Do GFCI's wear out?

goreefer · 10/03/2007, 06:24 AM

This is my situation:
Recently changed my lighting over my frag tank to a IceCap 175 MH. The first time I powered it up it tripped the GFCI breaker. I checked all of my connections and they were tight and insulated. I even soldered and used two layers of shrink tubing to make sure that every connection was good. The next time I everything went well. Then it again tripped the GFCI circuit after shutting it down and restarting it.
I then sent the ballast to IceCap for evaluation. They said it was working perfect, but it may need a restarting circuit added to it. I had that done and plugged it back in. The first time it again tripped the circuit. I switched it to another plug and it powered up fine.
The GFCI outlet is original to my house, which is about 25 years old.
Has anyone out there experienced a GFCI plug going bad?

Ruskin · 10/03/2007, 07:12 AM

Have you tried testing it? It has a test button located between the two outlets that should give you an indication if it is the outlet or the item you have plugged into it. Try plugging something like a radio or hairdryer into it and hitting the test button. It should shut it off. If not then it probably isnt working right.

I could be wrong but when I read 25 years that struck me as odd. I didnt think GFCI were mandatory back then, especially in non-wet area's where you probably have your tank.

SCSInet · 10/03/2007, 07:13 AM

Sometimes electronic ballasts cause harmonics in the line that can confuse GFIs. Icecaps are electronic....

It's entirely possible that a new GFI may react differently, but it's also entirely possible that it won't help at all, as it's really not a defect in the GFI.

Lots of folks who have this problem end up just plugging their lights into a standard outlet, but I'm not an advocate of that. I'd rather suggest running your lights off a dedicated GFI so that if it trips the lights are the only thing that it affects.

goreefer · 10/03/2007, 07:21 AM

Thank Both of you.
The circuit that this is plugged into is also the circuit that goes to the bathroom, that is why it has the GFCI.
I suspect that it tripping is due to the electronic ballast causing harmonics as SCSTnet described.
I'm going to try just plugging it into a normal grounded circuit and see if it still trips anything.
If that works then I'll run a separate circuit to my frag tank.

10/03/2007, 06:24 AM	#1
goreefer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Knoxville, Tennessee Posts: 825	Do GFCI's wear out? This is my situation: Recently changed my lighting over my frag tank to a IceCap 175 MH. The first time I powered it up it tripped the GFCI breaker. I checked all of my connections and they were tight and insulated. I even soldered and used two layers of shrink tubing to make sure that every connection was good. The next time I everything went well. Then it again tripped the GFCI circuit after shutting it down and restarting it. I then sent the ballast to IceCap for evaluation. They said it was working perfect, but it may need a restarting circuit added to it. I had that done and plugged it back in. The first time it again tripped the circuit. I switched it to another plug and it powered up fine. The GFCI outlet is original to my house, which is about 25 years old. Has anyone out there experienced a GFCI plug going bad?

10/03/2007, 07:13 AM	#3
SCSInet Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: North of Atlanta Posts: 10	Sometimes electronic ballasts cause harmonics in the line that can confuse GFIs. Icecaps are electronic.... It's entirely possible that a new GFI may react differently, but it's also entirely possible that it won't help at all, as it's really not a defect in the GFI. Lots of folks who have this problem end up just plugging their lights into a standard outlet, but I'm not an advocate of that. I'd rather suggest running your lights off a dedicated GFI so that if it trips the lights are the only thing that it affects. __________________ If you put a Tang in a tank that small, the terrorists win. Current Tank Info: 55g Mixed Reef, 90G FOWLR, 24g Nano Reef, 55g Cichlid, 120g FW Planted, 180G Reef in the Works (my Eleanor)

10/03/2007, 07:12 AM	#2
Ruskin Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 373	Have you tried testing it? It has a test button located between the two outlets that should give you an indication if it is the outlet or the item you have plugged into it. Try plugging something like a radio or hairdryer into it and hitting the test button. It should shut it off. If not then it probably isnt working right. I could be wrong but when I read 25 years that struck me as odd. I didnt think GFCI were mandatory back then, especially in non-wet area's where you probably have your tank.

10/03/2007, 07:21 AM	#4
goreefer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Knoxville, Tennessee Posts: 825	Thank Both of you. The circuit that this is plugged into is also the circuit that goes to the bathroom, that is why it has the GFCI. I suspect that it tripping is due to the electronic ballast causing harmonics as SCSTnet described. I'm going to try just plugging it into a normal grounded circuit and see if it still trips anything. If that works then I'll run a separate circuit to my frag tank.