Any electtrician on board

[furball504]

I plug in a skimmer pump and my breaker tripped. I don't have anything my my fish room except my tank which is being set up but nothing's running. The only thing plugged in is a tv and that's pretty much it. I plugged it in to my living room that has more electronics and the breaker didn't trip and the pump is running fine ...help

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

GFI? could be a bad one.

 

[James77]

Throw a lamp with a 100 watt light bulb on the outlet that tripped and see if it causes it to trip. Are you running gfi outlets or a tdi breaker? Are you in America?

 

[furball504]

grttt

 

[furball504]

Im in the states. The outlets in my bedroom are not GFI. I can plug in my T5 fixtures and its fine.

 

[furball504]

anyone?

 

[WindowMaker]

there is probably a pinch in the cable somewhere causing it to short. is it a new skimmer or a used one?

 

[furball504]

I bought it brand new two years ago It been sitting below the stand collecting dust. HOw do i fix it

 

[fishgate]

Get one of those cheap outlet testers that tell you (with lights) if the outlet is wired correctly including the ground.

 

[Dripley]

I'm a master electrician how old is your house? The code requires new homes to surge protectors in the bedrooms. This isn't the same as the stuff you plug computers into. If you use a vacuum cleaner in your bed room it will trip the breaker. Is your GFI 20 amp or 15 amp? Can you take the pump and plug it into a kitchen out let and it still trips? I'll check back at lunch and see if this helps, 2-6-2012 Central time

 

[WindowMaker]

I bought it brand new two years ago It been sitting below the stand collecting dust. HOw do i fix it

Not really a way to fix it if there is a short in the unit somewhere. might be best to contact the manufacturer.

 

[alton]

Since you said bedroom I would assume Arc fault Breaker, change out to a new arc fault breaker and try again. If it continues to trip get another pump. All new homes have Arc fault breakers in all rooms not protected by GFCI, slightly older homes only had them in bedrooms.

 

[CliftonArbogast]

Did the 100 watt light trip it?

 

[furball504]

Did the 100 watt light trip it?

I plugged in my T5 HO over 300w total and it's fine.

 

[furball504]

Not really a way to fix it if there is a short in the unit somewhere. might be best to contact the manufacturer.

Yea it's way past the warranty mark at this point. I was going to strip the cord to see if there's a short somewhere but being that it's a submersible pump I'd rather not getting fried :lol2:

 

[furball504]

It's a YO house with 15 amp breakers. When I plug the pump into a living room it run fine. What is an arc breaker?

 

[furball504]

5 YO house ..sorry

 

[alton]

Yea that sounds about right, Arc Fault breaker looks normal except for it has an additional item below the handle. I have attached more info.

http://www.geindustrial.com/cwc/Dispatcher?REQUEST=PRODUCTS&id=cb-qafci

Our resi guys have learned to only use insulated staples to cut down on nuisance tripping, what is amazing I have a temporary panel with a GFCI and a Arc Fault breaker to test items on and I have yet to find something to trip the arc fault.