Swapping GFCI for a regular appliance outlet
ozzyosmond
12 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (7)
ozzyosmond
12 years agoRelated Discussions
Stumped on GFCI Circuit Breaker
Comments (52)"FYI the gfci doesn't really check ground fault in the sense some people on here think. A gf I actually checks current leak." Do you have a link to some sort of documentation for this voodoo theory? If that were the case, any time one GFCI in your house tripped because of a current leak, they ALL would trip. If the difference between the current leaving and returning THROUGH the current transformer of the GFCI exceeds 5 mA, the solid-state circuitry opens the switching contacts and de-energizes the circuit. http://m.ecmweb.com/content/how-gfcis-work The GFCI measures the DIFFERENCE in current between the hot and neutral that goes THROUGH the current transformer in the breaker. It can not sense a current that does not go through the current transformer. The GFCI may not reset if the main breaker is not turned back on first, or the LINE side neutral wire is not connected to the neutral bar yet, but it won't sense current leakage on a different circuit. If that were the case, how far away will it sense this "other" leakage? 100 feet? Your neighbor's house? The leakage in all the power transmission lines? Try this experiment, take the line wires off your doorbell transformer, and just wrap them around the transformer instead of hooking them up, and tell me if the doorbell still work ;) Or take your fluke and try to test for current without putting the wire INSIDE the current transformer. It is more likely that you just got unlucky with the new breaker being bad after the first one gave out....See Moregfci
Comments (13)A lot of people would agree with you, Bryan. I don't know how many posts I've seen here that begin with... My GFCI outlet kept tripping so I went to Home Depot and bought a new one but I'm still having problems with the new one tripping. I'm all but convinced that maybe half of all GFCI receptacles purchased at the big box stores go to replacing perfectly good equipment. Same thing with breakers. ("The lights in my bedrooms flickered and went out. I replaced the circuit breaker, but..." You get the picture.) The manufacturers and merchandisers must love it. If you're an electrician (or in your case, an apprentice) and you're working out of a truck with parts in the back and you're billing a customer for time, it might not be a bad approach to try a quick change-out first. You don't have to drive to Home Depot and curse at their infernal automatic checkout machines that beep and buzz until the sales assistant shows up to tell the machine there is no unpaid-for item on the bagging rack. If the swap doesn't work, you can throw the part back in the truck and return it to your stock. It's probably just my old-fartism at work, but I still like doing some troubleshooting first. I only wish that the people who fix my car learned to diagnose problems. But...no!...they just start swapping in new parts until the darn thing miraculously works again. (As my GF will attest, this is an excellent way to go through four car batteries in two months.) Ah, the disposable society, sigh. /end old fart rant :-)...See MoreAir compressor trips GFCI
Comments (6)You have two issues. circuts should not be loaded continuously or frequently to more than 80%. Your compressor is 15 amp (is it really 15 amp? or just labled as requiring a 15 amp circut?) so unless your fridge is less than 1 amp (not likely) you are over loading the circut. GFI's are great but they don't do well with some appliances. Anything with a large motor will tend to have numerous nusance trips. Switching power supplies on computers will also tend to trip frequently. GFI's should not be used on these types of appliances. Portable power tools and small kitchen appliances with motors Don't seem to have a problem with GFI's , even though some draw almost as much power as your compressor. I'm not sure but it may be because it's a different type of motor. That's fortunate because You really need GFI protection on this type of tool or appliance. You definitely need a separate dedicated 20 amp non GFI circut for your compressor. Rewiring your compressor for 240 volts is a good idea only if you never ever have to plug it in on the other side of the house, or at a friends house. Your fridge, because it's small, may or may not work dependably on a separate GFI circut. If you put it on a dedicated outlet, it does not have to be GFI. I think it is legal to run a non GFI circut to the fridge, instal a single outlet box, then extend the circut a short distance and install a GFI outlet for general use. If it's not legal there will be 10 or 20 posts following this one pointing that out!...See MoreGFCI Breaker (not plug) test button not working.
Comments (7)So when it read 120V when it's on ... did you tested it at the outlet (the same way) and it's zero? If so, there is something breaking it between the breaker and the outlet. A quick test would be to move the wires over to a different breaker temporarily. Don't go out and buy another GFCI breaker until you've determined that's the problem (they're expensive). In fact, if this is just protecting a fridge, you may not want a GFCI breaker anyways. Nuisance trips can cost you lots of money in spoiled food. Or if you want GFCI protection, a regular breaker and a GFCI receptacle might be cheaper than a GFCI breaker....See MoreRon Natalie
12 years agokudzu9
12 years agobrickeyee
12 years agoozzyosmond
12 years agoUser
12 years ago
Related Stories
DECORATING GUIDESTricks to Hide Light Switches, Outlets and Toilet Roll Holders
Embrace camouflage and other design moves to make these eyesores virtually disappear
Full StoryGREAT HOME PROJECTSPower to the People: Outlets Right Where You Want Them
No more crawling and craning. With outlets in furniture, drawers and cabinets, access to power has never been easier
Full StoryKITCHEN APPLIANCES9 Places to Put the Microwave in Your Kitchen
See the pros and cons of locating your microwave above, below and beyond the counter
Full StoryDECLUTTERING9 Exit Strategies for Your Clutter
How to efficiently — and regularly — rid your home of the things you don’t want
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNHow to Hide Those Plugs and Switches
5 ways to camouflage your outlets — or just make them disappear
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNHow Much Does a Kitchen Makeover Cost?
See what upgrades you can expect in 3 budget ranges, from basic swap-outs to full-on overhauls
Full StoryGREAT HOME PROJECTSHow to Switch to a Tankless Water Heater
New project for a new year: Swap your conventional heater for an energy-saving model — and don’t be fooled by misinformation
Full StoryDECORATING GUIDES25 Design Trends Coming to Homes Near You in 2016
From black stainless steel appliances to outdoor fabrics used indoors, these design ideas will be gaining steam in the new year
Full StoryBATHROOM DESIGNConvert Your Tub Space to a Shower — the Planning Phase
Step 1 in swapping your tub for a sleek new shower: Get all the remodel details down on paper
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGN15 Coffee Stations Bubbling Over With Clever Ideas
Built-in coffee makers, coffee pod storage and appliance garages are among the features of these great coffee stations
Full Story
Ron Natalie