Trippy GFCI?

RatLabGuy

RatLabGuy

You look like a monkey and smell like one too
Joined
May 18, 2005
Location
Churchville, MD
For you guys w/ a lot of experience w/ electricall fixtures..
Do GFCI outlets get "bad" so they trip easily?

We have one on the back porch (properly covered) that just today has started tripping when I start up my electric smoker. No problem previously. No problem plugged into a different GFCI (diff circuit too). Ran a drill on it, no problem.
No idea how old it is, came w/ the house.

Do I need to just replace the outlet? Or is this endemic of something else wrong...
 
If you can run other appliances or equipment on the outlet without tripping it sounds like it could be the smoker. I have seen GFCI’s get weak and trip easily along with breakers in the panel.
 
obullfish said:
If you can run other appliances or equipment on the outlet without tripping it sounds like it could be the smoker. I have seen GFCI’s get weak and trip easily along with breakers in the panel.
Click to expand...
It didn't trip running on a different GFCI.
I haven't tried another high-current device yet. Circular saw maybe?
Oh wait an electric heater should do it.
 
I've read they have a 5-10 year service life. Problem is not when they come too trippy but when they do not trip at all
 
RatLabGuy said:
It didn't trip running on a different GFCI.
I haven't tried another high-current device yet. Circular saw maybe?
Oh wait an electric heater should do it.
Click to expand...
So the only reliable way to check an older GFCI is to use a circuit tester that has its own GFCI test button (sold at home centers and hardware stores). Plug in the tester and push its testbutton. If the power goes off, the GFCIis working. Press the reset button to restore power.
 
I had one that started tripping from certain things, but others wouldn't bother it. Chased several different things before I gave up and replaced it. Haven't had an issue since. It was 7 years old.
 
Smokers is bad. Send it to me and I'll dispose of it for you free of charge.
 
Also, check the wiring on the back of it. Could be a loose terminal. But might as well just replace it while it's out.
 
For $8, I'll just replace it.
I was just wondering if this is a normal thing to happen.
obullfish said:
So the only reliable way to check an older GFCI is to use a circuit tester that has its own GFCI test button (sold at home centers and hardware stores). Plug in the tester and push its testbutton. If the power goes off, the GFCIis working. Press the reset button to restore power.
Click to expand...
I have a normal $5 outlet tester, but this sounds like a useful tool. Especially now that I'm sitting here wondering how old all the rest of them are.

As pointed out... if it trips easy, that's annoying, but if it fails so it doesn't trip at all, well....
 
Well drat. Replaced the GFCI with a new one. Still trips, although it takes just a little longer now (before it did it as soon as I turned it on, now it takes about 90 seconds of warming up to do it).
Next place to look?

to be clear - it ran fine on this circuit and plug for a year, probably 10 uses in that time.
 
RatLabGuy said:
Well drat. Replaced the GFCI with a new one. Still trips, although it takes just a little longer now (before it did it as soon as I turned it on, now it takes about 90 seconds of warming up to do it).
Next place to look?
Click to expand...
How was the wiring in the box?
 
shawn said:
How was the wiring in the box?
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Looked pretty normal. Seems to be the end of the line, there were only 3 coming in. No obvious overheating or anything.
 
How many amps is the smoker supposed to pull? Maybe it's pulling a little high due to age and with the outlet being at the end of the line, considering voltage drop, it's pulling higher than the 15amps that the outlets good for. That's the best I've got :lol:
 
I would look for water or moisture in a junction box or on the back of a receptacle or switch. I don’t think it’s too much current tripping the the GFI. It’s doing what it’s suppoed to do. Sense a small amount of current feeding back to ground wire or metal housing of an appliance that could and can shock you when you connect your body to metal housing. Start disconnecting things that the GFI provides power to until GFI stays on
 
moldman05 said:
I would look for water or moisture in a junction box or on the back of a receptacle or switch. I don’t think it’s too much current tripping the the GFI. It’s doing what it’s suppoed to do. Sense a small amount of current feeding back to ground wire or metal housing of an appliance that could and can shock you when you connect your body to metal housing. Start disconnecting things that the GFI provides power to until GFI stays on
Click to expand...
This is a good theory, and I will follow up on it - however the smoker is only a year old, and I don't think there is anything constantly plugged into the circuit. I need to trace it all out, but it's for an added sunroom where all the others are inside except this one thats on the outside of the wall, and none of the outlets are in use otherwise.
Buuuut - being an outside outlet box, maybe I'll take a look again at what it looks like inside of it. it has a spring loaded cover and it's tucked way up under an awning but you never know. It is one of the old school metal ones...

It also just occurred to me it's been really cold, and since the box sits outside, when I first turn it on that coil is probably even more resistive than normal.
 
Any chance there's a second GFCI upstream of the bad one?

That will make them pop.
 
RatLabGuy said:
I have a normal $5 outlet tester, but this sounds like a useful tool. Especially now that sitting here wondering how old all the rest of them are.

As pointed out... if it trips easy, that's annoying, but if it fails so it doesn't trip at all, well....
Click to expand...

The injuneer in you should tell you that a high value 1/4 watt resistor from line (possibly neutral either/as well) to ground is all that is in the gfci testers. The published trip current and a little math will give resistor value. Just install the resistor in a replacement plug end. You probably got that stuff laying around.. at least I do.
 
Outside? Moisture builds corrosive atmosphere. Thus building heat, causing it to trip.

Just replace it.


I didn't read the entire thread...
 
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