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GFCI outlet troubleshooting Rampy 07-24-2006
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Posted by Rampy on July 24, 2006, 5:16 pm
I installed a GFCI outlet in a hall bathroom, following the
manufacturers instructions for determining which of the two sets of
wires were load vs. line. The install and testing seemed to go o.k.,
however when I turn on the hall light the outlet immediately trips. I
can turn off the light and reset the outlet, but can't reset while the
hall light is on. Is it possible that the load is too much for the 15
amp GFCI outlet? Or is it more likely that I have something miswired?


Posted by Jeff Wisnia on July 24, 2006, 5:35 pm
Rampy wrote:

> I installed a GFCI outlet in a hall bathroom, following the
> manufacturers instructions for determining which of the two sets of
> wires were load vs. line. The install and testing seemed to go o.k.,
> however when I turn on the hall light the outlet immediately trips. I
> can turn off the light and reset the outlet, but can't reset while the
> hall light is on. Is it possible that the load is too much for the 15
> amp GFCI outlet? Or is it more likely that I have something miswired?
>


We need more info on just HOW it's wired before anyone can give you a
definite answer.

AFAIK GFCI outlets will NOT trip on pure current overloads, the circuit
breaker ahead of them does that job.

So, I'd say that something IS miswired, or perhaps a ground fault leak
in the light fixture is the source of your problem.

Jeff
--
Jeffry Wisnia
(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)
"Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength."

Posted by Rampy on July 24, 2006, 5:52 pm
Not being an electrician, I'll do my best (and appreciate the help)...

Two sets of wires enter the box, each with white, black, ground. I
determined the line set by leaving only one set of the wires connected
to the outlet, powering on at the breaker box, and seeing that power
still flowed to the outlet. I didn't test the other pair, but assumed
them to be a load. The grounds are all bound together and connected to
the common copper ground on the box and to the outlet ground. Line in
at the top, load out at the bottom. Sorry, but I don't really have
information beyond that. Thanks again for the info.


Jeff Wisnia wrote:
> Rampy wrote:
>
> > I installed a GFCI outlet in a hall bathroom, following the
> > manufacturers instructions for determining which of the two sets of
> > wires were load vs. line. The install and testing seemed to go o.k.,
> > however when I turn on the hall light the outlet immediately trips. I
> > can turn off the light and reset the outlet, but can't reset while the
> > hall light is on. Is it possible that the load is too much for the 15
> > amp GFCI outlet? Or is it more likely that I have something miswired?
> >
>
>
> We need more info on just HOW it's wired before anyone can give you a
> definite answer.
>
> AFAIK GFCI outlets will NOT trip on pure current overloads, the circuit
> breaker ahead of them does that job.
>
> So, I'd say that something IS miswired, or perhaps a ground fault leak
> in the light fixture is the source of your problem.
>
> Jeff
> --
> Jeffry Wisnia
> (W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)
> "Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength."


Posted by on July 24, 2006, 5:57 pm

Rampy wrote:
> Not being an electrician, I'll do my best (and appreciate the help)...
>
> Two sets of wires enter the box, each with white, black, ground. I
> determined the line set by leaving only one set of the wires connected
> to the outlet, powering on at the breaker box, and seeing that power
> still flowed to the outlet. I didn't test the other pair, but assumed
> them to be a load. The grounds are all bound together and connected to
> the common copper ground on the box and to the outlet ground. Line in
> at the top, load out at the bottom. Sorry, but I don't really have
> information beyond that. Thanks again for the info.
>
>
> Jeff Wisnia wrote:
> > Rampy wrote:
> >
> > > I installed a GFCI outlet in a hall bathroom, following the
> > > manufacturers instructions for determining which of the two sets of
> > > wires were load vs. line. The install and testing seemed to go o.k.,
> > > however when I turn on the hall light the outlet immediately trips. I
> > > can turn off the light and reset the outlet, but can't reset while the
> > > hall light is on. Is it possible that the load is too much for the 15
> > > amp GFCI outlet? Or is it more likely that I have something miswired?
> > >
> >
> >
> > We need more info on just HOW it's wired before anyone can give you a
> > definite answer.
> >
> > AFAIK GFCI outlets will NOT trip on pure current overloads, the circuit
> > breaker ahead of them does that job.
> >
> > So, I'd say that something IS miswired, or perhaps a ground fault leak
> > in the light fixture is the source of your problem.
> >
> > Jeff
> > --
> > Jeffry Wisnia
> > (W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)
> > "Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength."


It sounds like something is wrong with the wiring going to the
downstream light causing the GFCI to sense a current imbalance. Could
be a shorted or reversed ground/neutral. Or somehow the light could be
connected to another neutral, not the one flowing through the GFCI. Of
could be a true ground fault in the light.


Posted by Jeff Wisnia on July 24, 2006, 6:13 pm
Rampy wrote:

> Not being an electrician, I'll do my best (and appreciate the help)...
>
> Two sets of wires enter the box, each with white, black, ground. I
> determined the line set by leaving only one set of the wires connected
> to the outlet, powering on at the breaker box, and seeing that power
> still flowed to the outlet. I didn't test the other pair, but assumed
> them to be a load. The grounds are all bound together and connected to
> the common copper ground on the box and to the outlet ground. Line in
> at the top, load out at the bottom. Sorry, but I don't really have
> information beyond that. Thanks again for the info.

Without any insult intended, do both the black wires go to the brass
screws on the GFCI and both the white wires to the silver screws? (Or to
the screws marked with letters like L and N?)

Failing that not being correct, I'll side with what trader4 just said,
the problem is downstream. switch off the breaker and take that hall
light off it's box and tell us what you find. You didn't say whether
that hall light was controlled by a wall switch or a pull string,
(Unlikely, huh?) but if it's a wall switch open that up and look for
anything unusual there too.

Good luck,

Jeff


--
Jeffry Wisnia
(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)
"Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength."

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