Click on Tom's thumbnail to see the whole drawing. I'll save you the trouble below. The test button connects a resistor between the hot and neutral that passes a small > 5mA current that's detected by the current transformer, opening the switching contacts.
Thanks, yeah, I didn't realize the thumbnails were truncated until they are opened.
But do you see the obvious error in the schematic?
What it clearly shows is a resistor in series with a switch, going across the 120 VAC line as if it is a normal load. See the problem? It is the same as me putting a resistor across the same AC line. That resistor could be a normal load and it will not trip GFI.
What will happen if I put my own resistor of the same value across the same ac line? Absolutely nothing at all. Just a normal but extra light load. Putting a switch in series does nothing but take the small load off and on. That shouldn't trip any GFI.
I see they show a three wire outlet. The resistor should be going to the grounded green, not the white, then the outlet can see the incorrect path and trip when the button is pressed.
Or please explain this:
Let's say that resistor is 20KΩ. How does it tell the difference, in the schematic above, when the test button is pressed, when compared to my own 20KΩ load across the same AC line? Make the value anything you want, it will be the same difference.
IOW, just another load. The schematic needs a correction or needs to be clarified MUCH better than it is as shown.
-Don- Auburn, CA