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Using GFCI outlets without a bonded ground?

Nate Finney

Hollywood North Expert
Joined
Feb 27, 2021
Messages
6
Do GFCI outlets work correctly on an inverter with an unbonded ground?
 
I have not tried a GFCI on an unbounded ground, but it might partially work. A modern GFCI outlet is watching two things:
1) Differential current between Hot and Neutral of 7ma or more. This should continue to work.
2) There are corner cases where there could be current on ground without a differential current on hot-netural. Through tricks with harmonic ocilation, the modern GFCI is able to detect current on the ground wire when there is no differential current. I suspect this function may not work or possibly trip if there is not bond.
 
on an inverter there could be a transient imbalance during a switchover that could cause a sensitive gfi to trigger.
I had one gfi outlet on a 120 line from an aims inverter (this model bonds the neutral to ground during switchover) that I had to take out as it had 50% chance to trip during a switchover.
The nature of a switchover is that for 10-15ms, there is definitely an "imbalance" hehe
 

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