I have GFCI tripping once every several months. What can be a reason
for that?

If nothing is attached to it at the time it may be moisture . It is possible
something on the load side of the device has an intermittent ground fault


"Sasha" wrote in message
ups.com...
I have GFCI tripping once every several months. What can be a reason
for that?

excellent detailed 3 page pdf at:
http://personal.cha.bellsouth.net/j/...les/rv/gfi.pdf

general info faq electrical:
http://www.landfield.com/faqs/electrical-wiring/part1/


Sasha wrote:
I have GFCI tripping once every several months. What can be a reason
for that?

On 23 Nov 2006 18:27:23 -0800, "Sasha" wrote:

I have GFCI tripping once every several months. What can be a reason
for that?

IMHO:

If you have no other factors, like heavy applicances which you didn't
mention, then I would guess since the GFCI fails safe, that line
voltages could fluctuate and cause the GFCI to trip.

GFCI's nusance tripping is understood, and very well accepted, so once
every several months could be something very tolerated by many.
Remember to follow manufacture's instructions for regular testing.

later,

tom @ www.Consolidated-Loans.info

Tom The Great wrote:
On 23 Nov 2006 18:27:23 -0800, "Sasha" wrote:

I have GFCI tripping once every several months. What can be a reason
for that?

IMHO:

If you have no other factors, like heavy applicances which you didn't
mention, then I would guess since the GFCI fails safe, that line
voltages could fluctuate and cause the GFCI to trip.

How does a line voltage fluctuation cause a current imbalance in the
legs? The real culprit must be something such as a chafed wire, a mouse
biting a wire, etc.

OK. Finally yesterday (Thanksgiving) the GFCI triiped off completely
and it was not reset. The GFCI is the only receptacle on 20 A circuit
and powers D/W in kitchen. It is on Edison circuit and shares neutral
wire with another 20 A circuit that powers garbage disposer. The
garbage disposer circuit has also one GFCI with switch and it is in the
same double box as D/W GFCI. Grabage disposer GFCI worked just fine.
Today I removed faulty GFCI ( I had to remove garbage disposer to
remove GFCI so it took me several hours). I checked voltage on GFCI
screws between hot and neutral and between hot and ground. Both were
120 V. So I removed GFCI and put another one and it is working just
fine. My conclusion is the D/W GFCI broke. Can this happen? If yes,
what is the cause?

Tom The Great wrote:
On 23 Nov 2006 18:27:23 -0800, "Sasha" wrote:

I have GFCI tripping once every several months. What can be a reason
for that?

IMHO:

If you have no other factors, like heavy applicances which you didn't
mention, then I would guess since the GFCI fails safe, that line
voltages could fluctuate and cause the GFCI to trip.

GFCI's nusance tripping is understood, and very well accepted, so once
every several months could be something very tolerated by many.
Remember to follow manufacture's instructions for regular testing.

later,

tom @ www.Consolidated-Loans.info

On 23 Nov 2006 18:27:23 -0800, "Sasha" wrote:

I have GFCI tripping once every several months. What can be a reason
for that?

I used to have one that did that, before it failed (tripping instantly
after reset) completely. The problem was ants (this was inside, but on
an outside wall). Too much ant feces all over inside that electrical
box.
--
31 days until the winter solstice celebration

Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com

"I have found Christian dogma unintelligable. Early
in life I absented myself from Christian assemblies."
-- Benjamin Franklin

On Fri, 24 Nov 2006 12:50:35 -0500, Stubby
wrote:



Tom The Great wrote:
On 23 Nov 2006 18:27:23 -0800, "Sasha" wrote:

I have GFCI tripping once every several months. What can be a reason
for that?

IMHO:

If you have no other factors, like heavy applicances which you didn't
mention, then I would guess since the GFCI fails safe, that line
voltages could fluctuate and cause the GFCI to trip.

How does a line voltage fluctuation cause a current imbalance in the
legs? The real culprit must be something such as a chafed wire, a mouse
biting a wire, etc.


Well... If *I* was having occasional tripping of GFCI device,
my first thought would be that it was caused by a ground fault,
but that's just me....

On Fri, 24 Nov 2006 14:07:58 -0500, Goedjn wrote:

On Fri, 24 Nov 2006 12:50:35 -0500, Stubby
wrote:



Tom The Great wrote:
On 23 Nov 2006 18:27:23 -0800, "Sasha" wrote:

I have GFCI tripping once every several months. What can be a reason
for that?

IMHO:

If you have no other factors, like heavy applicances which you didn't
mention, then I would guess since the GFCI fails safe, that line
voltages could fluctuate and cause the GFCI to trip.

How does a line voltage fluctuation cause a current imbalance in the
legs? The real culprit must be something such as a chafed wire, a mouse
biting a wire, etc.


Well... If *I* was having occasional tripping of GFCI device,
my first thought would be that it was caused by a ground fault,
but that's just me....

It it was a ground fault, then I would suspect that an applicance, or
other plugged in item, was causing. Then it wouldn't occur every
several months, but everytime the item was used. This would create an
immediate patern, and no NG post would have happened.

tom

On Fri, 24 Nov 2006 12:50:35 -0500, Stubby
wrote:



Tom The Great wrote:
On 23 Nov 2006 18:27:23 -0800, "Sasha" wrote:

I have GFCI tripping once every several months. What can be a reason
for that?

IMHO:

If you have no other factors, like heavy applicances which you didn't
mention, then I would guess since the GFCI fails safe, that line
voltages could fluctuate and cause the GFCI to trip.

How does a line voltage fluctuation cause a current imbalance in the
legs? The real culprit must be something such as a chafed wire, a mouse
biting a wire, etc.

IMHO:

Wait let me explain, we always have voltage fluctations. I am not
talking about lightening strikes, or cars hitting poles. The quality
of many home electric system sources is always in question. This is
why we install ground rods to help keep the neutral bus a base 0.
Since the quality of the electrity, the wave formation is a little
off, this effects electronic equipment. Some more than others.

This is what was explained why some of my computer power supplies died
early, and why GFCI's trip with nothing plugged in them, but reset
easy. If it was a physcal cause like wires damaged, or chaffed wires,
the GFCI would trip and not reset.

Just working on what made sense to me, not a GFCI expert.

later,

tom @ www.WorkAtHomePlans.com