Pool cover motors and ground fault
 

I have had an auto pool cover for about 5 years and this year
it has developed a nasty habit of tripping the ground fault when it gets
really wet. Hasn't been a problem since June, but it reared its ugly
head again. The way it is wired, since the cover was put in about 18
years after the pool, it shares a circuit with the pump. Needless to say
I can get by w/o the cover while it dries out, but the pump is necessary.
I am trying to not put the cover on a separate circuit. If I unplug
the motor for the auto cover, the GFI is no longer a problem and the
pump runs fine.
I am wondering if liberal doses of silicon spray around the areas
where the wires plug into the motor and the box they come out of would
solve this problem? The main culprit, at least to my limited
troubleshooting, is likely to be the gaskets around the box.
Any other suggestions?
--
America is at that awkward stage. It's too late
to work within the system, but too early to shoot
the *******s."-- Claire Wolfe

Pool cover motors and ground fault
 

On Sep 6, 9:55*am, Kurt Ullman wrote:
I have had an auto pool cover for about 5 years and this year
it has developed a nasty habit of tripping the ground fault when it gets
really wet. Hasn't been a problem since June, but it reared its ugly
head again. The way it is wired, since the cover was put in about 18
years after the pool, it shares a circuit with the pump. Needless to say
I can get by w/o the cover while it dries out, but the pump is necessary.
* * *I am trying to not put the cover on a separate circuit. If I unplug
the motor for the auto cover, the GFI is no longer a problem and the
pump runs fine.
* * I am wondering if liberal doses of silicon spray around the areas
where the wires plug into the motor and the box they come out of would
solve this problem? The main culprit, at least to my limited
troubleshooting, is likely to be the gaskets around the box.
* * Any other suggestions?
--
America is at that awkward stage. It's too late
to work within the system, but too early to shoot
the *******s."-- Claire Wolfe

Have you opened the box to see if any water is getting in?
You could also possibly put something over the whole
thing, like a garbage can, when it rains to verify that it's
in the motor/box area and not something totally different.

I'd look for any possible water infiltration points and
use silicone cauk on them, but only after it's been dry
for days.

Pool cover motors and ground fault
 

On Sep 6, 9:55*am, Kurt Ullman wrote:
I have had an auto pool cover for about 5 years and this year
it has developed a nasty habit of tripping the ground fault when it gets
really wet. Hasn't been a problem since June, but it reared its ugly
head again. The way it is wired, since the cover was put in about 18
years after the pool, it shares a circuit with the pump. Needless to say
I can get by w/o the cover while it dries out, but the pump is necessary.
* * *I am trying to not put the cover on a separate circuit. If I unplug
the motor for the auto cover, the GFI is no longer a problem and the
pump runs fine.
* * I am wondering if liberal doses of silicon spray around the areas
where the wires plug into the motor and the box they come out of would
solve this problem? The main culprit, at least to my limited
troubleshooting, is likely to be the gaskets around the box.
* * Any other suggestions?
--
America is at that awkward stage. It's too late
to work within the system, but too early to shoot
the *******s."-- Claire Wolfe

Is the GFI a breaker or a receptacle? If it's a receptacle you might
try replacing it. They do go bad i.e. get more sensitive.

I suppose GFI breakers go bad also, but I think receptacles go bad
more often, percentage wise.