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Xringer · 10-27-11, 02:33 PM

Okay, so repairs would be easy, and you might even be able to use another brand of GTI, if you had to.

My personal preference is for the 230vac GTI.
I like the idea of getting the same power but with 1/2 the amps.
Feeding both sides of the home's 'grid' seems more balanced somehow.

One area where the plug-n-play idea runs into problems, is where the end-user
thinks more=better and plugs in too many GTIs into the same outlet.

But, even if he limits it to 1 KW, there could be some problems.

Problem #1
If, he doesn't use a dedicated 120vac line for his 1 KW. A line with only the one outlet..

It could happen like this.. If there are other sockets on the branch with the GTIs,
and someone plugs in a 1200w space heater, both the GTI and the Grid will be feeding it.

Everything is fine, even when someone plugs in the 1000w bread? cooker.. Everything is still cool..
2200 watts are being used.. Grid and GTI doing the job and 18.33 amps are flowing.. Hours go by..

But, then the clouds come over! Now we have a load of 18.33 amps on a 15A circuit!
Will the breaker pop open? Or will one of the 15A outlets start to warm up,
because some lazy electrician used the Push-in method, instead of the screws..

Anyways, the same thing could happen with a 20A 120 branch.
It could get overloaded, because it sees power from both ends.

Problem #2
I think the reason UL doesn't approve these PnP GTIs is because
the GTI can supply power to a defective appliance.

Let's say my 1200 space heater (plugged into the same branch) is defective and starts shorting out.
Once it exceeds 15 amps, my breaker should open and save my
house from being burned down..
BUT, that breaker might not be supplying 15A.. Because the GTIs on the other end
of the line, are shooting in 8.33 Amps..

So, the bad space heater can sit there cooking with 22 amps (2.6kw)
going into it and never pop the breaker...

That's why the UL hates PnP GTIs..

Cheers,
Rich

10-27-11, 02:33 PM	#73
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	Okay, so repairs would be easy, and you might even be able to use another brand of GTI, if you had to. My personal preference is for the 230vac GTI. I like the idea of getting the same power but with 1/2 the amps. Feeding both sides of the home's 'grid' seems more balanced somehow. One area where the plug-n-play idea runs into problems, is where the end-user thinks more=better and plugs in too many GTIs into the same outlet. But, even if he limits it to 1 KW, there could be some problems. Problem #1 If, he doesn't use a dedicated 120vac line for his 1 KW. A line with only the one outlet.. It could happen like this.. If there are other sockets on the branch with the GTIs, and someone plugs in a 1200w space heater, both the GTI and the Grid will be feeding it. Everything is fine, even when someone plugs in the 1000w bread? cooker.. Everything is still cool.. 2200 watts are being used.. Grid and GTI doing the job and 18.33 amps are flowing.. Hours go by.. But, then the clouds come over! Now we have a load of 18.33 amps on a 15A circuit! Will the breaker pop open? Or will one of the 15A outlets start to warm up, because some lazy electrician used the Push-in method, instead of the screws.. Anyways, the same thing could happen with a 20A 120 branch. It could get overloaded, because it sees power from both ends. Problem #2 I think the reason UL doesn't approve these PnP GTIs is because the GTI can supply power to a defective appliance. Let's say my 1200 space heater (plugged into the same branch) is defective and starts shorting out. Once it exceeds 15 amps, my breaker should open and save my house from being burned down.. BUT, that breaker might not be supplying 15A.. Because the GTIs on the other end of the line, are shooting in 8.33 Amps.. So, the bad space heater can sit there cooking with 22 amps (2.6kw) going into it and never pop the breaker... That's why the UL hates PnP GTIs.. Cheers, Rich Last edited by Xringer; 10-27-11 at 02:36 PM..