Help - GFCI keeps tripping

[zbryant91]

No clue. It's been over a year since I moved the tank to this location. I'll know later after I replace the plug. I am assuming that it is not 1st as the outlet with all my A/V equipment never loses power. Or maybe I just followed the wiring to only effect this outlet. Which may be more likely..

I feel plenty fine with wiring. Have done some in the garage. My problem is that my house is on a slab and I have very little experience/desire running wiring up through the attic and back down (2 story house as well)

I also don't feel that this is necessary at this point because my issue is happening when just the tank is running and I have no issues when the A/V stuff is on. So I really don't think it is a load problem. In an ideal world, I would have a closet with all the equipment and just have the display tank showing and have dedicated lines for plumbing and electrical. Just not feasible in this house.

 

[zbryant91]

Changed out the gfci and surge protector and after removing the old gfci found this in the back of it. Didn’t know they made some that weren’t safe around water...kind of ridiculous. Hoping this is the fix.

 

[salty joe]

Once you get the ground probe installed, it is real easy to use a GFI to determine a bad piece of equipment. Just plug things into the GFI one at a time.

 

[zbryant91]

Once you get the ground probe installed, it is real easy to use a GFI to determine a bad piece of equipment. Just plug things into the GFI one at a time.

This may be a dumb question but is it safe to assume only equipment without a 3 prong plug apply to that?

 

[Brew12]

This may be a dumb question but is it safe to assume only equipment without a 3 prong plug apply to that?

It will find faults in 2 prong pieces of equipment, also. You have a current path from the hot lead, through the ground probe, to ground. This will trigger the GFCI. It doesn't rely on the other 2 prongs to work.

 

[zbryant91]

It will find faults in 2 prong pieces of equipment, also. You have a current path from the hot lead, through the ground probe, to ground. This will trigger the GFCI. It doesn't rely on the other 2 prongs to work.

Gotcha. Well I’m about 26 hours in without a trip on the new plug so still optimistic that all is well.

 

[alton]

That is an old GFCI! Make sure you use the WR (weather resistant rated GFCI's). Also make note the new GFCI's are self testing.

 

[salty joe]

Gotcha. Well I’m about 26 hours in without a trip on the new plug so still optimistic that all is well.

Is your grounding probe installed?

 

[zbryant91]

Is your grounding probe installed?

Supposed to be delivered today so I'll get it put in tonight.

That is an old GFCI! Make sure you use the WR (weather resistant rated GFCI's). Also make note the new GFCI's are self testing.

It was only 3 years old so I was a little reluctant to blame it. I got a self testing one with a little night light on it so I can see the reset button if it does it in the middle of the night again! haha

 

[alton]

They also make one with audible so you can hear it too when it trips

 

[zbryant91]

They also make one with audible so you can hear it too when it trips

Good to know. For the tank it is obvious when it is tripped so I didn't need that. I only chose the one with a light just because it is hard to reach and see the buttons behind my stand.

 

[zbryant91]

Bad news. It tripped again. Got home about 20 minutes after it happened and everything seems dry as can be. Guessing now it has to be a piece of equipment in the tank so I’ll be testing that tonight after the probe comes in

 

[zbryant91]

The day this started happening is when I installed my new sump. So I had my return pump and skimmer and power heads out and broke them all down for cleaning. So my best guess is that it’s one of those that maybe has a break in a wire or something

 

[Brew12]

The day this started happening is when I installed my new sump. So I had my return pump and skimmer and power heads out and broke them all down for cleaning. So my best guess is that it’s one of those that maybe has a break in a wire or something

It's possible. Installing the ground probe should make it pretty clear if it is something in your tank. Don't rule out the possibility of it being a light fixture or something along those lines.

 

[zbryant91]

It's possible. Installing the ground probe should make it pretty clear if it is something in your tank. Don't rule out the possibility of it being a light fixture or something along those lines.

Let's say I get the ground probe and stick in the tank tonight and nothing happens. How do I go about testing the non submerged equipment being the issue? Just unplugging them for a few days to see if the gfci trips or is there a way I can expedite this process? Really getting tired of worrying about if the tank is running.

