Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
|
Home Repair (alt.home.repair) For all homeowners and DIYers with many experienced tradesmen. Solve your toughest home fix-it problems. |
Reply |
|
LinkBack | Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
GFCI still tripping
thanks for your responses.
I installed a new GFCI, and it was still tripping. I then tried again to plug it into the other plug I tried before, and I realized it actually wasn't a GFCI (I couldn't see it as it was behind a 2 - 6 plug adaptor :-( Being in the kitchen, I just assumed it was GFCI, but it wasn't). So now I know my espresso machine is at fault. I opened the expresso machine, tied all connectors I could find, tried it again, and it made the GFCI tripped. Next thing I tried: changed the cord. I had one at home, so simple enough. One thing I wasn't sure about is that it had blue, brown and yellow-green cables (the espresso is made in Italy), but the cord I had was the typical black, white and ground. I connected in: black/brown, white/blue and yellow-green/ground (found that info on the internet) When plugged in, it doesnt' trip anymore. However, if I activate the pump, it trips again. Any idea before I take it to repair. I probably should do that, but I bought it used on ebay, not exactly for cheap, and sent it to repair about 5 months ago (they cleaned everything), so my 10 years old machine already cost me more than a new one :-( I would hate to fork another $100 on it... thanks in advance. Fred PS: I am reposting, as, for some reason, my msg didn't show up as new. In my kitchen, my espresso machine is making the GFCI trip. When plugging something else (such as toaster), it doesn't trip. Also, plugging the espresso machine to another GFCI in my kitchen, it doesnt' trip neither. So is it due to the espresso machine or shall I just change the GFCI ? thanks. Fred. |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Your expresso machine must have a metal body else it would not need a
grounded cord. Using a multimeter with the unit unplugged check the resistance between the black and ground and the white and ground, they should both be open. Check the resistance between the chassis and ground, it should be shorted. Thats a basic test and if it failed, I would expect the GFCI to trip always (except if ground is open in which case it would never trip). You say it is only tripping when the motor starts. This implies the motor is putting current down the green wire while running. Is it possible the green and white wires are swapped for the motor only. " I opened the expresso machine, tied all connectors I could find, tried it again, and it made the GFCI tripped" What did you do? if you reconnected any wires, you may have created the second fault at that time while eliminating an original short in the old cord. Swapping black for white or white for ground could be a cause of this. Does the machine also trip regular breakers when the motor starts, if so it is not a GFCI condition but an overcurrent protection trip "fredinstl" wrote in message oups.com... thanks for your responses. I installed a new GFCI, and it was still tripping. I then tried again to plug it into the other plug I tried before, and I realized it actually wasn't a GFCI (I couldn't see it as it was behind a 2 - 6 plug adaptor :-( Being in the kitchen, I just assumed it was GFCI, but it wasn't). So now I know my espresso machine is at fault. I opened the expresso machine, tied all connectors I could find, tried it again, and it made the GFCI tripped. Next thing I tried: changed the cord. I had one at home, so simple enough. One thing I wasn't sure about is that it had blue, brown and yellow-green cables (the espresso is made in Italy), but the cord I had was the typical black, white and ground. I connected in: black/brown, white/blue and yellow-green/ground (found that info on the internet) When plugged in, it doesnt' trip anymore. However, if I activate the pump, it trips again. Any idea before I take it to repair. I probably should do that, but I bought it used on ebay, not exactly for cheap, and sent it to repair about 5 months ago (they cleaned everything), so my 10 years old machine already cost me more than a new one :-( I would hate to fork another $100 on it... thanks in advance. Fred PS: I am reposting, as, for some reason, my msg didn't show up as new. In my kitchen, my espresso machine is making the GFCI trip. When plugging something else (such as toaster), it doesn't trip. Also, plugging the espresso machine to another GFCI in my kitchen, it doesnt' trip neither. So is it due to the espresso machine or shall I just change the GFCI ? thanks. Fred. |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
|
#4
|
|||
|
|||
wrote in message ... On 6 Apr 2005 06:55:12 -0700, "fredinstl" wrote: was the typical black, white and ground. I connected in: black/brown, white/blue and yellow-green/ground (found that info on the internet) What, is that the color code they use in Italy? I thought black, white and green was used worldwide ???? I don't remember what the colors are but where I work (large plant that makes polyester material) we got in some replacement cords about 6 feet long with molder male plugs that had some odd colors. I don't know where they came from but at the price we paid they should have been first quality. Had to take an ohmmeter to tell which wire connected to which pin so we could make them "American". |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
