Florida Fire State Practice Exam

What should you not plug into an outlet that does not have?

1. USB ports

2. A surge protector

3. A GFCI

4. A power strip

The correct answer is: A GFCI

A GFCI, or Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter, is designed to protect people from electrical shock by shutting off power when it detects a discrepancy in the electrical current, such as when water is involved. In the context of the question, plugging a GFCI into an outlet can be misleading. A GFCI is meant to be the type of outlet you would want to have in certain locations, particularly in wet or damp areas like kitchens or bathrooms. It can help prevent electrical shocks by monitoring the electrical current and shutting off the source if an imbalance is detected. The options about USB ports, surge protectors, and power strips don't fundamentally protect the user from electrical shock in the same manner as a GFCI does. Instead, they serve more practical functions in terms of convenience and expanding the number of devices that can connect to a single outlet without providing the same level of safety features against electrical faults. By understanding that a GFCI outlet is important for safety and is specialized for certain environments, it becomes clear why plugging a standard GFCI device into an outlet that lacks the GFCI functionality itself would not be appropriate or safe.