The sump light was not on the old sump, was an led light that I used previously on a smaller tank. This was the only equipment that is now on the tank that wasn't before. But it wasn't even on during 2 of the trips so I assumed it wasn't this.

I have had 2 trips during the day with the display lights(3 prong) on and 1 trip at night with the sump light(2 prong) on.

I also have 2 aqua lifter pumps(2 prong) not in the water. 3 hydor koralia powerheads (2 prong). finnex heater (3 prong plug), eheim compact + return pump (2 prong). Reef octopus 110sss skimmer (2 prong I think..)

Just a bit discouraged and trying to learn the best way to diagnose this without unplugging each piece for 2-3 days and wait for a trip.

Thank you all for the help thus far

 

[Brew12]

Let's say I get the ground probe and stick in the tank tonight and nothing happens. How do I go about testing the non submerged equipment being the issue? Just unplugging them for a few days to see if the gfci trips or is there a way I can expedite this process? Really getting tired of worrying about if the tank is running.

The sump light was not on the old sump, was an led light that I used previously on a smaller tank. This was the only equipment that is now on the tank that wasn't before. But it wasn't even on during 2 of the trips so I assumed it wasn't this.

I have had 2 trips during the day with the display lights(3 prong) on and 1 trip at night with the sump light(2 prong) on.

I also have 2 aqua lifter pumps(2 prong) not in the water. 3 hydor koralia powerheads (2 prong). finnex heater (3 prong plug), eheim compact + return pump (2 prong). Reef octopus 110sss skimmer (2 prong I think..)

Just a bit discouraged and trying to learn the best way to diagnose this without unplugging each piece for 2-3 days and wait for a trip.

Thank you all for the help thus far

Intermittent trips can be a challenge. Hopefully the ground plug will cause whatever is triggering the trip to show itself. Ideally, it will trip as soon as you put it in. I just noticed you have a 3 prong finnex heater. Is that one titanium?
I keep one of these near my tank to use for troubleshooting.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Shock-Bust...ngle-to-Single-Yellow-GFCI-Adapter/1000492081
If worst comes to worst you can pick a piece of equipment and power it from a non-gfci outlet through it. Leave it plugged in there until the next trip. You can eliminate things one by one this way, but it can take awhile.

 

[zbryant91]

Intermittent trips can be a challenge. Hopefully the ground plug will cause whatever is triggering the trip to show itself. Ideally, it will trip as soon as you put it in. I just noticed you have a 3 prong finnex heater. Is that one titanium?
I keep one of these near my tank to use for troubleshooting.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Shock-Bust...ngle-to-Single-Yellow-GFCI-Adapter/1000492081
If worst comes to worst you can pick a piece of equipment and power it from a non-gfci outlet through it. Leave it plugged in there until the next trip. You can eliminate things one by one this way, but it can take awhile.

Yep it is a titanium one. Just got it in December when my glass one exploded and wiped out almost the whole tank.

300w version of this https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/finnex-th-deluxe-titanium-heating-element-with-plastic-guard.html

Does this change something?

 

[Brew12]

Yep it is a titanium one. Just got it in December when my glass one exploded and wiped out almost the whole tank.

300w version of this https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/finnex-th-deluxe-titanium-heating-element-with-plastic-guard.html

Does this change something?

I wish I would have noticed that. If it is wired correctly it is acting like a ground probe in your system. It is effectively a ground probe with a heating element inside it. The ground wire on the plug is connected to the titanium heater housing.

 

[zbryant91]

That's exactly where I thought you were going with that as soon as you asked. So back to the drawing board I guess... I'll pick up one of those gfci adapters and start trying stuff 1 by 1 I guess. Think I will start with the sump light as it is the only thing that is new since the problem started.

 

[Brew12]

That's exactly where I thought you were going with that as soon as you asked. So back to the drawing board I guess... I'll pick up one of those gfci adapters and start trying stuff 1 by 1 I guess. Think I will start with the sump light as it is the only thing that is new since the problem started.

Does your sump light or DT light have a built in controller or does it use switched outlets? If it has a controller I think that is a good place to start because it always has power on it so it could cause any of the 3 trips. When your ground probe comes in you can use it to help. Plug it in and touch it to a screw or other unpainted part on the different light fixtures to see if you can get an immediate trip.