GFCI trips at outlet but not with tester

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1

Originally Posted By: jcrandall
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GFCI trips at outlet but not with tester, resets fine at outlet & is propertly wired. What’s going on here?

2

Originally Posted By: dbowers
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Don’t try and guess about things like that. Report the finding and recommend having an electrician evaluate it and repair as needed.


OR report it and tell the client - your tester could be malfunctioning, or maybe the outlet is kinky AND let him decide if he/she pursues it.

3

Originally Posted By: jcrandall
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Thanks Dan,


That is how I reported it. Both of my testers turned out the same results. Do you think you will be able to make it to the Dec 11 kcnachi meeting?

4

Originally Posted By: jpeck
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Jason,


I've read and read what you said a few times and it is not clear. I know what I think it means, but it may not.

"GFCI trips at outlet but not with tester, resets fine at outlet & is propertly wired. "

"GFCI trips at outlet ... " The button pops out, right?

" ... but not with tester, ... " plugged into the GFCI receptacle, right? Did you try a receptacle down stream?

" ... resets fine at outlet ... " The reset button resets the GFCI, right?

" ... & is propertly wired. " Meaning that the polarities are correct, right?

I suspect that is it "improperly wired". Meaning that the line and load are reversed.

--
Jerry Peck
South Florida

5

Originally Posted By: rdawes
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A GFCI outlet with an open ground will trip when the test button on the outlet is pushed but not by a GFCI test plug as that sends a portion of current to the ground lead to unbalance the current. However, it should also show an open ground indication.

6

Originally Posted By: jcrandall
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You got it Jerry.


The GFCI would not trip with the external outlet tester at the GFCI or at any other outlet.


Tester (2-seperate testers) should proper polarity & ground.


There were no problems with any of the other outlets in the house.


I was leaning more toward bad outlet/gfci
either way... proper gfci protection did not appear to be present[/i]

7

Originally Posted By: jpeck
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jcrandall wrote:
I was leaning more toward bad outlet/gfci
either way... proper gfci protection did not appear to be present[/i]


I suggest you re-word that.

IF that receptacle only protects itself, does power go off at the receptacle outlets on that device, then you have proper GFCI protection - even though your external tester does not trip it.

The internal test buttons are the best test.

HOWEVER, IF the power does not go out in the receptacles in the GFCI device, then you are correct - you do not have GFCI protection.

I am inclined to think it is wired wrong (line / load reversed).

Did the power at the receptacles in the GFCI device trip off or stay on?

--
Jerry Peck
South Florida
8

Originally Posted By: phinsperger
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jcrandall wrote:
Tester (2-seperate testers) should (editors note: I think he meant "showed") proper polarity & ground.


possibly a GFCI with a bootleg ground?

--
.


Paul Hinsperger
Hinsperger Inspection Services
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