Outlets and Wire Gauge? - Please help!

@thespeakerdude

explain surge protection on a product with a 2 prong AC cord.

Typical MOV based surge protectors use the ground as a drain. At high surge voltages they attempt to short to ground and sometimes the neutral as well. Using a GFCI as a 2 to 3 pin adaptor won't create a magical ground path.  That is, there would be no ground to short to.

With any appliance the surge protector is trying to keep surges which (hopefully) are coming down the hot wire.  So, you have 600V suddenly on your hot. Where do you put it?  Neutral is 1 conductor, but having 2 conductors is better.  What if the surge happens on both neutral AND hot?  You need ground as your option.

Pure series mode surge protectors like SurgeX and Brickwall are exceptions. Furman / Panamax with SMP uses a belt and suspenders approach though, so while they are mostly series mode, there is some shunting possible, and they need that ground.

Based on the latest testing I’ve seen however Furman and Tripp Lite have the lowest let-through voltages, not to mention a plethora of features so I continue to recommend them first.

I remember before arc fault protection came along that GFI was a ground fault breaker and that GFCI was a ground fault receptacle.

@evelyn1 The same feature (GFCI) is available in either a breaker or outlet. It’s more convenient as an outlet if you are in the kitchen and trip it. Dry your hands and reset the outlet. I use the term interchangeably and I think most do as well (see below).

It’s less useful to have a GFCI outlet for a fridge or range because you have to pull the unit out to get to it. 🤣 This is why GFCI breakers are convenient. However the behavior is 100% the same.

(PS - I just checked the Siemens site and they call them GFCI breakers too)

@erik_squires 

 

Typical MOV based surge protectors use the ground as a drain. At high surge voltages they attempt to short to ground and sometimes the neutral as well. Using a GFCI as a 2 to 3 pin adaptor won't create a magical ground path.  That is, there would be no ground to short to.

With any appliance the surge protector is trying to keep surges which (hopefully) are coming down the hot wire.  So, you have 600V suddenly on your hot. Where do you put it?  Neutral is 1 conductor, but having 2 conductors is better.  What if the surge happens on both neutral AND hot?  You need ground as your option.

A voltage, even a surge voltage, must be between two points. If all you have is line and neutral because you have a 2 prong plug, then those are the only wires the surge can come in on. If there is no other path to ground, than the ground connection of a surge protector can't help you.

@thespeakerdude

Congrats man, you’ve just proven surge protectors can’t work. :) You are on your own now, and ignoring the fact that ground and neutral are bonded at the service entrance as well as basic MOV surge protection design. 

If you want to have those arguments you are on the wrong site.