On Fri, 11 Sep 2009 16:19:29 +0000 (UTC), Wayne Whitney
wrote:

On 2009-09-11, Steve Barker wrote:

Wayne Whitney wrote:

The sensing coil in the particular GFCI unit may be slightly out
of balance, so that instead of just responding to the differential
current, it responds very slightly to the total current. Or the
appliance may have a small ground fault and have excessive leakage
current. Either way, if the GFCI trips on a repated basis,
something is defective and should be replaced.

Yes, replaced with a standard outlet if it is feeding a motored
appliance.

If the appliance is tripping a non-defective GFCI, then it is
measurably less safe than an appliance which does not trip a GFCI. So
if the receptacle location is not required to have a GFCI under the
NEC, and you don't mind the extra safety risk, go ahead and do that.

Cheers, Wayne


Less safe only in that it is not protected against ground faults. The
device itself may have absolutely no safety issues, and still trip the
GFCI.