GFCI keep killing the power

Nexenn · 01/22/2010, 09:41 PM

Hey, Just bought the three outlet GFCI shown below:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...=0025785000000

Had my tank for 6 years, never used one and realized that probably wasn't very smart. I got it in the mail today and hooked it up and it keeps flipping the power off to the tank and needs to be reset about once every other hour.

I'm thinking of just not using it but I spent $30 on it for my safety and I'd prefer not to waste that. Wanted to get some input first.

Thanks

Chris27 · 01/22/2010, 09:47 PM

First try the test switch, if that works, then try using it elsewhere in your house on a lamp or radio and see if it flips power off. If it works then you problably have something wrong with whatever is plugged into w/ your tank setup. Visually inspect everything that is plugged into it to ensure you don't have a frayed cord, flooded powerhead, bad lights, etc...then you can start plugging things in one at a time until you can find which piece of gear is grounded.

bhammer · 01/22/2010, 09:54 PM

I have seen reported problems with these. here is a link to one that I knew was easy to find: http://dfwmas.org/Forums/viewtopic.php?f=94&t=67836

I would try to get another model and see what happens. you can also unplug each item at a time and see if the issue is with one piece of equipment.

Nexenn · 01/22/2010, 10:15 PM

Thanks guys

Chris? what do you mean by a "flooded powerhead"?

Chris27 · 01/22/2010, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nexenn

Thanks guys

Chris? what do you mean by a "flooded powerhead"?

The potting around where the wire goes into powerhead can break down and allow a tiny bit of water in there.

radicaltimes · 01/22/2010, 11:19 PM

The GFIC sounds like it is doing it's job. Something hooked up to it has a small current leak.
Unplug one thing at a time and wait . When it stops tripping you will have found what is bad.

Greatwyte · 01/22/2010, 11:30 PM

Quote:

The GFIC sounds like it is doing it's job. Something hooked up to it has a small current leak.
Unplug one thing at a time and wait . When it stops tripping you will have found what is bad.

Agreed.

Nexenn · 01/23/2010, 04:51 PM

Its my powercompacts... the skimmer, pumps, metal halides, moonlights, heater and everything else is on the GFCI and the PCs aren't and its working fine now. The PCs aren't even in the water, what can i do about it?

LobsterOfJustice · 01/23/2010, 05:29 PM

Try wiping down all the wires and connections. Or if its a retrofit make sure it is grounded properly.

bhammer · 01/23/2010, 05:51 PM

Also need to make sure that the hots and neutrals are not swapped as that will trip GFCIs as well.

julie180 · 01/23/2010, 06:57 PM

Fluorescent lights are terrible about tripping gfci. I don't know all the tech reasons, just know I had to rewire a kitchen light fixture for that reason and have read same on other threads.

broke1 · 01/23/2010, 08:43 PM

A GFI will just sense the difference between hot and neutral leads. It sounds like it's doing it's job and it's showing you that there is a problem somewhere. If it trips immediately, it wil be easy to test. Try unplugging one component at a time. If it doesn't trip, you found your problem.

TheH · 01/23/2010, 09:23 PM

As julie180 mentioned flourescent lights are often the cause of sporadic, inconsistent gfci trips.

Mike31154 · 01/23/2010, 10:11 PM

+1 on the fluorescents. Some fans, timers or motors can also cause nuisance trips when they are turned on/off. I had GFCI nuisance trips occasionally when one bank of my T5HO lights controlled by a timer turned off. I think this is caused by back EMF when motors wind down or relay contacts open. It only takes a fraction of a second for a slight current imbalance to trip GFCIs. The price of safety. That's why it's a good idea to split your loads on separate circuits.

hyperfocal · 01/23/2010, 11:52 PM

I had nothing but trouble with an extension-cord style GFCI, it'd just trip a couple of times a day so I installed a wall-socket style GFCI. It works perfectly, no random tripping but every time I spill water it does its job and protects me from myself :-)

