakers, receptacles and portable plug-ins. Circuit breaker GFCIs require installation by an electrician. Receptacle GFCIs can be installed by consumers with knowledge of electrical wiring practices. Portable plug-in GFCIs require no special knowledge to install. They plug into wall receptacles; electrical appliances are then plugged into them. Portable plug-in GFCls are generally priced below $30 and are available at hardware stores, building supply centers and electrical supply houses. If you are considering the purchase of a heater and intend to use it in a bathroom, laundry area or similar indoor locations, look for models now specifically designed and certified by an independent testing laboratory for such uses. Even though such products are provided with built-in protection, never place your heater where it could easily fall into water. Reducing electrocution hazard:
Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters The “AFCI” is an arc fault circuit interrupter. AFCIs are newly developed electrical devices designed to protect against fires caused by arcing faults in the home electrical wiring. Annually, more than 40,000 fires are attributed to home electrical wiring. These fires result in more than 350 deaths and more than 1,400 injuries each year. Arcing faults are one of the major causes of these fires. When unwanted arcing occurs, it generates high temperatures that can ignite nearby combustibles such as wood, paper and carpets. Arcing faults often occur in damaged or deteriorated wires and cords. Some causes of damaged and deteriorated wiring include puncturing of wire insulation from picture hanging or cable staples, poorly installed outlets or switches, cords caught in doors or under furniture, furniture pushed against plugs in an outlet, natural aging, and cord exposure to heat vents and sunlight. Conventional circuit breakers only respond to overloads and short circuits; so they do not protect against arcing conditions that produce erratic current flow. An AFCI is selective so that normal arcs do not cause it to trip. The AFCI circuitry continuously monitors current flow through the AFCI. AFCIs use unique current sensing circuitry to discriminate between normal and unwanted arcing conditions. Once an unwanted arcing condition is detected, the control circuitry in the AFCI trips the internal contacts, thus de-energizing the circuit and reducing the potential for a fire to occur. An AFCI should not trip during normal arcing conditions, which can occur when a switch is opened or a plug is pulled from a receptacle. Presently, AFCIs are designed into conventional circuit breakers combining traditional overload and short-circuit protection with arc fault protection. AFCI circuit breakers (AFCIs) have a test button and look similar to ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) circuit breakers. Some designs combine GFCI and AFCI protection. Additional AFCI design configurations are anticipated in the near future. It is important to note that AFCIs are designed to mitigate the effects of arcing faults but cannot eliminate them completely. In some cases, the initial arc may cause ignition prior to detection and circuit interruption by the AFCI. The AFCI circuit breaker serves a dual purpose — not only will it shut off electricity in the event of an “arcing fault”, but it will also trip when a short circuit or an overload occurs. The AFCI circuit breaker provides protection for the branch circuit wiring and limited protection for power cords and extension cords. Single-pole, 15- and 20- ampere AFCI circuit breakers are presently available. The 1999 edition of the National Electrical Code, the model code for electrical wiring adopted by many local jurisdictions, requires AFCIs for receptacle outlets in bedrooms, effective Jan. 1, 2002. Although the requirement is limited to only certain circuits in new residential construction, AFCIs should be considered for added protection in other circuits and for existing homes as well. Older homes with aging and deteriorating wiring systems can especially benefit from the added protection of AFCIs. AFCIs should also be considered whenever adding or upgrading a panel box while using existing branch circuit conductors. AFCI circuit breakers should be installed by a qualified electrician. The installer should follow the instructions accompanying the device and the panel box. In homes equipped with conventional circuit breakers rather than fuses, an AFCI circuit breaker may be installed in the panel box in place of the conventional circuit breaker to add arc protection to a branch circuit. Homes with fuses are limited to receptacle or portable-type AFCIs, which are expected to be available in the near future, or AFCI circuit breakers can be added in separate panel boxes next to the fuse panel box. AFCIs should be tested after installation to make sure they are working properly and protecting the circuit. Subsequently, AFCIs should be tested once a month to make sure they are working properly and providing protection from fires initiated by arcing faults. A test button is located on the front of the device. The user should follow the instructions accompanying the device. If the device does not trip when tested, the AFCI is defective and should be replaced. AFCIs vs. GFCIs The AFCI should not be confused with the GFCI or ground-fault circuit interrupter. The GFCI is designed to protect people from severe or fatal electric shocks while the AFCI protects against fires caused by arcing faults. The GFCI also can protect against some electrical fires by detecting arcing and other faults to ground but cannot detect hazardous across-the-line arcing faults that can cause fires. A ground fault is an unintentional electric path diverting current to ground. Ground faults occur when current leaks from a circuit. How