Tripping a GFCI

revhtree · Jun 13, 2017

Lately my system keeps tripping a GFCI and I need to figure out what's causing it!

I have my system spread out between 3 circuits and I have even lightened the load on that one circuit. It's tripping at weird times so I am thinking it might be a heater.

Any way to easily troubleshoot? Heading out of town and have to get it figured out!

cowboy · Jun 13, 2017

what do u currently have plugged into that outlet

cowboy · Jun 13, 2017

i missed the heater part, quick way to check if its the heater pull it from the tank and place in a big bowl of water or pot plug into another outlet and force it tonpull a load.

boozeman27 · Jun 13, 2017

be aware, GFCI's go bad over time. might just need to replace it.

flagg37 · Jun 13, 2017

Are you able to consistently replicate it tripping?

I would first test that it's not the GFCI by swapping everything that is on that circuit for one of the other two.

revhtree · Jun 13, 2017

boozeman27 said:
be aware, GFCI's go bad over time. might just need to replace it.

It's only about 6 months old.

Maybe I should try for a better brand?

143MPCo · Jun 13, 2017

@Brew12

Brew12 · Jun 13, 2017

143MPCo said:
@Brew12

Thanks for the invite!

I think every Reefer should have something along these lines.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Defiant-Plug-In-GFCI-Adapter-3-Wire-Grounding-30339036/203741464

That way you can plug your devices into them one at a time, make sure they are on (as in the heater is actually heating) and check for a trip. Easiest way to find faulted equipment in an aquarium. Assuming you are using a ground probe, of course.

As an FYI, the load on a GFCI will not impact it tripping so reducing load on it won't help unless the load with the problem is one that is removed. Their are only 2 things that cause a GFCI trip. GFCI failure which should not allow resetting and current between the hot and neutral prongs not being matched.

revhtree · Jun 13, 2017

Brew12 said:
Thanks for the invite!

I think every Reefer should have something along these lines.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Defiant-Plug-In-GFCI-Adapter-3-Wire-Grounding-30339036/203741464

That way you can plug your devices into them one at a time, make sure they are on (as in the heater is actually heating) and check for a trip. Easiest way to find faulted equipment in an aquarium. Assuming you are using a ground probe, of course.

As an FYI, the load on a GFCI will not impact it tripping so reducing load on it won't help unless the load with the problem is one that is removed. Their are only 2 things that cause a GFCI trip. GFCI failure which should not allow resetting and current between the hot and neutral prongs not being matched.

Ok well it is allowing me to reset but something trips it and I am thinking one of the heaters. I have portable GFCI outlet I could test on or do I need the one you linked?

Also I am not using a grounding probe.

Brew12 · Jun 13, 2017

revhtree said:
Ok well it is allowing me to reset but something trips it and I am thinking one of the heaters. I have portable GFCI outlet I could test on or do I need the one you linked?

Also I am not using a grounding probe.

A portable GFCI outlet will work just fine. Just plug one device at a time into it and make sure it is running.

Lots of risks involved with not using a ground probe and it can make troubleshooting more challenging. Do you use titanium heaters with 3 prong plugs?
Either way, the testing may still work since you obviously have a path to ground allowing the normal GFCI to trip.

revhtree · Jun 13, 2017

Brew12 said:
A portable GFCI outlet will work just fine. Just plug one device at a time into it and make sure it is running.

Lots of risks involved with not using a ground probe and it can make troubleshooting more challenging. Do you use titanium heaters with 3 prong plugs?
Either way, the testing may still work since you obviously have a path to ground allowing the normal GFCI to trip.

Here is what I have: Tower Manufacturing 30440003 5 Outlet GFCI Adapter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YPBITXU/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apip_5jNJvxWKfIizf

I'm thinking about adding the grounding probe as well.

Brew12 · Jun 13, 2017

revhtree said:
Here is what I have: Tower Manufacturing 30440003 5 Outlet GFCI Adapter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YPBITXU/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apip_5jNJvxWKfIizf

I'm thinking about adding the grounding probe as well.

That will work find for testing as long as you only plug in one device at a time.

Brew12 · Jun 13, 2017

If you are on the fence about a ground probe, I'll leave you with this thought.