thanks for your answers. I will go buy a multimeter, although I am not
what I should do to correct if I find it doesn't do what you explained below. What are the risks of using a non-GFCI outlet (not grounded as I live in an old house) ? My in-laws are visiting soon, and I'd like to be able to offer them decent coffee. thanks. Fred AutoTracer wrote: Your expresso machine must have a metal body else it would not need a grounded cord. Using a multimeter with the unit unplugged check the resistance between the black and ground and the white and ground, they should both be open. Check the resistance between the chassis and ground, it should be shorted. Thats a basic test and if it failed, I would expect the GFCI to trip always (except if ground is open in which case it would never trip). You say it is only tripping when the motor starts. This implies the motor is putting current down the green wire while running. Is it possible the green and white wires are swapped for the motor only. " I opened the expresso machine, tied all connectors I could find, tried it again, and it made the GFCI tripped" What did you do? if you reconnected any wires, you may have created the second fault at that time while eliminating an original short in the old cord. Swapping black for white or white for ground could be a cause of this. Does the machine also trip regular breakers when the motor starts, if so it is not a GFCI condition but an overcurrent protection trip "fredinstl" wrote in message oups.com... thanks for your responses. I installed a new GFCI, and it was still tripping. I then tried again to plug it into the other plug I tried before, and I realized it actually wasn't a GFCI (I couldn't see it as it was behind a 2 - 6 plug adaptor :-( Being in the kitchen, I just assumed it was GFCI, but it wasn't). So now I know my espresso machine is at fault. I opened the expresso machine, tied all connectors I could find, tried it again, and it made the GFCI tripped. Next thing I tried: changed the cord. I had one at home, so simple enough. One thing I wasn't sure about is that it had blue, brown and yellow-green cables (the espresso is made in Italy), but the cord I had was the typical black, white and ground. I connected in: black/brown, white/blue and yellow-green/ground (found that info on the internet) When plugged in, it doesnt' trip anymore. However, if I activate the pump, it trips again. Any idea before I take it to repair. I probably should do that, but I bought it used on ebay, not exactly for cheap, and sent it to repair about 5 months ago (they cleaned everything), so my 10 years old machine already cost me more than a new one :-( I would hate to fork another $100 on it... thanks in advance. Fred PS: I am reposting, as, for some reason, my msg didn't show up as new. In my kitchen, my espresso machine is making the GFCI trip. When plugging something else (such as toaster), it doesn't trip. Also, plugging the espresso machine to another GFCI in my kitchen, it doesnt' trip neither. So is it due to the espresso machine or shall I just change the GFCI ? thanks. Fred. |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
On 8 Apr 2005 18:00:40 -0700, "fredinstl" wrote:
thanks for your answers. I will go buy a multimeter, although I am not what I should do to correct if I find it doesn't do what you explained below. What are the risks of using a non-GFCI outlet (not grounded as I live The reason for using GFCI's is to prevent leakage of small currents from applicances to grounds. Usually this 'leakage' is through a person. Therefore GFCI's are installed. Just a sec, your normal breaker does not protect from electricution. Example, a 20a breaker does provide ground fault protection(to protect the conductors), but at 20amps. You can cook a person at 1 amp and never reach the trip setpoint of the breaker, therfore gfci protection is required in places where a person can be electricuted(to protect personnel). So, IMHO, I would not use a receptale for plug in appliances in my kitchen. Now as for no ground. We don't have to go there since I would have gfci's installed. tom in an old house) ? My in-laws are visiting soon, and I'd like to be able to offer them decent coffee. thanks. Fred AutoTracer wrote: Your expresso machine must have a metal body else it would not need a grounded cord. Using a multimeter with the unit unplugged check the resistance between the black and ground and the white and ground, they should both be open. Check the resistance between the chassis and ground, it should be shorted. Thats a basic test and if it failed, I would expect the GFCI to trip always (except if ground is open in which case it would never trip). You say it is only tripping when the motor starts. This implies the motor is putting current down the green wire while running. Is it possible the green and white wires are swapped for the motor only. " I opened the expresso machine, tied all connectors I could find, tried it again, and it made the GFCI tripped" What did you do? if you reconnected any wires, you may have created the second fault at that time while eliminating an original short in the old cord. Swapping black for white or white for ground could be a cause of this. Does the machine also trip regular breakers when the motor starts, if so it is not a GFCI condition but an overcurrent protection trip "fredinstl" wrote in message oups.com... thanks for your responses. I installed a new GFCI, and it was still tripping. I then tried again to plug it into the other plug I tried before, and I realized it actually wasn't a GFCI (I couldn't see it as it was behind a 2 - 6 plug adaptor :-( Being in the kitchen, I just assumed it was GFCI, but it wasn't). So now I know my espresso machine is at fault. I opened the expresso machine, tied all connectors I could find, tried it again, and it made the GFCI tripped. Next thing I tried: changed the cord. I had one at home, so simple enough. One thing I wasn't sure about is that it had blue, brown and yellow-green cables (the espresso is made in Italy), but the cord I had was the typical black, white and ground. I connected in: black/brown, white/blue and yellow-green/ground (found that info on the internet) When plugged in, it doesnt' trip anymore. However, if I activate the pump, it trips again. Any idea before I take it to repair. I probably should do that, but I bought it used on ebay, not exactly for cheap, and sent it to repair about 5 months ago (they cleaned everything), so my 10 years old machine already cost me more than a new one :-( I would hate to fork another $100 on it... thanks in advance. Fred PS: I am reposting, as, for some reason, my msg didn't show up as new. In my kitchen, my espresso machine is making the GFCI trip. When plugging something else (such as toaster), it doesn't trip. Also, plugging the espresso machine to another GFCI in my kitchen, it doesnt' trip neither. So is it due to the espresso machine or shall I just change the GFCI ? thanks. Fred. |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
I'm not familiar with expresso machines at all. However if it is a pump that
is involved, it may be blocked causing backpressure which causes it to trip the breaker. If there is a cleaning procedure for the pump, I'd try that first before making any decisions on repair/replacement. "fredinstl" wrote in message ups.com... thanks for your answers. I will go buy a multimeter, although I am not what I should do to correct if I find it doesn't do what you explained below. What are the risks of using a non-GFCI outlet (not grounded as I live in an old house) ? My in-laws are visiting soon, and I'd like to be able to offer them decent coffee. thanks. Fred AutoTracer wrote: Your expresso machine must have a metal body else it would not need a grounded cord. Using a multimeter with the unit unplugged check the resistance between the black and ground and the white and ground, they should both be open. Check the resistance between the chassis and ground, it should be shorted. Thats a basic test and if it failed, I would expect the GFCI to trip always (except if ground is open in which case it would never trip). You say it is only tripping when the motor starts. This implies the motor is putting current down the green wire while running. Is it possible the green and white wires are swapped for the motor only. " I opened the expresso machine, tied all connectors I could find, tried it again, and it made the GFCI tripped" What did you do? if you reconnected any wires, you may have created the second fault at that time while eliminating an original short in the old cord. Swapping black for white or white for ground could be a cause of this. Does the machine also trip regular breakers when the motor starts, if so it is not a GFCI condition but an overcurrent protection trip "fredinstl" wrote in message oups.com... thanks for your responses. I installed a new GFCI, and it was still tripping. I then tried again to plug it into the other plug I tried before, and I realized it actually wasn't a GFCI (I couldn't see it as it was behind a 2 - 6 plug adaptor :-( Being in the kitchen, I just assumed it was GFCI, but it wasn't). So now I know my espresso machine is at fault. I opened the expresso machine, tied all connectors I could find, tried it again, and it made the GFCI tripped. Next thing I tried: changed the cord. I had one at home, so simple enough. One thing I wasn't sure about is that it had blue, brown and yellow-green cables (the espresso is made in Italy), but the cord I had was the typical black, white and ground. I connected in: black/brown, white/blue and yellow-green/ground (found that info on the internet) When plugged in, it doesnt' trip anymore. However, if I activate the pump, it trips again. Any idea before I take it to repair. I probably should do that, but I bought it used on ebay, not exactly for cheap, and sent it to repair about 5 months ago (they cleaned everything), so my 10 years old machine already cost me more than a new one :-( I would hate to fork another $100 on it... thanks in advance. Fred PS: I am reposting, as, for some reason, my msg didn't show up as new. In my kitchen, my espresso machine is making the GFCI trip. When plugging something else (such as toaster), it doesn't trip. Also, plugging the espresso machine to another GFCI in my kitchen, it doesnt' trip neither. So is it due to the espresso machine or shall I just change the GFCI ? thanks. Fred. |
Reply |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
GFCI tripping | Home Repair | |||
GFCI Outlet Tripping | Home Repair | |||
wiring question -- switch to GFCI? | Home Repair | |||
GFCI Breakers Needed in Protected Sub Panel? | Home Repair | |||
2-pole GFCI breaker for Edison (shared neutral) circuit | Home Ownership |