gfci issues

[jbeck]

I just spent the last 1/2 hour installing/uninstalling/reinstalling/uninstalling a gfci plug for my tank.
The plug had 2 sets of wires at it. One went on to the next circuit in the room, including a plug on a light switch. The other set came from the fuse box.
If i hook the set from the fuse box up to LINE it works fine and can test/reset, etc...
As soon as i hook up the rest of the room to LOAD it trips the GFCI and it will not reset.
After installing it 2x i gave up and put the plain old plug back in...
dunno....

 

[richard rendos]

I don't know either...my GFCI's are all separate circuits from the rest of the house. Wish I could help more.
wamp, any ideas?

 

[javatech]

then you have a short some place or something wired wrong down line remove the wires from the other things eg plugs, switchs and re wire the one at a time till it trips it

 

[jja]

I agree. Since it works when you put the line in and it trips when you hook up the load you need to find out what the problem is. Don't forget about it. There is a problem-it may be a loose wire in the back of one of the plugs which could be arching. Not good! Figure out all the plugs/switches on the circuit- turn that breaker off and disconnect them all except the line side side of the gfci. Hook them back up one by one starting with the load side of the gfci and turn the breaker on each time until it trips again. When it does-there is your problem. Could be a loose wire in the back of the plug/switch,could be a ground touching a bare wire. Don't ignore it-potentially a fire hazard! If you still can't figure it out try a new gfci or post it again-will try to help.

 

[jbeck]

uggh as much as i dont want to do that, i will. Actually I was thinking it could be something i had plugged into 1 of the plugs. Im hoping to luck out and find that, rather then having to take every outlet in the room apart. There was a cable modem and a window airconditioner in 2 of them so both of those are suspects.

 

[melbournefl]

My vote's going to go on the A/C unit.
Good luck,
Paul

 

[zibnata]

Remove the existing receptacle and twist the black wires together with a black wire tail and attach a wirenut .Do the same to the white wires. Now attach the wires to the line side of the GFI receptacle. Black to the line side dark screw and white to the line side light colored screw (it should say neutral).Make sure you ground the GFI rec. If it is wired in bx, metal coated cable,and you have a metal rec. box attach green wire from box to green screw on GFI rec. If it is wired in romex,plastic coated cable, and has a plastic box, use the bare copper wire from the romex to the green screw on the GFI rec. Now the only receptacle protected with GFI is the new receptacle.You do not need the other room GFI protected. Loads such as air conditioners can trip GFI circuits. I am not sure I want to plug my tank into a GFI receptacle because it may trip and shut everything down. Thats why in a kitchen most receptacles are GFI except the refridgerator.

 

[rwesurfn]

zibnata is right that is what should be done, something you may also want to look at is when you push receptacle back in box make sure bare ground wire does not touch white wire (neutral) or screw it is under. this will also cause it to trip and is a very common mistake when installing a gfci
ps i am mostly just a lurker here for now...still doing research
but i am a liscensed electrician and you really dont want or need anything on the load side of that gfci...it is just asking for trouble
HTH.

 

[zibnata]

I happen to be a licensed electrician too. Thanks for the backup rwesurfn. Hey rwesurfn, what do you think about plugging tank equipment into a GFI ? Of course it is safer, but may trip.

 

[jbeck]

Thanks guys-
I tried it again tonight and unplugged everything from all the outlets and it still would trip. It wasnt the ground wire, I was still testing it all with it hanging out of the box.
So I took your advice and used wire nuts and short pig tails and put it all on the line side. Works like a champ, gfi just on the tank outlet and the rest of the place is as it was. It was the begining of a circuit that included 2 bedrooms and the bathroom. Was no reason to have it all on GFI anyway. There is one downstream in the bathroom for the outlets in there.

 

[rwesurfn]

zibnatta...to answer your question, i think gfi's are a necessary evil in fishkeeping. and in my own home have a seperate circuit on a gfi breaker which i trust much more than a receptacle. also have a small generator and transfer switch (pulled xfer switch off of job we did installing a larger one )have yet to use either, but they are there in case i need them
PS. not sure the xfer switch will get along with gfi...havent tested them thoroughly...hopefully i will be home

 

[pmauro]

Can I assume that since there is a cable modem on that line that there is also a computer on that line? if so it is probably your culprate, New ATX computers use a temp short of sorts to turn on the powersupply and start the computer. it is a sensing signal that GFCI read as a dead short and trips just like they are supposed to do. If there is no computer on the line I would start at the far end of the room (circuit) and unplug one item at a time until I found the cause.

 

[jbeck]

yea there is but i unplugged everything in all the rooms and still had the issue.