GFCI Revealed

[mountain_man]

I've been attempting to solve a weekly tripping of a GFCI breaker controlling outside sockets. After replacing the outside outlets, cleaning and retightening all wires to the sockets, and resealing the outlet covers to no avail. I finally replaced the GFCI breaker and problem was solved. Apparently GFCI breakers can go bad (it was 19 years old). Anyway I took apart the old GFCI breaker. On this side it looks pretty much like a regular breaker.

 

[mountain_man]

However the other side contains the electronics and solenoid that trips the breaker. Maybe that's why they cost $30 (including something for the lawyers...). Here's a web site that explains how a GFCI works. How stuff works