Review on Bryant Electric GFTRST20W Residential Tamper Resistant by Mike Larkin

Received and installed 2 of 6 units today. Will update review in a year or two with notes on durability. Summary: For a commercially rated premium product, the side cable ports have the worst design and build quality in my opinion. The GFCI block seems to work very well. ----- For a $30 premium GFCI, you would expect it to be built as a tank with proper wire connections. The main frame and body of the device are large, dense and fairly rigid. Where it is missing are the lateral cable connections. They're just a step or two above big-box junk level, with shorter-than-average bolts that are completely smooth under the head (where it meets the wire) rather than having a slightly serrated underside that's common with higher quality finding is sockets. (The teeth help the screw hold the wire.) Also, the metal contact plates under the screws look thin and perfectly smooth. Heavy-duty outlets usually have heavy-duty terminals, but those terminals are clearly NOT designed for heavy-duty use. Another complaint about these side wiring terminals: Unlike some outlets where you can unscrew the screw all the way to make it easier to connect the loop end of the wire, the screws in this unit don't seem designed to be removed will. They CAN be removed, but they are approximately 1-1.5mm shorter than regular terminal screws and their only point of engagement is a floating metal contact within the wiring slot. Getting the screw in is almost impossible, it took me 10 minutes to screw it back in. - normal clearance between screw head and contact plate, it is very difficult to insert even a U-shaped (let alone a fully looped) 12AWG wire under it. You'll need to carefully shape the wire 'just like that', to a tolerance probably within 0.25mm, to stretch it around and under a small gap so it can be attached properly. I think it's almost impossible to wire them properly with 10AWG side wiring. ------ Sizing Note: This thing barely fits in a 1-aisle room. The distance at the top and bottom (from the edge of the ring of the device) is less than 1mm, so it is necessary to route the ground wire correctly, otherwise the device will not fit. I installed 1 of these next to a regular outlet in a 2 gang 4x4x2.75" deep box and felt like I was working in a 1 gang box taking up so much space. I'm hoping for the reliability of the unit Conclusion: I'm pretty sure the device meets all applicable regulations, it just doesn't inspire confidence in where the connectors are connected (it also has holes with clips inside - I never use them because the wired contact area is smaller and there is no loop to hold the wire in place.) --- The GFCI part of the device looks very industrial to the outside, maybe 2-3mm This is the loudest and most sustained "pop", I have ever heard of a GFCI possibly indicating high performance springs inside. I have tested the GFCI with the Ideal model 61-164 GFCI tester which accurately measures trip time and trip current. It is encouraging to see that they perform in at least 12 separate tests on 2 sep Rate devices are continuously closed below at *precisely* 7.4 mA current and 35 ms time. The fact that the numbers are so consistent and repeatable is a testament to the possible high quality of the design and components inside. revenge ----- Update May 28, 2019: Approximately 20 of these devices are installed in a single-family home indoors for normal residential use. 100% reliable, no false alarms.