New t5 fixture tripping gfci

[Skizer]

I got a new t5 fixture, coralife 36" 4 bulb. The gfci was tripping, got another gfci and extension, power strip, worked fine for an hour or so with all four bulbs going on the same cord, power strip, then tripped again. Split actinic and white on two different cords/outlets, switched them up, actinics running fine on either cord/outlet; white bulbs/ballast trip gfci as soon as I reset it. Any ideas?


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[ROB2005]

Your ballast that powers the white lamps may be defective.

 

[Orr2003]

Sounds like the ballast/bulbs that are tripping are wired wrong in the fixture nevermind I didnt see they were all working at one time. Bad ballast probably then

 

[mcgyvr]

new as in brand new or new to you?
While they should have some leakage current it shouldn't be sufficient to trip a standard GFCI..

If there is no chance the fixture can fall into the water then just plug it into a normal outlet..

 

[jayball]

I had an aquatic life 2 bulb at one point that would trip my gfci as soon as it turned on. Brand new. Worked fine on a normal plug though.


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[cap23244]

could be to much plugged into one breaker circuit. over loading the fuse box breaker. heck I had to have more power ran to run my 125. cant plug every thing into 2sockets lol

 

[Syntax1325]

Most t5 fixtures need to be plugged into a non Gfci outlet. Email the manufacturer for confirmation.


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[jason2459]

Most t5 fixtures need to be plugged into a non Gfci outlet. Email the manufacturer for confirmation.


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Why? I've have and have always had my T5s plugged into a GFCI along with all my other equipment.

And if the T5s are over the tank there's always going to be a chance they can fall in. Twice I've had light fixtures fall into yhe watter. One was a coralife power compact and the other a 2 bulb glo T5 fixture. Both times tripped my GFCI as it should. Otherwise I've never had a T5 ballast trip my GFCI receptacles.

I have had a faulty T5 ballast mess with my conductivity meter that was over 10 feet away in my basement on a totally separate dedicated circuit. Now that was crazy.

 

[Syntax1325]

Why? I've have and have always had my T5s plugged into a GFCI along with all my other equipment.

And if the T5s are over the tank there's always going to be a chance they can fall in. Twice I've had light fixtures fall into yhe watter. One was a coralife power compact and the other a 2 bulb glo T5 fixture. Both times tripped my GFCI as it should. Otherwise I've never had a T5 ballast trip my GFCI receptacles.

I have had a faulty T5 ballast mess with my conductivity meter that was over 10 feet away in my basement on a totally separate dedicated circuit. Now that was crazy.

I'm not an electrician, I'm just relaying what the manufacturer of my lights told me, Pacific Sun.


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[sleepydoc]

Just guessing here, but GFCIs work by sensing current balance between the hot and neutral sides of the outlet. If the ballast has a large inductive or capacitive load, it could conceivably cause a momentary current imbalance large enough to trip a GFCI. It likely depends what kind of ballast it is.

FWIW, my 6 bulb T5 fixture is plugged into a GFCI outlet with no problems.

 

[Skizer]

Thanks for the info everyone. I sent the fixture back. Waiting for a replacement fixture to arrive

 

[mcgyvr]

No "properly functioning" t5 ballast should cause a GFCI to trip like that.. Good decision to send it back..