[R-390] GFCI issues

[Joe Foley]

Oh, Boy!!

Isn't this fun??

First it is possible to have an "almost" ground if there is a wet staple on the romex, or maybe a wet or partially shorted metal connector on the panel.  More milli-amps on the rest of the circuit will cause it to trip the GFCI.  The rust from the wet staple will make rust migrate through the coating and inside insulation on the wires and make a resistor, only on the older style romex though thermo-plastic, not nylon coated.

We have  no idea what the circuitry inside the GFCI on the cord is, especially on the two-wire cord, it could be that there is some component wired form hot to neutral that draws some small current that may contribute to the tripping value.

If you read the paperwork that comes with a new GFCI you will see that the distance from the device to the load is critical to operation.

Then again your house wiring could be crap, too.

Tightening the screws on the neutral bar and ALL ground connections is a great first step.

Surges caused by something in the house will cause the GFCI to trrip, too.  This COULD be caused by something in the NEIGHBOR'S house IF you are on the same pole transformer.

I have a fluorescent light in one part of my house that will 'sometimes' trip the GFCI in the bathroom WHEN I TURN IT OFF!

And more,...

Joe





--- On Tue, 3/19/13, rbethman <rbethman at comcast.net> wrote:

From: rbethman <rbethman at comcast.net>
Subject: Re: [R-390] GFCI issues
To: "R-390-List" <R-390 at mailman.qth.net>
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2013, 2:14 PM

I am going to add MORE testing information.

I took BOTH hair Dryers out on the front step.  The circuit there is the "other" GFCI one in the house.

The Hair Dryers work WITHOUT tripping the GFCI.

I think I'm losing my mind!!!!!!!!!!!

The next step is to open the breaker panel and start tightening connectors!

Bob - N0DGN


**********************************************
It is more weird than I thought.

These are two prong devices.  They have a GFCI as part of their own plug.

If I use them in a non GFCI protected, they work - AND - do NOT trip their OWN GFCI.

That's why I asked this group and another.

Bob - N0DGN

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