What happens when you press the 'TEST' button on a circuit breaker in an electric panel?.When were GFCI receptacle outlets first required?.Where are GFCI receptacle outlets required?.What is the difference between GFCI and AFCI circuit breakers?.What electrical hazards does a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) NOT protect against?.What does 'listed and labeled' mean for an electrical component?.How do I identify a combination AFCI (CAFCI) circuit breaker?.Does a washing machine receptacle outlet require GFCI protection?.When did arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) breakers first become required?.

When was GFCI-protection for kitchen dishwasher receptacle outlet first required?.What is the code requirement for GFCI protection for receptacles near a wet bar sink?.Are Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) really necessary and worth the trouble?.What is the difference between what trips a GFCI (ground fault) receptacle and a circuit breaker?.Does a septic pump or sump pump require a GFCI-receptacle?.Here’s links to a collection of our other blog posts about AFCI and GFCI RECEPTACLES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS: Both types also provide the same overcurrent protection as other breakers in the panel. The GFCI breakers are used to provide additional shock protection in wet areas of the home, and CAFCI and AFCI breakers recognize arcing/sparking in the wiring and trip to avoid starting a fire. The photo above shows a CAFCI breaker with the dead front removed and a label indicating that it is a Combination AFCI. There is very tiny print of the front surface of the breaker, but concealed under the metal dead front, that states which type of breaker it is but we do not recommend removing the dead front to check. Other brands, like Siemens and Cutler Hammer, use their own color code, most often red or white.

Square D breakers that are more than about 20 years old with a red ‘TEST’ button are GFCI, and AFCI breakers (an earlier version of CAFCI) had green test buttons. If the breaker is made by Square D, which is the most popular brand of panels and breakers in the U.S., then the yellow test button indicates that it is a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) breaker and a white button means the breaker is an CAFCI ( Combination Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter).

Do not press the red button gif