lights tripping GFI?

jcgso · 05/21/2007, 08:35 PM

I picked up a used 250 watt pendant with ballast this weekend and installed it over my 29 gallon reef. It works great, except after being on for 4-5 hours, it trips the GFI circuit. Is the heat buildup in the ballast to blame? I'm stumped, so any thoughts would be appreciated.

ludnix · 05/21/2007, 09:39 PM

I wouldn't imagine that the lights would be to blame if the GFI is tripping after they've been on for serveral hours, I've only seen lights trip a GFI when too many are turned on at once or a high load can trip a GFI.

jcgso · 05/22/2007, 04:59 AM

That's kinda what I thought, but the GFI didn't strat tripping untill I installed this light.

jcgso · 05/22/2007, 05:54 PM

Anyone else have any ideas?

GMAX · 05/22/2007, 06:38 PM

The circuit you have it on maybe be too small or have too much other stuff on it, making the wires getting hot over time and tripping the breaker. Is everything feeding to a single box?

sabbath · 05/22/2007, 06:46 PM

If your not comfortable around electricity I would let some one who is look at it. GFCI only trip if there is some power shorting to the ground ( green ) wire. It needs to be looked at closely to find trouble spot. It doesn't care about size of circuit. It is only looking at something going to ground.

Icefire · 05/22/2007, 06:54 PM

mag ballast?

DamnDamsel · 05/22/2007, 06:55 PM

Is it a GFCI breaker or a GFCI outlet?

jcgso · 05/22/2007, 07:39 PM

it's a magnetic ballast on a gfi outlet, with all the tank electronics feeding into it. i don't have any other circuits in the room. it didn't start happening till i set up the new fixture, but it's weird how it doesn't happen instantly when the light come on.

Icefire · 05/23/2007, 02:16 AM

Probably from the heat their is either a small leaking current or something.

GFCI aren't ment to feed ballast/inductive load.
My old remington would trip the GFI at least once when shaving.

Change the outlet for a regular and get a GFI power strip.

Frick-n-Frags · 05/23/2007, 06:30 AM

put the light on a different circuit, with a portable GFI if need be.

inductive kicks will trip a GFI on startup or poweroff, but after severl hours of SS operation, I would say it is more a case of the GFI is loaded down too heavily.

05/21/2007, 08:35 PM	#1
jcgso Saltwater Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Greensboro, North Carolina Posts: 547	lights tripping GFI? I picked up a used 250 watt pendant with ballast this weekend and installed it over my 29 gallon reef. It works great, except after being on for 4-5 hours, it trips the GFI circuit. Is the heat buildup in the ballast to blame? I'm stumped, so any thoughts would be appreciated. __________________ Well dear, it was free...almost...sorta...kind of...I'm sorry, I'll never spend another penny on my tanks again...this week. Current Tank Info: Red Sea 425XL reef

05/21/2007, 09:39 PM	#2
ludnix Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: California Posts: 3,031	I wouldn't imagine that the lights would be to blame if the GFI is tripping after they've been on for serveral hours, I've only seen lights trip a GFI when too many are turned on at once or a high load can trip a GFI. __________________ -Eric Sutter Current Tank Info: 14g Biocube

05/22/2007, 04:59 AM	#3
jcgso Saltwater Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Greensboro, North Carolina Posts: 547	That's kinda what I thought, but the GFI didn't strat tripping untill I installed this light. __________________ Well dear, it was free...almost...sorta...kind of...I'm sorry, I'll never spend another penny on my tanks again...this week. Current Tank Info: Red Sea 425XL reef

05/22/2007, 05:54 PM	#4
jcgso Saltwater Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Greensboro, North Carolina Posts: 547	Anyone else have any ideas? __________________ Well dear, it was free...almost...sorta...kind of...I'm sorry, I'll never spend another penny on my tanks again...this week. Current Tank Info: Red Sea 425XL reef

05/22/2007, 06:46 PM	#6
sabbath Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Twin City's Mn. Posts: 1,771	If your not comfortable around electricity I would let some one who is look at it. GFCI only trip if there is some power shorting to the ground ( green ) wire. It needs to be looked at closely to find trouble spot. It doesn't care about size of circuit. It is only looking at something going to ground. Last edited by sabbath; 05/22/2007 at 07:04 PM.

05/22/2007, 06:38 PM	#5
GMAX Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: DFW Posts: 839	The circuit you have it on maybe be too small or have too much other stuff on it, making the wires getting hot over time and tripping the breaker. Is everything feeding to a single box?

05/22/2007, 06:54 PM	#7
Icefire Seasoned reefer Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: In Quebec, Canada Posts: 3,653	mag ballast? __________________ Temp 80F, PH 8.5-8.0, Alk 6.8-7.2, Ca 430, Mg 1700, NO3 0-0.25, PO4 0.04, 34.4 PPT Lights @ 100% all others, 35% White Current Tank Info: 60g Cube, 120lbs live rocks, Hydra52 2x120W, 2 MP40+ 1 MP10 @ 70%, Phosban 550 GFO+Carbon, 200W Heater, SWC Skimmer, Kalk ATO, 150 gpd RODI

05/22/2007, 06:55 PM	#8
DamnDamsel Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: New York Posts: 176	Is it a GFCI breaker or a GFCI outlet?

05/22/2007, 07:39 PM	#9
jcgso Saltwater Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Greensboro, North Carolina Posts: 547	it's a magnetic ballast on a gfi outlet, with all the tank electronics feeding into it. i don't have any other circuits in the room. it didn't start happening till i set up the new fixture, but it's weird how it doesn't happen instantly when the light come on. __________________ Well dear, it was free...almost...sorta...kind of...I'm sorry, I'll never spend another penny on my tanks again...this week. Current Tank Info: Red Sea 425XL reef

05/23/2007, 02:16 AM	#10
Icefire Seasoned reefer Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: In Quebec, Canada Posts: 3,653	Probably from the heat their is either a small leaking current or something. GFCI aren't ment to feed ballast/inductive load. My old remington would trip the GFI at least once when shaving. Change the outlet for a regular and get a GFI power strip. __________________ Temp 80F, PH 8.5-8.0, Alk 6.8-7.2, Ca 430, Mg 1700, NO3 0-0.25, PO4 0.04, 34.4 PPT Lights @ 100% all others, 35% White Current Tank Info: 60g Cube, 120lbs live rocks, Hydra52 2x120W, 2 MP40+ 1 MP10 @ 70%, Phosban 550 GFO+Carbon, 200W Heater, SWC Skimmer, Kalk ATO, 150 gpd RODI

05/23/2007, 06:30 AM	#11
Frick-n-Frags Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: north central OH Posts: 10,740	put the light on a different circuit, with a portable GFI if need be. inductive kicks will trip a GFI on startup or poweroff, but after severl hours of SS operation, I would say it is more a case of the GFI is loaded down too heavily. __________________ Only Dead fish swim with the current. Current Tank Info: 2 50 gal tanks, sump, still BB