Problem with electric!! Help!!

9supratt4

9supratt4

Active Member
I am having a major problem with my electric!! I could use some help!!
About a week ago I had my tank running fine and then all of a sudden an outlet basically exploded!! Good thing the circuit tripped!! Come to find out the outlet was a 15Amp outlet on 15Amp wire, but at the junction box, the wire was connected to a 20Amp wire on a 20 Amp circuit!!
So we fixed that. We ran the 20Amp circuit all the way out and we also ran a 15Amp circuit so that I can run the tank on both circuits.
Here is what I have to run:
Aqualight Pro 3x150 HGI, 4x96 Actinics for a total of 834 Watts = 7.6Amps
2 Visi-Therm 250W Heaters a total of 500 Watts = 4.6Amps
Skimmer w/ Sedra 5000 pump total of 50 Watts = .45Amps
2 Vortech Powerheads total 18 Watts = .16Amps
2 Eheim Return Pumps a total of 160 Watts = 1.46Amps
Total Amps are 14.27.
The way I have the 20 Amp circuit set up is, the first outlet after the junction box is a GFCI, then 2 regular outlets on that line.
The way I have the 15 Amp circuit set up is, the first outlet after the junction box is a GFCI, then 2 regular outlets after that.
I can plug everything in and split it on both lines except for the actinic plug. As soon as I plug into 20 Amp line the GFCI on the 20Amp line trips. If I plug in the actinic plug to the 15Amp line, the 20 Amp GFCI still trips,, but the GFCI on the 15 Amp line does not.
Does this mean I have a short somewhere in the light?? That would suck!!
PLEASE HELP!!!!
 
cveverly

cveverly

Member
I suspect the problem is because you are trying to use two GFCI circuits on one device. If the light is all one unit they are sharing a common ground. Then you are trying to run the light from two sources that are GFCI. If there is a difference in potential the GFCI will fault.
I would try to run the light and one heater on the 20 amp and the rest on the 15. See if that cures your problem.
EDIT: I re-read the post and it sounds like you already did this. How many plugs does your light have? One for Halide and one for fluorescent?
 
9supratt4

9supratt4

Active Member
Originally Posted by cveverly
http:///forum/post/2846925
I suspect the problem is because you are trying to use two GFCI circuits on one device. If the light is all one unit they are sharing a common ground. Then you are trying to run the light from two sources that are GFCI. If there is a difference in potential the GFCI will fault.
I would try to run the light and one heater on the 20 amp and the rest on the 15. See if that cures your problem.
I tried that too!! I have no idea what the problem is.....if I have the 3 HQI's plugged in the 20Amp line and then go to plug in the other plug, it still trips.
 
cveverly

cveverly

Member
Are the grounds for the two GFCI circuits bonded in the junction box or do they run separate all the way to the panel?
EDIT (again) ... The more I think about it the more it sounds like a ground issue in the light. Does the 15 amp GFCI trip if you plug both lights in to it? Nothing else on that circuit.
 
cveverly

cveverly

Member
Originally Posted by 9supratt4
http:///forum/post/2846942
The 2 GFCI's are on 2 completely seperate lines.
I had to ask, some people will try to steal grounds and share neutrals. This can raise havoc with a Ground Fault device.
Another dumb question. Can the light be taken to a room with a totally different GFCI just to be sure it is the light having the issue. If it trips that circuit obviously it is a light problem. Then I would disassemble and clean all connections. If that does not cure it I would suspect a leak in the ballast for the fluorescent lights.
 
9supratt4

9supratt4

Active Member
Originally Posted by cveverly
http:///forum/post/2846982
I had to ask, some people will try to steal grounds and share neutrals. This can raise havoc with a Ground Fault device.
Another dumb question. Can the light be taken to a room with a totally different GFCI just to be sure it is the light having the issue. If it trips that circuit obviously it is a light problem. Then I would disassemble and clean all connections.
Hhhhhhhmmmmmmm I guess it can. I just need to wait for some help. It's kind of tough to take down a 72" light while its hanging, by yourself.
 
natclanwy

natclanwy

Active Member
You can use an extension cord to plug it into a different circuit so you don't have to move the light.
 
9supratt4

9supratt4

Active Member
Originally Posted by natclanwy
http:///forum/post/2846996
You can use an extension cord to plug it into a different circuit so you don't have to move the light.
I did that. I plugged it into the other side of the room which is on a completely different circuit than the other 2 circuits and still the GFCI on the 20Amp circuit trips.
 
9supratt4

9supratt4

Active Member
A friend of mine said I may be grounding out somewhere. Can it be that a ground wire may be contacting another wire??
This is driving me nuts!!
 
natclanwy

natclanwy

Active Member
If you are truly on a different circut (ie different breaker at the breaker box) it should not trip the GFCI on another circuit.
 
9supratt4

9supratt4

Active Member
Ok....some interesting news!! I plugged in the actinics and the moonlights along with all the other equipment. Then I plugged in only one HQI and it tripped the GFCI. I reset the GFCI and plugged in the 2nd HQI and it didn't trip. So I plugged in the 3rd and again no trip. So right now everything is running except for one HQI.
Can the ballast be shorting out or something??
 
ibew41

ibew41

Active Member
yes a ballast maybe bad,but ck the pins where the lamp plug into and the wires going to the ballast
 
wattsupdoc

wattsupdoc

Active Member
I take it this is a diy retro kit, or something along that line? There is something not wired correctly in the lighting. It appears as though you have the neutral for the actinic connected to the neutral on the 20 amp line, and the hot is on the 15 amp line. Very important not to mix those up. It wont have anything at all to do with the ground. You can and should bond those all together wherever you find them accessible to each other. I'm 90% sure it's a crossed neutral issue.
 
9supratt4

9supratt4

Active Member
Originally Posted by wattsupdoc
http:///forum/post/2847403
I take it this is a diy retro kit, or something along that line? There is something not wired correctly in the lighting. It appears as though you have the neutral for the actinic connected to the neutral on the 20 amp line, and the hot is on the 15 amp line. Very important not to mix those up. It wont have anything at all to do with the ground. You can and should bond those all together wherever you find them accessible to each other. I'm 90% sure it's a crossed neutral issue.
No it's not a Retrofit.....It's the Coralife Aqualight Pro 3x150 HQI & 4x96 Actinics.
 
9supratt4

9supratt4

Active Member
Originally Posted by IBEW41
http:///forum/post/2847371
yes a ballast maybe bad,but ck the pins where the lamp plug into and the wires going to the ballast
One of the pins does look like the tip was cut off. Could that be the problem and if so is that fixable??
 
9supratt4

9supratt4

Active Member
Ok.....so it's not the ballast. I plugged in one of the working lights into the ballast and it works fine. So it must be the connection.
Is that repairable??
 
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