GFCI outlet going nuts

[jrp1588]

I'm having some serious issues with this thing. It's been working fine for a couple weeks at least, but last night I was messing with the plugs, trying to get my ATO set up, and it suddenly started tripping every 5-15 seconds. I unplugged everything from the outlet, and the one outlet down-stream of the GFCI, and even with no load at all, it's still tripping.

Luckily the outlet is still accessible to work on under my stand (but not fun at all.) All the wire nuts seemed tight. I'm thinking it might be an issue with the metal junction box. The GFCI outlet is waaay chunkier than the regular outlet, and I really had to stuff it in there. I'm afraid maybe the sides of the box (which seems to be bent in slightly) may be too close to one of the wire nuts, and it's arcing when I wiggle the outlet around when plugging and unplugging things.

I did a test and pulled the GFCI out of the box with the wires still connected, flipped the breaker back on, and let it run like that for a bit. There were no trips within the 5 minute test, so I figured I found my problem. I pulled out some electrical tape and covered all the nuts, shoved the GFCI back into the box and tried it. It ran a couple minutes, then tripped again (and again under no load.) Dejected, defeated, and with a very sore back, I reinstalled the standard outlet so my tank wouldn't die overnight.

Thoughts?

 

[Askthefishdude]

I have some ideas!

I have some ideas!

In my 25 years of experience on extremely large fishtanks with a lot of GFI problems, I have found that it can actually be a pump, a powerhead, or something with "stray voltage" in the aquarium. And that could be popping all your GFIs because that is what the equipment is designed to do. They are designed to shut off to protect against power surges. Make sure all of your outlets are properly grounded.

The hard way- Go pump by pump, plugging them in, running at test, and narrow down what piece of equipment is causing the power surges. It could be a pump, it could be a heater, it could be your chiller, it could be a reactor if you have one. As long as there is stray voltage in the water, the circuit breakers will trip, all the time.

The easier way- This product, a ground probe, has helped me alot-

http://www.marinedepot.com/Coralife...ter_Aquariums-Coralife-ES00934-FIMIGF-vi.html

I have 52 aquariums that i maintain, and they all have one or more of these. If you install this first, you may avoid having to check everything! If this doesn't work, you may need an electrician to set up a dedicated circuit or two for your aquariums.

If you need help ask the Fish Dude!

 

[oseymour]

Did you notice that a certain piece of equipment was tripping it?

For me it was mostly the 2 fixture coralife T5. I ended up ditching the GCFI and using the regular outlet because the GCFI would work for weeks and then trip randomly.

I couldn't afford for it to trip when I'm out of town.

 

[jrp1588]

Did you notice that a certain piece of equipment was tripping it?

For me it was mostly the 2 fixture coralife T5. I ended up ditching the GCFI and using the regular outlet because the GCFI would work for weeks and then trip randomly.

I couldn't afford for it to trip when I'm out of town.

It was tripping with NOTHING plugged in at all.

 

[Askthefishdude]

sounds like you need a dedicated circut

sounds like you need a dedicated circut

probably time to call an electrician

 

[WiDataTech]

I did electrical work for nearly 12 years. Many times on remodels putting GFI's in the old (small) metal boxes would cause them to trip easily. You can try a couple wraps of tape around it, ( covering the screw terminals) or replace the box with a new, plastic box. They are usually called "cut in boxes, or old work boxes." Very cheap from any home/hardware store.

 

[jrp1588]

I did electrical work for nearly 12 years. Many times on remodels putting GFI's in the old (small) metal boxes would cause them to trip easily. You can try a couple wraps of tape around it, ( covering the screw terminals) or replace the box with a new, plastic box. They are usually called "cut in boxes, or old work boxes." Very cheap from any home/hardware store.

I tried the first method. Sounds like I was on the right track. Maybe I didn't use enough tape. What's involved in putting in the plastic boxes? Do I have to hack up my drywall?

