GFCI keeps tripping

AiKkz · Feb 24, 2019

I just plugged in my Abyzz A200 for the first time, and it tripped the gfi. Next I plugged the pump into a regular outlet (not in the fish room) and the pump worked fine at 90%. I plugged the abyzz into the gfi again and it immediately tripped. Last I tested the gfi and plugged in a hair dryer on high max heat for 2 minutes and was fine, so my assumption is there is a small internal leak in the abyzz a200 that is causing the gfi to trip. I can't think of any other reasons why the return pump would trip it at less then 15W when the hair dryer was fine at 1500W. Please let me know what you think.

AiKkz · Feb 24, 2019

@Brew12 @premiumaquatics

AndrewNC · Feb 24, 2019

I’m not an electrician by any means but the Abyzz could be putting out more initial voltage than what’s available. Anything else on that circuit? If so, I would unplug something and try again

AiKkz · Feb 24, 2019

I tried that, it was the only thing plugged in. I'm stumped, I can't imagine it's a bad/lemon pump, but I don't know what else to think.

Brew12 · Feb 24, 2019

AiKkz said:
I just plugged in my Abyzz A200 for the first time, and it tripped the gfi. Next I plugged the pump into a regular outlet (not in the fish room) and the pump worked fine at 90%. I plugged the abyzz into the gfi again and it immediately tripped. Last I tested the gfi and plugged in a hair dryer on high max heat for 2 minutes and was fine, so my assumption is there is a small internal leak in the abyzz a200 that is causing the gfi to trip. I can't think of any other reasons why the return pump would trip it at less then 15W when the hair dryer was fine at 1500W. Please let me know what you think.

GFCI's never trip because of too much current. There are two likely options. It is possible the Abyzz does have an internal fault to ground. The other possibility is that it is an older GFCI and it is tripping due to harmonic currents.

AiKkz · Feb 24, 2019

It's a brand new gfci professionally installed. @Brew12

Brew12 · Feb 24, 2019

AiKkz said:
It's a brand new gfci professionally installed. @Brew12

Not a good sign.

I'd reach out to either the pump manufacture or the supplier you purchased it from.

Does it trip with the pump disconnected from the controller?

Snoopy 67 · Feb 24, 2019

Sometimes a pump just will not work with GFCI, my Red Dragon will not either.

AiKkz · Feb 24, 2019

Brew12 said:
Not a good sign. I'd reach out to either the pump manufacture or the supplier you purchased it from.

Does it trip with the pump disconnected from the controller?

No it trips once the pump is connected to the controller. If I unplug it from The controller it just beeps and says not synced.

AiKkz · Feb 24, 2019

Snoopy 67 said:
Sometimes a pump just will not work with GFCI, my Red Dragon will not either.

Well not running a gfi is not an option lol

Brew12 · Feb 24, 2019

AiKkz said:
No it trips once the pump is connected to the controller. If I unplug it from The controller it just beeps and says not synced.

That doesn't mean the problem is in the motor but it is likely. I agree, I wouldn't use it. Sorry I couldn't be of more help!

Erica-Renee · Feb 24, 2019

Snoopy 67 said:
Sometimes a pump just will not work with GFCI, my Red Dragon will not either.

This is a flaw in the Circuitry of the pumps controller most likely...

AiKkz · Feb 24, 2019

Well lets hope @premiumaquatics and abyzz help me out with this asap, I'll call them tomorrow.

AiKkz · Mar 1, 2019

Shout out to venotec/abyzz for sending s replacement pump with minimal questions asked. When dealing with a 1,800 dollar pump I was waiting for them to make excuses or try to drag on this process to delay forking over that kind of.money, but I was pleasantly surprised, and will be a long time customer!! A++ on customer service!

Sleepydoc · Mar 1, 2019

Snoopy 67 said:
Sometimes a pump just will not work with GFCI, my Red Dragon will not either.

Pumps and motors should not normally trip GFCI's - they will frequently trip AFCI breakers, however. Especially older ones.

Glad to hear Abyzz is working with you. You could also try plugging the pump into another GFCI outlet (you probably have one in the kitchen or bathroom) and see if it trips that outlet as well. There's a remote chance that the GFCI outlet is faulty, even though it's new.

AiKkz · Mar 2, 2019

Sleepydoc said:
Pumps and motors should not normally trip GFCI's - they will frequently trip AFCI breakers, however. Especially older ones.

Glad to hear Abyzz is working with you. You could also try plugging the pump into another GFCI outlet (you probably have one in the kitchen or bathroom) and see if it trips that outlet as well. There's a remote chance that the GFCI outlet is faulty, even though it's new.

I tried 3 different gfci's on 3 different breakers. Also if it was faulty it wouldn't be able to handle a hair dryer, and the royal exclusive red dragon 3 on 100% pulling 50W.

Brew12 · Mar 2, 2019

AiKkz said:
Shout out to venotec/abyzz for sending s replacement pump with minimal questions asked. When dealing with a 1,800 dollar pump I was waiting for them to make excuses or try to drag on this process to delay forking over that kind of.money, but I was pleasantly surprised, and will be a long time customer!! A++ on customer service!

Great news. Always nice when part of a premium price includes that kind of customer service.

Sleepydoc · Mar 2, 2019

AiKkz said:
I tried 3 different gfci's on 3 different breakers. Also if it was faulty it wouldn't be able to handle a hair dryer, and the royal exclusive red dragon 3 on 100% pulling 50W.

Yeah - it sounded like the pump, but that’s was an easy thing to check. Remember, though, GFCI’s are not circuit breakers. They do not trip based on the number of amps/watts being drawn.

AiKkz · Mar 2, 2019

Sleepydoc said:
Yeah - it sounded like the pump, but that’s was an easy thing to check. Remember, though, GFCI’s are not circuit breakers. They do not trip based on the number of amps/watts being drawn.

I know they are not breakers, but how would my RD3 that is submerged not pop the gfi, but the abyzz does? if it was the gfi I feel like the RD3 would pop it too, but I could be wrong I'm far from an electrician.

Brew12 said:
Great news. Always nice when part of a premium price includes that kind of customer service.

Stand up customer service!!

Sleepydoc · Mar 3, 2019

AiKkz said:
I know they are not breakers, but how would my RD3 that is submerged not pop the gfi, but the abyzz does? if it was the gfi I feel like the RD3 would pop it too, but I could be wrong I'm far from an electrician.

Stand up customer service!!

Your other post made it sound like your were expecting devices that had similar or higher current draws to trip the breaker. There could conceivably be some electrical characteristics of one device that cause a faulty outlet to trip where other devices do not. This scenario is more common with AFCI’s than with GFCIs, though.

Like I said - it sounded like it was the pump; that was just an easy way to eliminate the outlet as a cause. Glad Abyzz was so prompt at responding and helping you fix the problem.