GFCI and RCD are two names for the same idea: a device that detects current leaking to ground and cuts power before someone gets a dangerous shock. The difference is mostly regional naming and trip thresholds, but for an importer or manufacturer, that difference decides which markets your product can enter.
How Residual Current Protection Works
Both devices continuously compare the current flowing out on the live conductor with the current returning on the neutral. If some current is missing, it is leaking to ground — possibly through a person — and the device opens the circuit in a fraction of a second. This is why they are mandatory in wet and outdoor locations.
GFCI: The North American Standard
GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) is the North American term. A Class A GFCI, the type required for protecting people, trips when leakage current reaches about 5 mA. You will find GFCIs in US and Canadian outlets, bathroom and kitchen circuits, and outdoor receptacles, often built into the cord of hair dryers and pressure washers.
RCD: The European and Global Standard
RCD (Residual Current Device) is the term used in Europe and many other regions. Household RCDs commonly trip at 30 mA, the level considered safe for personal protection in most standards. You will find RCDs in consumer units, in-line on extension leads, and built into plugs used outdoors and on construction sites across Europe.
Choosing for Your Market
If you sell into North America, plan for GFCI protection, typically at the 5 mA Class A level. If you sell into Europe, Australia, or many Asian markets, plan for RCD protection, commonly 30 mA. The device must also match the local voltage, plug type, and wiring regulations of the destination country.
Built-In Protection in Power Cords
For outdoor tools, pressure washers, and garden equipment, protection can be integrated directly into the cord or plug as an in-line GFCI or a plug-top RCD. When sourcing outdoor extension cords, confirm the trip threshold, the local plug standard, and the safety certification for the target market.
Building outdoor equipment or distribution products? Browse our GFCI/RCD safety products, or tell us your target markets and we will match the right protection.
For the US market, see our US power cords to match the right plug and certification for your application.
