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 tripping
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
|
|||
|
|||
If the machine doesn't cause another GFCI to trip, assuming that the second
GFCI is working properly, I'd have to assume the first GFCI is at fault and would change it "fredinstl" wrote in message oups.com... 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
|
|||
|
|||
fredinstl wrote:
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. Assuming the expresso machine is sitting on a nonconductive countertop and it trips the GFCI as soon as you plug it in without you or anything else touching it.... If it has a two prong plug it's probably the GFCI. If it has a three prong plug it's probably the machine. Like the previous poster said, try it on another GFCI, but not just another outlet controlled by the same GFCI. HTH, Jeff -- Jeffry Wisnia (W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE) "As long as there are final exams, there will be prayer in public schools" |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Assuming the expresso machine is sitting on a nonconductive countertop and it trips the GFCI as soon as you plug it in without you or anything else touching it.... If it has a two prong plug it's probably the GFCI. If it has a three prong plug it's probably the machine. Like the previous poster said, try it on another GFCI, but not just another outlet controlled by the same GFCI. My guess is that the GFCI is OK and you have leakage either in the downstream wiring or one of the appliances connected to the circuit. GFCI's are calibrated to fairly tight tolerances and it just sounds like it is working correctly and doing its job. Remember, there are two ways a GFCI will trip. 1. A current difference in the hot and neutral wire of .005 A or more. 2. A downstream connection between the neutral wire and the ground wire. Many are unaware of condition #2, but this is the reason that there is a 2nd toroidal transformer in the GFCI. Another safety feature. Beachcomber |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Fred,
I see two possible situation: 1) The problem GFCI is defective and needs replacement. 2) That GFCI is protecting other downstream circuits and is detecting some minor GF problems from downstream. The espresso machine may then become the "straw that breaks the camel's back." GFs are accumulative and the GFCI is effectively summing all of the GFs on circuits that it controls. Note that the GFs may be real problems or just so-called "nuisance" GFs. Somebody really needs to market a plug-in device which measures the level of GF for any device plugged into it. If anybody is aware of a reasonably priced device that does this, please let me know before I start building one. Such a device should be pretty easy to put together with a portable GFCI, a 120V outlet splitter which makes it possible to plug 2 loads into the portable GFCI, a potentiometer for inducing a variable and measurable GF, a fixed value resistor to limit the induced GF level, a multimeter for a one-time calibrating of the potentiometer, etc. Fred, you probably should buy or borrow a GFCI tester which has user selectable GF settings. MCM Electronics sells such devices and I'm certain that there are many others who sell this item. This makes it possible to test your problem GFCI and to determine what level of GF plugged into that GFCI will trip it. You can perform the same test for the other GFCI in your kitchen. Also, remember that GFCI units are relatively inexpensive and very easy to replace. I paid $4.49 each for the most recent batch that I purchased. To simply replace the GFCI and see what happens may be the most pragmatic approach. Let us know what you discover. We all appreciate the feedback. Good luck, Gideon |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
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 |
Reply |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
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 | |||
Repeated noise coming from a GFCI outlet | Home Repair |