01/22/2010, 09:41 PM	#1
Nexenn Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 575	GFCI keep killing the power Hey, Just bought the three outlet GFCI shown below: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...=0025785000000 Had my tank for 6 years, never used one and realized that probably wasn't very smart. I got it in the mail today and hooked it up and it keeps flipping the power off to the tank and needs to be reset about once every other hour. I'm thinking of just not using it but I spent $30 on it for my safety and I'd prefer not to waste that. Wanted to get some input first. Thanks

01/23/2010, 05:29 PM	#9
LobsterOfJustice Recovering Detritophobe Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 7,443	Try wiping down all the wires and connections. Or if its a retrofit make sure it is grounded properly. __________________ If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. I remember when zoanthids were called things like "green" and "orange" and not "reverse gorilla nipple." Current Tank Info: 180g reef with all the bells and whistles

01/23/2010, 08:43 PM	#12
broke1 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: IL Posts: 1,721	A GFI will just sense the difference between hot and neutral leads. It sounds like it's doing it's job and it's showing you that there is a problem somewhere. If it trips immediately, it wil be easy to test. Try unplugging one component at a time. If it doesn't trip, you found your problem. __________________ Removed. Current Tank Info: Too big, yet too small

01/23/2010, 10:11 PM	#14
Mike31154 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 1,555	+1 on the fluorescents. Some fans, timers or motors can also cause nuisance trips when they are turned on/off. I had GFCI nuisance trips occasionally when one bank of my T5HO lights controlled by a timer turned off. I think this is caused by back EMF when motors wind down or relay contacts open. It only takes a fraction of a second for a slight current imbalance to trip GFCIs. The price of safety. That's why it's a good idea to split your loads on separate circuits. __________________ Mike Current Tank Info: 77g sumpless sw with rock, sand, a few critters, fishes & polyps. Lights, pumps.....

01/23/2010, 11:52 PM	#15
hyperfocal Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Edge of oblivion Posts: 1,708	I had nothing but trouble with an extension-cord style GFCI, it'd just trip a couple of times a day so I installed a wall-socket style GFCI. It works perfectly, no random tripping but every time I spill water it does its job and protects me from myself :-) __________________ "Froth at the top, dregs at bottom, but the middle excellent." -- Voltaire Current Tank Info: getting back into the hobby

01/22/2010, 09:47 PM	#2
Chris27 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 4,452	First try the test switch, if that works, then try using it elsewhere in your house on a lamp or radio and see if it flips power off. If it works then you problably have something wrong with whatever is plugged into w/ your tank setup. Visually inspect everything that is plugged into it to ensure you don't have a frayed cord, flooded powerhead, bad lights, etc...then you can start plugging things in one at a time until you can find which piece of gear is grounded.

01/22/2010, 09:54 PM	#3
bhammer Addicted User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 743	I have seen reported problems with these. here is a link to one that I knew was easy to find: http://dfwmas.org/Forums/viewtopic.php?f=94&t=67836 I would try to get another model and see what happens. you can also unplug each item at a time and see if the issue is with one piece of equipment.

01/22/2010, 10:15 PM	#4
Nexenn Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 575	Thanks guys Chris? what do you mean by a "flooded powerhead"?

01/22/2010, 11:19 PM	#6
radicaltimes Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Columbus, Oh Posts: 274	The GFIC sounds like it is doing it's job. Something hooked up to it has a small current leak. Unplug one thing at a time and wait . When it stops tripping you will have found what is bad.

01/23/2010, 04:51 PM	#8
Nexenn Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 575	Its my powercompacts... the skimmer, pumps, metal halides, moonlights, heater and everything else is on the GFCI and the PCs aren't and its working fine now. The PCs aren't even in the water, what can i do about it?

01/23/2010, 05:51 PM	#10
bhammer Addicted User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 743	Also need to make sure that the hots and neutrals are not swapped as that will trip GFCIs as well.

01/23/2010, 06:57 PM	#11
julie180 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Raymore, MO Posts: 2,556	Fluorescent lights are terrible about tripping gfci. I don't know all the tech reasons, just know I had to rewire a kitchen light fixture for that reason and have read same on other threads.

01/23/2010, 09:23 PM	#13
TheH Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Bellevue, WA Posts: 1,278	As julie180 mentioned flourescent lights are often the cause of sporadic, inconsistent gfci trips.