On Wed, 02 Mar 2005 12:38:30 -0500, Goedjn wrote:


Talked with my mother last night, and when I show up for Sunday dinner
I need to make some repairs around the house (normal). But one is
confusing. Apparently, the GFCI outlets in the master bath won't run
a nightlight, but they do run an electric toothbrush and hair dryer.
The nightlight, a simple 7W bulb, works fine in non-GFCI outlets in
the bath as well as GFCI outlets in the other bath and kitchen. The
toothbrush and hair dryer apparently work fine in all the outlets.


What do you mean by "won't run the nighlight"? Does it trip the
GFCI, or just refuse to light up? Does it screw in, or just plug in?
Does it work if you turn it upside down? Does it work in the kitchen
GFCI outlets? (assuming there are any).

Nothing trips, light doesn't light. Not even upside down, it's a plug
in.

The two most likely problems are that (A) there's something
wrong with the nightlight, and the outlet is correctly detecting
that, or (B) it's twisting funny in the outlet, and not contacting
right, or is tripping the GFCI that way. If (A) then you (they)
should just replace the light. If (b) then I'd be tempted to
replace both the light AND the outlet, but changing the way
the light hangs, and/or bending the tines would probably also work.

She tested two nightlights, in both GFCI outlets in the master bath
they don't light. In both GFCI's in the kitchen, they light fine. In
the other bath GFCI they light fine. Nobe of the GFCI's trip.

I'll be taking a meter over to check as well as a simple light bulb
circuit tester.

Thanks,

Jeff