A ground fault circuit interrupter for protecting a circuit connected between the load and line terminals of a phase and neutral power line, the interrupter comprising:
- an electrically-insulating housing having a base, the base having a plurality of cavities, each cavity being defined by upstanding side, top, and bottom walls integrally formed with the base, each cavity having one face open parallel to the base,
- a first of the plurality of cavities being adapted to retain a ground fault module between the upstanding walls and the base whereby the module is inserted into the first cavity along an axis perpendicular to the open face,
- a second of the plurality of cavities is positioned adjacent to the first cavity, the second cavity has a first slot in one of the upstanding side walls, the first slot connects the first and second cavities and inserts the phase conductor therethrough, the second cavity has a second slot in the opposite upstanding side wall, the second slot allows access external to the assembly and inserts the load phase power line therethrough, the second cavity has a third slot in the upstanding top wall, the third slot allows access external to the assembly and inserts the terminal fastener therethrough, the second cavity retains the phase terminal whereby the phase terminal is inserted into the second cavity along an axis perpendicular to the open face with the upstanding walls abutting the phase terminal, and
- a third of the plurality of cavities is positioned adjacent to the first cavity, the third cavity has a first slot in one of the upstanding side walls, the first slot connects the first and third cavities and inserts the neutral conductor therethrough, the third cavity has a second slot in the opposite upstanding side wall, the second slot allows access external to the assembly and inserts the load neutral power line therethrough, the third cavity has a third slot in the upstanding top wall, the third slot allows access external to the assembly and inserts the terminal fastener therethrough, the third cavity retains the neutral terminal whereby the neutral terminal is inserted into the third cavity along an axis perpendicular to the open face with the upstanding walls abutting the neutral terminal;
- and
- a ground fault module having:
- means for sensing a current imbalance between the phase and neutral power lines, the sensing means being mounted within the circuit interrupter;
- a phase conductor having a rigid, elongated body made of solid, electrically-conducting material, the phase conductor having a first and second end, the first end being adapted for connection to the load phase power line, the second end being adapted to fasten to the line phase power line, the phase conductor being operatively connected to the sensing means;
- a neutral conductor having a rigid, elongated body made of solid, electrically-conducting material, the neutral conductor having a first and second end, the first end being adapted for connection to the load neutral power line, the second end having a terminal adapted for electrical connection to the line neutral power line, the neutral conductor being operatively connected to the sensing means;
- and
- a phase lug and a neutral lug, each lug having an oval shaped body and a threaded fastener for reversibly clamping one of the conductors between the fastener and the lug body, the first end of the phase conductor is shaped to insert into the body of the phase lug for clamping between the phase lug fastener and body, the first end of the neutral conductor is shaped to insert into the body of the neutral lug for clamping between the neutral lug fastener and body.