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GFCI's work, Chinese light fixtures don't
A couple of years ago I built a shed and ran power to it through some
underground PVC conduit. Power to the shed is sourced from a GFCI receptacle under my deck. The shed has an interior light fixture, an external receptacle and an external motion sensor light fixture. Last week I noticed that the motion sensor fixture was not turning on so I went out to the shed and found that the GFCI receptacle had tripped. I reset the GFCI, both lights came on and seconds later the GFCI tripped again. I turned off the disconnect switch in the shed, reset the GFCI and it stayed on. Flipped on the disconnect and the GFCI tripped. Satisfied that (thankfully) it did not appear to be my underground wiring, I opened the junction box for the motion sensor fixture and disconnected it. When I reset the GFCI it stayed on. OK, problem found. I took the Made In China light fixture - which was clearly marked "For External Use" - off of the shed and into the workshop. I opened the bulb housing and saw water around the wires that went to the bulb socket. I guess it's "For External Use" in dry locations only. The best I can tell is that the water got in through the ball and socket joint that allows you to aim the light. I let the unit dry out and then filled the tube from the ball and socket joint to the light socket with silicone so the water can't reach the socket. I remounted it, aimed the light and then put some more silicon around the exterior of the ball and socket joint to hopefully prevent water from entering the fixture in the first place. Piece of crap Chinese fixture. Maybe the GFCI was made in China also, but at least it works the way it is supposed to. |
GFCI's work, Chinese light fixtures don't
On Mon, 4 Feb 2013 13:49:40 -0800 (PST), DerbyDad03
wrote: A couple of years ago I built a shed and ran power to it through some underground PVC conduit. Power to the shed is sourced from a GFCI receptacle under my deck. The shed has an interior light fixture, an external receptacle and an external motion sensor light fixture. Last week I noticed that the motion sensor fixture was not turning on so I went out to the shed and found that the GFCI receptacle had tripped. I reset the GFCI, both lights came on and seconds later the GFCI tripped again. I turned off the disconnect switch in the shed, reset the GFCI and it stayed on. Flipped on the disconnect and the GFCI tripped. Satisfied that (thankfully) it did not appear to be my underground wiring, I opened the junction box for the motion sensor fixture and disconnected it. When I reset the GFCI it stayed on. OK, problem found. I took the Made In China light fixture - which was clearly marked "For External Use" - off of the shed and into the workshop. I opened the bulb housing and saw water around the wires that went to the bulb socket. I guess it's "For External Use" in dry locations only. The best I can tell is that the water got in through the ball and socket joint that allows you to aim the light. I let the unit dry out and then filled the tube from the ball and socket joint to the light socket with silicone so the water can't reach the socket. I remounted it, aimed the light and then put some more silicon around the exterior of the ball and socket joint to hopefully prevent water from entering the fixture in the first place. Piece of crap Chinese fixture. Maybe the GFCI was made in China also, but at least it works the way it is supposed to. I've believed that GFCI's work or don't work. I think two (pool/garage) act funny during a reset. The garage trips occasionally as it is also a bathroom circuit. It trips if a hairdryer is used when I have something plugged in with a higher amp draw? Lately, it tripped a few times. When I try to reset it would not, but a little force on the reset button it did. The thing "chattered" as I reset it. I'll be replacing both the garage and the one for the pool light - real soon (next trip to the Borg). (something tripped at the Super Bowl G) |
GFCI's work, Chinese light fixtures don't
On 02/04/13 5:43 PM, Oren wrote:
On Mon, 4 Feb 2013 13:49:40 -0800 (PST), DerbyDad03 wrote: A couple of years ago I built a shed and ran power to it through some underground PVC conduit. Power to the shed is sourced from a GFCI receptacle under my deck. The shed has an interior light fixture, an external receptacle and an external motion sensor light fixture. Last week I noticed that the motion sensor fixture was not turning on so I went out to the shed and found that the GFCI receptacle had tripped. I reset the GFCI, both lights came on and seconds later the GFCI tripped again. I turned off the disconnect switch in the shed, reset the GFCI and it stayed on. Flipped on the disconnect and the GFCI tripped. Satisfied that (thankfully) it did not appear to be my underground wiring, I opened the junction box for the motion sensor fixture and disconnected it. When I reset the GFCI it stayed on. OK, problem found. I took the Made In China light fixture - which was clearly marked "For External Use" - off of the shed and into the workshop. I opened the bulb housing and saw water around the wires that went to the bulb socket. I guess it's "For External Use" in dry locations only. The best I can tell is that the water got in through the ball and socket joint that allows you to aim the light. I let the unit dry out and then filled the tube from the ball and socket joint to the light socket with silicone so the water can't reach the socket. I remounted it, aimed the light and then put some more silicon around the exterior of the ball and socket joint to hopefully prevent water from entering the fixture in the first place. Piece of crap Chinese fixture. Maybe the GFCI was made in China also, but at least it works the way it is supposed to. I've believed that GFCI's work or don't work. I think two (pool/garage) act funny during a reset. Well, in this case, the one protecting the shed did exactly what it was supposed to do, so I'm pretty satisfied. I've had the one in the garage trip when the receptacles on the extension cords for the Halloween decorations get wet. I try to wrap the ones that are going to be lying on the lawn in plastic and/or to position them under a chair (or tombstone) to keep them as dry as possible, but it's not always possible. The garage trips occasionally as it is also a bathroom circuit. It trips if a hairdryer is used when I have something plugged in with a higher amp draw? Lately, it tripped a few times. When I try to reset it would not, but a little force on the reset button it did. The thing "chattered" as I reset it. I had one near the kitchen sink that was used all the time for juicers, coffee grinders, etc. It was there for years and never tripped except when I tested it. It was looking kind of grimy so instead of trying to clean it, I figured I'd just grab a spare from the shop and replace it. Now when we use the juicer or coffee grinder, it will trip maybe 25% of the time. These devices do not trip any other GFCI's nor did they trip the original one, so I have to assume that the new one is faulty. I keep thinking about replacing it but I never remember...until it trips. I'll be replacing both the garage and the one for the pool light - real soon (next trip to the Borg). (something tripped at the Super Bowl G) I think all the computer generated animations during Beyonce's performance sucked the power out of the grid. |
