Ground fault circuit interruptor (GFCI) device having safe contact end-of-life condition and method of detecting same in a GFCI device

摘要

A ground fault circuit interrupting device detects an end-of-life condition. A ground fault detecting circuit detects a fault condition and controllably operates a switching device to energize a circuit interrupting device. An end-of-life detecting circuit detects a failure of the circuit interrupting device to open after detection of the fault condition, and activates a secondary circuit to energize the circuit interrupting device.