Some electrical help

[Triggreef]

Just got new t5 lighting for some reason they are blowing my gfci. Both 6 bulb fixtures 24 inch t5. One light has one 3 bulb circuit that trips the gfci right away. The other circuit and the other light fixture as well trips the gfci after about 10 minutes running. I have an apex controller which shows that the apex module (outlet strip) is only using about 1.0 to 1.1 amps when the whole 6 bulb fixture is on. With no lighting on the whole module is only at 0 to .1 amps. These modules should be good for 15 amps and my gfci is a 20amp gfci.

The lights function completely fine on a non gfci outlets.

I'll add that I did go out and buy one of those testers that light up when you plug them in, and tell you if the outlets are wired correctly and they are.

 

[Triggreef]

Bump

 

[TheEngineer]

Sounds like there's a ground short somewhere in the fixture. I'd send it back for a replacement.

 

[WLDSHARK]

Not having ground should not be a problem as GFCIs measure the power output from the hot to the input from the neutral lines. When the input is within a certain amount it then trips and shuts off the circuit. This then causes the GFCI to trip because of a short. So it might be and issue with the ballasts; however, have you try installing something else in those outlets? it might be a defective GFIC unit. Try that before sending the unit back. Best of luck.
CJM <><

 

[Triggreef]

Not having ground should not be a problem as GFCIs measure the power output from the hot to the input from the neutral lines. When the input is within a certain amount it then trips and shuts off the circuit. This then causes the GFCI to trip because of a short. So it might be and issue with the ballasts; however, have you try installing something else in those outlets? it might be a defective GFIC unit. Try that before sending the unit back. Best of luck.
CJM <><

The same outlet previously was running a 2 bulb 18 inch t5 x 2, but also on that gfci is 2 photon 32 reef breeder led, 5 koralia and jebao pumps, a couple dosing pumps. And previously 2 165w black box led. These new t5 were supposed to replace the 2 165w led fixtures and the 2 smaller t5 fixtures.

So yeah I had 6 light fixtures above my 4 foot tank before.

 

[Triggreef]

So the more problematic fixture is running fine right now plugged into a non gfci outlet. This non gfci outlet is fed by the same gfci outlet it wasn't working in. So I would think that would still cause it to trip but it's not. The only difference is the ground from the light is not plugged in now because I put it on a timer with no ground available.

 

[TheEngineer]

Can't trip the ground fault when there is nothing going to ground. I think the fixture is the problem. Be careful touching it when it is on.

 

[twilliard]

It only takes 5mA from hot to ground to trip.
And yes this is including the grounded and grounding conductors
http://www.safeelectricity.org/info...y/317-ground-fault-circuit-interrupters-gfcis

 

[twilliard]

There is voltage leakage (that's what us electricians called it) within the fixture.

 

[Triggreef]

There is voltage leakage (that's what us electricians called it) within the fixture.

So what do I do to find it?

I'm debating to just order new better quality ballasts and replacing these Chinese ones. It will be like $100 to replace all 4 with Fulham Workhorse WH5-120-L

 

[twilliard]

You will have to take a meter and find the leak.
Isolate the ballasts from the fixture and measure for voltage (case to ground)
I feel it's one of the ballasts leaking to ground

 

[Triggreef]

You will have to take a meter and find the leak.
Isolate the ballasts from the fixture and measure for voltage (case to ground)
I feel it's one of the ballasts leaking to ground

Can you expand on that? Like which setting on multimeter (to someone who those symbols mean nothing to) And what you mean isolate? Take them off? Disconnect wires? Measure from housing to ground in outlet? With it plugged in and on? I'm no good with these voltage checks.

I plugged it in my bathroom and it tripped that breaker within 10 minutes as well.

 

[Triggreef]

Here is some pics of the lighting internals if it helps.

 

[twilliard]

See that yellow wire screwed to the fixture?
For testing purposes unscrew that yellow wire and remove front the fixture.
Plug into your gfi and see if it trips
(Removing that yellow wire isolates the ground from the ballast)
Let me know what it does

 

[Triggreef]

See that yellow wire screwed to the fixture?
For testing purposes unscrew that yellow wire and remove front the fixture.
Plug into your gfi and see if it trips
(Removing that yellow wire isolates the ground from the ballast)
Let me know what it does

I'll give that a try tomorrow. After reading your link it does say that gfci circuits should not be used with flourescent lighting... Also read this at the bottom: "AFCIs should not be confused with GFCIs. While both AFCIs and GFCIs are important safety devices, they have different functions. AFCIs are intended to address fire hazards; GFCIs address shock hazards."

I'm more worried about fire than shock period. Should I just run the lighting on a circuit with AFCI and no GFCI?

 

[twilliard]

Yes there is a difference between arc fault and ground fault.
For a fixture over a saltwater source I would stay with ground fault.

 

[alton]

Depending on how old your home is the breaker feeding the circuit should be AFCI, and the receptacle should be GFCI. I like how your fixture is marked install per National and local codes, but then uses a yellow for a grounding conductor (which is incorrect for national and local codes) It should be green or green with a yellow stripe. I hope you get your issue fixed, if not send it back and purchase another brand.

 

[twilliard]

If it's UL listed it should be green or green/yellow
Maybe they went off the gas piping grounding codes lol

 

[saltyphish]

My t5 does the same thing with my gfci outlets. When I was in school we discussed having a nuisance tripping on gfci outlets when using anything with motors. The reason is when started, the motor has a higher draw at first causing the outlet to trip, Now this is not what the rated draw in amps the device is lists, just initial startup. after it starts the amps go back to normal. When t5's first power up they have a higher pull as well maybe not as significant as a motorized appliance but still an increase. My fixture only does this if all 6 bulbs kick on at the same time. If I start just 2 bulbs and then delay the start of the other bulbs I dont have a problem.

 

[Triggreef]

That makes total sense, but in my case it starts just fine and trips the circuit 10 minutes later. The other fixture however does trip it immediately.

@twilliard I disconnected the ground, ran the light for about half hours in a gfci outlet and all was good. I checked with multimeter while it was running and it said between 13 and 16v from ground wire to casing on the light. Idk what setting that was but it's the one that gives 118 if you check an outlet.

Then I connect the ground wire and it tripped immediately.