You have a failed piece of electrical equipment that is releasing voltage into your aquarium. This means you have exposed copper conductors in your tank water. Copper corrodes in salt water and will corrode even faster in the presence of electricity.
Using a ground probe/GFCI will remove power to the fault immediately to reduce the amount of copper released into your system. It will also let you know of the fault, if monitored, immediately. For those people who don't want to risk losing power, the trade off is that they risk releasing copper and possibly other toxins into the water without warning.

This is on top of the fact that it is just safer to run with one. I would never let my son or wife put their hand in the tank without a ground probe/GFCI combination.

scriptmonkey · Jun 13, 2017

Brew12 said:
If you are on the fence about a ground probe, I'll leave you with this thought.

You have a failed piece of electrical equipment that is releasing voltage into your aquarium. This means you have exposed copper conductors in your tank water. Copper corrodes in salt water and will corrode even faster in the presence of electricity.
Using a ground probe/GFCI will remove power to the fault immediately to reduce the amount of copper released into your system. It will also let you know of the fault, if monitored, immediately. For those people who don't want to risk losing power, the trade off is that they risk releasing copper and possibly other toxins into the water without warning.

This is on top of the fact that it is just safer to run with one. I would never let my son or wife put their hand in the tank without a ground probe/GFCI combination.

SOLD! I am guessing it would need to go directly into one of the GFCI outlets(only have 2) or can I plug it into a surge protector\extension cord?

Brew12 · Jun 13, 2017

scriptmonkey said:
SOLD! I am guessing it would need to go directly into one of the GFCI outlets(only have 2) or can I plug it into a surge protector\extension cord?

All of the grounds in your house should be tied together so it really doesn't matter which outlet the ground probe plugs into.

outeastreefer · Jun 13, 2017

One suggestion is to replace your existing panel circuit breaker with a gfci breaker. I have used one like the one you showed and it failed on me.

scriptmonkey · Jun 13, 2017

Brew12 said:
All of the grounds in your house should be tied together so it really doesn't matter which outlet the ground probe plugs into.

Awesome. I have a titanium ground probe inbound and will plug it into one of the open spots on the surge protector that is plugged into the GFCI outlet. Thanks for the help.

skim · Jun 13, 2017

There can be other factors involved. Do you use any type of Filtered Surge Protection on any of your Audio equipment, Surround sound Video Equipment, High end Stereo Equipment ( Audiophile ). Ham Radio operator or have a neighbor that is a Radio Operator. Either one of these pieces can cause problems. The Filtered Surge units will take and line noise found on the AC line and sends it out to the Ground which can be picked up by the GFI. Ham Radio/CB Radio can trip the units the same way because the House wiring will act like an antenna and pick up the Signals and trip GFI. I myself can not use one as I am a Ham Radio Operator and every time I used the Radio it would trip the GFI. Just something else to think about.

Brew12 · Jun 13, 2017

skim said:
There can be other factors involved. Do you use any type of Filtered Surge Protection on any of your Audio equipment, Surround sound Video Equipment, High end Stereo Equipment ( Audiophile ). Ham Radio operator or have a neighbor that is a Radio Operator. Either one of these pieces can cause problems. The Filtered Surge units will take and line noise found on the AC line and sends it out to the Ground which can be picked up by the GFI. Ham Radio/CB Radio can trip the units the same way because the House wiring will act like an antenna and pick up the Signals and trip GFI. I myself can not use one as I am a Ham Radio Operator and every time I used the Radio it would trip the GFI. Just something else to think about.

Good point. It is much less of a problem with newer GFCI devices but older ones are very susceptible to RFI tripping.

revhtree · Jun 13, 2017

skim said:
There can be other factors involved. Do you use any type of Filtered Surge Protection on any of your Audio equipment, Surround sound Video Equipment, High end Stereo Equipment ( Audiophile ). Ham Radio operator or have a neighbor that is a Radio Operator. Either one of these pieces can cause problems. The Filtered Surge units will take and line noise found on the AC line and sends it out to the Ground which can be picked up by the GFI. Ham Radio/CB Radio can trip the units the same way because the House wiring will act like an antenna and pick up the Signals and trip GFI. I myself can not use one as I am a Ham Radio Operator and every time I used the Radio it would trip the GFI. Just something else to think about.

The viewing side of the tank is in a room where Inhave a projector and sound system.