GFCI's work, Chinese light fixtures don't
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GFCI's work, Chinese light fixtures don't
On Mon, 04 Feb 2013 20:03:52 -0500, DerbyDad03
wrote: On 02/04/13 5:43 PM, Oren wrote: On Mon, 4 Feb 2013 13:49:40 -0800 (PST), DerbyDad03 wrote: A couple of years ago I built a shed and ran power to it through some underground PVC conduit. Power to the shed is sourced from a GFCI receptacle under my deck. The shed has an interior light fixture, an external receptacle and an external motion sensor light fixture. Last week I noticed that the motion sensor fixture was not turning on so I went out to the shed and found that the GFCI receptacle had tripped. I reset the GFCI, both lights came on and seconds later the GFCI tripped again. I turned off the disconnect switch in the shed, reset the GFCI and it stayed on. Flipped on the disconnect and the GFCI tripped. Satisfied that (thankfully) it did not appear to be my underground wiring, I opened the junction box for the motion sensor fixture and disconnected it. When I reset the GFCI it stayed on. OK, problem found. I took the Made In China light fixture - which was clearly marked "For External Use" - off of the shed and into the workshop. I opened the bulb housing and saw water around the wires that went to the bulb socket. I guess it's "For External Use" in dry locations only. The best I can tell is that the water got in through the ball and socket joint that allows you to aim the light. I let the unit dry out and then filled the tube from the ball and socket joint to the light socket with silicone so the water can't reach the socket. I remounted it, aimed the light and then put some more silicon around the exterior of the ball and socket joint to hopefully prevent water from entering the fixture in the first place. Piece of crap Chinese fixture. Maybe the GFCI was made in China also, but at least it works the way it is supposed to. I've believed that GFCI's work or don't work. I think two (pool/garage) act funny during a reset. Well, in this case, the one protecting the shed did exactly what it was supposed to do, so I'm pretty satisfied. I've had the one in the garage trip when the receptacles on the extension cords for the Halloween decorations get wet. I try to wrap the ones that are going to be lying on the lawn in plastic and/or to position them under a chair (or tombstone) to keep them as dry as possible, but it's not always possible. The garage trips occasionally as it is also a bathroom circuit. It trips if a hairdryer is used when I have something plugged in with a higher amp draw? Lately, it tripped a few times. When I try to reset it would not, but a little force on the reset button it did. The thing "chattered" as I reset it. I had one near the kitchen sink that was used all the time for juicers, coffee grinders, etc. It was there for years and never tripped except when I tested it. It was looking kind of grimy so instead of trying to clean it, I figured I'd just grab a spare from the shop and replace it. Now when we use the juicer or coffee grinder, it will trip maybe 25% of the time. These devices do not trip any other GFCI's nor did they trip the original one, so I have to assume that the new one is faulty. I keep thinking about replacing it but I never remember...until it trips. I'll be replacing both the garage and the one for the pool light - real soon (next trip to the Borg). (something tripped at the Super Bowl G) I think all the computer generated animations during Beyonce's performance sucked the power out of the grid. Or perhaps it was Flacco's F-Bomb. |
GFCI's work, Chinese light fixtures don't
(something tripped at the Super Bowl G) As I'm not a football or commercial fan, I didn't watch the Super Bowl. I did however take advantage of the few hours of light traffic it provided... a rarity in my parts. Having said that, a friend postulates the blackout might have been intentional... conveniently 'inserted' to run bonus rations of multimillion dollar ad's to a frenzied near global audience. Wouldn't doubt it... Erik |
GFCI's work, Chinese light fixtures don't
DerbyDad03 wrote in news:ebf33553-5156-4842-88d5-
: I let the unit dry out and then filled the tube from the ball and socket joint to the light socket with silicone so the water can't reach the socket. I remounted it, aimed the light and then put some more silicon around the exterior of the ball and socket joint to hopefully prevent water from entering the fixture in the first place. Wow! You have a lot of time on your hands. |
GFCI's work, Chinese light fixtures don't
BillyBobT wrote:
DerbyDad03 wrote in news:ebf33553-5156-4842-88d5- : I let the unit dry out and then filled the tube from the ball and socket joint to the light socket with silicone so the water can't reach the socket. I remounted it, aimed the light and then put some more silicon around the exterior of the ball and socket joint to hopefully prevent water from entering the fixture in the first place. Wow! You have a lot of time on your hands. It took less time to add some silicon to the old fixture than it would have taken me to go to the store and buy a new one. Removal and installation was required in both cases, so that's a wash. |
GFCI's work, Chinese light fixtures don't
The adult generation repairs things.
The kid generation throws it out and replaces. Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus www.lds.org .. "DerbyDad03" wrote in message ... I let the unit dry out and then filled the tube from the ball and socket joint to the light socket with silicone so the water can't reach the socket. I remounted it, aimed the light and then put some more silicon around the exterior of the ball and socket joint to hopefully prevent water from entering the fixture in the first place. Wow! You have a lot of time on your hands. It took less time to add some silicon to the old fixture than it would have taken me to go to the store and buy a new one. Removal and installation was required in both cases, so that's a wash. |
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