the current leaks is very important. If a person’s body provides a path to ground for this leakage, the person could be injured, burned, severely shocked, or electrocuted. The National Electrical Code requires GFCI protection for receptacles located outdoors; in bathrooms, garages, kitchens, crawl spaces and unfinished basements; and at certain locations such as near swimming pools. A combination AFCI and GFCI can be used to satisfy the NEC requirement for GFCI protection only if specifically marked as a combination device. What is a Farm? Do you raise a few goats or exotic animals? How about organic fruits and vegetables or free-range chickens? Maybe you have a few equine for pleasure and harvest some hay from your acreage. Many times we think of agriculture as only big corn and soybean farms that dominate the news and farm bill debates. Did you know that 59 percent of U.S. farms sell less than $10,000 worth of agricultural production? Small farms and acreages represent an important segment of the rural economy. The USDA defines a farm as “any operation that produces and sells, or could sell, at least $1,000 worth of agricultural production.” With more than 1 million operations, each selling less than $5,000 worth of production, rural lifestyle and mainstream agriculture join forces to represent the entire food and fiber industry. Your local communities need to know the growth of this segment of their constituency. How fast is the face of agriculture changing and how does that change affect the services and programs available to rural residents? The only comprehensive measure of agriculture at the local level is through the Census of Agriculture. Every 5 years, the USDA is charged with the responsibility of benchmarking agriculture and documenting the direction it is heading. This confidential data is collected directly from operators at all levels of production. Aggregated to county and even zip code levels, the results are made available to all segments of the economy, without disclosing individual information. Small and very small farms, even those that may not consider themselves as farms, are an integral part of the economic engine that drives our local communities. The 2007 Census of Agriculture represents all of agriculture; small farms as well as large; traditional as well as non-traditional farms; specialty production as well as major commodity production. It is all-important to the overall economy and therefore should be included. In order for your segment of the industry to be represented, it is up to you. Remember, this is “your voice, your future and your responsibility.” Beginning in January, the Census report forms will arrive in mailboxes throughout rural America. Please be part of the information solution and promptly complete and return the form. If you feel you have been missed and should be counted as part of the U.S. agricultural economy, call 1-888-424-7828 and request to be included. Energy efficiency resolutions for 2008 Now’s the time to plan for 2008. This year, how about including some energy efficiency resolutions to save money on your energy bill? Or, simply set a goal to reduce your energy usage by a certain percentage, and then list the improvements that will get you there. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the typical U.S. family spends nearly $1,300 a year on home utility bills. How much is your bill? With some effort, you may be able to reduce that bill by up to 50 percent. To do that, start with a whole house energy efficiency plan, as recommended by DOE. It helps to think of your home as an energy system with lots of independent parts. Start by doing your own home energy audit. The audit will identify where your greatest energy leaks and gaps are. Then develop a plan that sets a goal to reduce your energy use by a certain percentage, say 5 percent or 10 percent for starters. The plan should include “fixes” in at least some of these areas: insulation, weatherization, heating and cooling equipment, water heating, windows, landscaping, lighting and appliances. Most of us can’t afford to do all the fixes in a year, so identify the short-term versus long-term projects that match your budget. Your plan also should answer these questions:
10 energy efficiency resolutions for 2008 Here are 10 sample New Year’s energy efficiency resolutions for 2008. Make your own, write them down and tick them off as you complete them.
Weatherization grants available for low-income Missouri families If you think weatherizing your home is out of your budget for 2008 (however badly you may need to stop the leaks), you may qualify for help through the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR)’s Low Income Weatherization Program. Low-income Missouri families, defined as 150 percent below poverty thresholds, spend a disproportionate share of their incomes on energy: 14 percent of total income for energy compared to 3.5 percent for other families. (The poverty threshold for one person in 2006 was $10,294; for two people was $13,167; and for a family of four was $20,614.) Since 1977, the program has helped more than 147,000 Missouri families weatherize their homes; another 2,000 homes were expected to be winterized in 2007. The program distributes federal dollars to 16 regional community action agencies and other public or nonprofit organizations that work with qualifying families in their areas. Seven Missouri utilities also have chipped in money for this worthy effort. The U.S. Department of Energy calculates that for every $1 invested in the weatherization program, there’s a $1.39 return in energy-related benefits. To learn if you qualify for assistance, go to http://www.dnr.mo.gov/energy/weatherization/wxmap.htm. You also may call DNR at 800-361-4827 or 572-751-3443. |
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