"Stephen" wrote in message ...
I think you are confusing the functionality of a GFCI to a circuit
breaker....
GFCI detects current leaking to ground, not the neutral wire...
Without a ground, thats all there would be, current leaking to neutral....

No, I am not confusing it. I fully understand how it works.

And you are *almost* right saying it detects the current
leaking to the ground wire. The exact statement is that GFCI
detects a *difference* in the current value between hot and
neutral wire. This difference can leak to the ground wire by
the grounding probe *OR* through your hands, legs, the floor
(or water pipes or gas line) then dirrectly to the ground.