GFCI trips - what are my options?

[xaflatoonx]

Behind my tank there are two outlets.
First - one was already there. It was part of the circuit of the room.
Second - was pulled from the room upstairs.

Both are 15A circuits.

One the FIRST - i have the ATI powermodule 60", Echo Dot, Ipad, and cabinet fans.
The SECOND, i have two APex power bars that control the returns, pumps, and everything else.

The FIRST one is the issue - where it trips. Randomly. Every 3-5 days.
No issue with the lighting, no one would plug anything additional, nothing is changed - it just suddenly out of nowhere trips.

Then i have go under the cabinet and un trip it.

Once i have the ATO installed, its gonna be a real PIA to untrip that GFCI. Because i wont be able to access it.
i wil have to empty the ATO box, take it out and then go around the cabinet to un trip it.

So i have two questions.

1. Is there any way to untrip a GFCI using a remote or something? Also anything that would tell me that its tripped? a smart plug?
2. What could be causing the GFCI to trip in the first place? If it were the lights, as soon as the lights would come on it would trip. Plus i would expect that it would trip every day. But thats not the case. It trips every 3-5 days. randomly. Just on its own and i have no idea why.
Plus i really think i am under the 15A usage limit.

Thoughts guys?

 

[GThompson]

Swap everything around and see if the same circuit trips. If it does, probably a bad gfci. If not equipment problem

 

[Beau_B]

Hard to know what’s causing it. My guess would be the fans. GFCI is extremely sensitive so even properly functioning devices can sometimes cause them to nuisance trip. 3-5 days is excessive...

There are no remote-reset receptacles, but you could put a GFCI breaker on that circuit and use a standard receptacle. I’m not a fan of GFCI receptacles in hard to reach places for obvious reasons. There was a time when some contractors put them behind refrigerators... always baffled me.

 

[xaflatoonx]

Swap everything around and see if the same circuit trips. If it does, probably a bad gfci. If not equipment problem

Excellent suggestion. I will try that.

 

[JoshH]

Swap everything around and see if the same circuit trips. If it does, probably a bad gfci. If not equipment problem

I'm leaning towards a GFCI going bad as well, unfortunately they don't last forever and need to be replaced from time to time. I'll also second @Beau_B with swapping the breaker at the panel as well, much easier to replace if need be.

 

[Awesome Dennis]

I’d vote for bad gfi.
Leviton make a gfi with and audible alarm when tripped.

 

[Mattman1977]

Could replace the gfci with a regular outlet and install gfci plugs in a more convenient area under your tank.

Yeah I’m not finished yet. Someone on here suggested this and I liked the idea. Have 2 gfci in boxes with 14g plugs connected to them. Both plugged into the same outlet. No issues yet but still in the building stage.

To Gfci or not to gfci.

Well I’m setting up a new nano tank and finally decided on a location, have a outlet pretty close but the outlet is wore out, plugs just fall out, we just moved in a month ago. Either way I’ll be replacing it so just wanted you guys opinion on to use gfci outlet or just regular. I know I read...

www.reef2reef.com

Hope this helps
Matt

 

[xaflatoonx]

wow - thats a great idea as well. Regular outlet in the wall connected a GFCI box INSIDE the tank.

i will check that. Honestly - i am more worried about WHY its tripping - although this way atleast i can untrip it easily.
thanks for the idea.

 

[Chewbacca]

They do make a gfci circuit breaker to mount in main panel and possibly remove gfci outlets but in stall a surge strip. But could be very well a bad peice of equipment. Or a surge in amps when something starts up.

 

[Westside Guy]

If your wiring can support a 20A line replace the 15A GFCI and hopefully you will be good to go.

 

[SeaJay]

One gfci wired in line will protect all of the outlets down from it as well. I would replace the GFCI with a regular outlet and install the gfci where that one is pulled from.

Or as a previous poster stated, replace it with a 20amp. You need to have 12 gauge wire to support that, which a modern house should have. If you have 14 ga, don’t use this option.

 

[xaflatoonx]

appreciate the feedback guys.

I will check on the wiring size and see if i can switch to a 20amp.

 

[solitude127]

It's the ballast on your ATI fixture causing the tripping of the GFCI. I had a 8x54w Sunpower and like you, it would trip the GFCI and it baffled me. I finally reached out to ATI North America and they said they have a list of certified GFCI outlets that will not trip while using their fixture.

 

[flagg37]

One gfci wired in line will protect all of the outlets down from it as well. I would replace the GFCI with a regular outlet and install the gfci where that one is pulled from.

Or as a previous poster stated, replace it with a 20amp. You need to have 12 gauge wire to support that, which a modern house should have. If you have 14 ga, don’t use this option.

I’m not sure where you’re located but I’m a contractor in both California and Colorado and it’s not normal to have a whole house wired with 12 gauge wire (modern or not). There are certain areas that require a 20 amp circuit (and therefore have 12 gauge wire) but the majority of the house would normally be 15 amp (14 gauge wire).

 

[xaflatoonx]

It's the ballast on your ATI fixture causing the tripping of the GFCI. I had a 8x54w Sunpower and like you, it would trip the GFCI and it baffled me. I finally reached out to ATI North America and they said they have a list of certified GFCI outlets that will not trip while using their fixture.

did they give you a list?

 

[Chewbacca]

Get an electrician to figure it out. To many fingers in the pot.

 

[solitude127]

did they give you a list?

I think through email but I've deleted that email since. Send them an email. they're pretty responsive.

 

[xaflatoonx]

this is what i got.

Below are the 2 most common types of power issues encountered when using an ATI light fixture.

1. Fixture trips the GFI outlet. As a general rule we do not recommend using a GFI (also known as GFCI) outlet as the T5 ballasts we use are UL Certified and feature a built-in protection circuit that will turn the ballast off in case of electrical arcing or lamp failure. This built-in protection circuit makes the use of a GFI unnecessary. If you would still like to use a GFI, please make sure it is capable of handling the load required and has a trigger point that is greater than 1.0 milliamp.
2. Fixture trips the circuit breaker or fuse. Most residential circuits can only handle an electrical load of 15 amps each, so please make sure you are not overloading the circuit with your lights and other aquarium equipment. (The bigger the aquarium / fixture, the more power it typically requires.) Please also keep in mind that multiple outlets in the same area typically share the same circuit so you may also need to account for the other equipment plugged into outlets nearby.

 

[alton]

I’m not sure where you’re located but I’m a contractor in both California and Colorado and it’s not normal to have a whole house wired with 12 gauge wire (modern or not). There are certain areas that require a 20 amp circuit (and therefore have 12 gauge wire) but the majority of the house would normally be 15 amp (14 gauge wire).

San Antonio requires a minimum of #12 wire in residential homes. Romex/NM cable is also required to be colored Yellow for #12 and Orange for #10 to make it easy for the inspectors. Also if you add a receptacle it must be Arc Fault protected or a combination Arc fault/Ground Fault. Place your light on its on GFCI Receptacle. Heaters should also be on their own GFCi, so they do not take your tank down if the GFCI trips. In use covers are also a nice addition

 

[BZOFIQ]

These are what I use: Blank Face GFCI

Leviton GFRBF-W Self-Test SmartlockPro Slim Blank Face GFCI Receptacle with LED Indicator, 20 Amp, White


I installed it in easy to access area somewhere not far from the tank and put regular outlets downstream behind the tank.