 

[WiDataTech]

The hard part would be getting the old box out. A sawz all or Dremel will make it easier. Trimming the hole a touch bigger will make things easier as well. The new box has tabs on it with a little screw. Once you have it in tighten the screws and the tabs will flip around and grab the wall from the back. Probably sounds muchore complicated then it really is.

 

[jrp1588]

The hard part would be getting the old box out. A sawz all or Dremel will make it easier. Trimming the hole a touch bigger will make things easier as well. The new box has tabs on it with a little screw. Once you have it in tighten the screws and the tabs will flip around and grab the wall from the back. Probably sounds muchore complicated then it really is.

It's very clear now that I've looked at a picture of one. Just cut the hole to size, pop it in, and tighten a screw. I think I can handle that.

 

[jrp1588]

Got the job done. Would have been very easy if I didn't have a fish tank in the way and I had a sawzall. I ended up prying the old box out with a screw driver.

I realized I wasn't screwing in the terminal screws nearly tight enough. When I pulled the regular socket back out, one of the wires came loose. I found that with a large flathead screwdriver, I was able to get them about a half turn tighter than with a phillips. May have been the real issue all along.

So far so good. I really don't want to dig back into it.

 

[Buzz1329]

In my 25 years of experience on extremely large fishtanks with a lot of GFI problems, I have found that it can actually be a pump, a powerhead, or something with "stray voltage" in the aquarium. And that could be popping all your GFIs because that is what the equipment is designed to do. They are designed to shut off to protect against power surges. Make sure all of your outlets are properly grounded.

The hard way- Go pump by pump, plugging them in, running at test, and narrow down what piece of equipment is causing the power surges. It could be a pump, it could be a heater, it could be your chiller, it could be a reactor if you have one. As long as there is stray voltage in the water, the circuit breakers will trip, all the time.

The easier way- This product, a ground probe, has helped me alot-

http://www.marinedepot.com/Coralife...ter_Aquariums-Coralife-ES00934-FIMIGF-vi.html

I have 52 aquariums that i maintain, and they all have one or more of these. If you install this first, you may avoid having to check everything! If this doesn't work, you may need an electrician to set up a dedicated circuit or two for your aquariums.

If you need help ask the Fish Dude!

Having similar problem as OP. Thanks for the info!

Mike

 

[Cornishrooster]

Could be a faulty gfi outlet or something down stream from the gfi too. Replacing the gfi is a relatively cheap part compared to other aquarium equipment, I'd start there. Also whenever I replace an outlet I wrap it with electrical tape just as an extra precaution, my grandpa was a master electrician and he told me it's cheap insurance.

Cheers
Mike

 

[Utwo229]

Replace the GFCI and use the cheap insurance. GFCI receps do go bad. And they will trip easily when they start to weaken.

 

[jrp1588]

Not sure if replies are still being directed at me since I solved the problem, but the gfci was brand new in my case.

 

[alton]

A couple things if you do not know;
The newer GFCI's fail safe off when they go bad
To meet the newest standards GFCI's are self testing, so you do not have to push the test button, the receptacle will do it on its own.
Some manufactures make them with an audible alarm which is great for letting you know when the receptacle trips

 

[clearaquariums]

def time to call the electrician

 

[jrp1588]

def time to call the electrician

Nope, if you read through the whole thread, I fixed it myself with a plastic cut-in box for about $1.50. I was raised in a family where calling in the professionals was the absolute last resort. I just wish I had taken more of an interest as a kid in learning my dad's handyman skills.

 

[davidgnome]

Since this post is recent, I was curious i plan to have about 12 items plugged in to the outlets behind my tank. The outlet seems to be a box type that when i screw it latches onto drywall hole. Is this a gfci that was already installed by prior resident? Also am I ok to plug this much in one spot... I believe I am but want to be sure.

 

[tenaniing]

I ended up ditching the GCFI and using the regular outlet because the GCFI would work for weeks and then trip randomly.