Residential GFIs Constantly trip

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Npstewart

Senior Member
New construction house, not even 1 week old. For some reason all the GFI circuits are tripping constantly. Kitchens, restrooms, etc. My information is limited at this point, just trying to help someone out. Any ideas from the experienced electricians on this forum?
 

GoldDigger

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Location
Placerville, CA, USA
Occupation
Retired PV System Designer
New construction house, not even 1 week old. For some reason all the GFI circuits are tripping constantly. Kitchens, restrooms, etc. My information is limited at this point, just trying to help someone out. Any ideas from the experienced electricians on this forum?
Extra bond between ground and neutral somewhere in the wiring? Incorrectly wired GFCI in MWBC?
Are these GFCI breakers or receptacles or a combination?
 

Npstewart

Senior Member
These are all GFI receptacles.

Are you suggesting to add an additional bond at the service entrance before the sub panels?
 

JDBrown

Senior Member
Location
California
Occupation
Electrical Engineer
Are you suggesting to add an additional bond at the service entrance before the sub panels?

I think he's suggesting that the neutral and ground may have been connected after the GFCI devices, as that would split the neutral current between the neutral and ground wires -- line and neutral currents are no longer balanced, and GFCI trips. If that's the case, I would suggest having whoever you're helping out think long and hard about who they hired to do the installation. Any electrician worth his salt ought to know better.

Are you able to reset these GFCI receptacles and then they trip when you plug something in, or are you not even able to reset them?
 

Npstewart

Senior Member
Its funny, thats exactly what I was thinking originally.

This house has one main panel with subpanels feeding other subpanels, none of which should have a neutral/ground bond.

I am finding out more information but I believe they reset and trip intermittently but not instantly.

I will post a conclusion.
 

glene77is

Senior Member
Location
Memphis, TN
...all the GFI circuits are tripping constantly.
Kitchens, restrooms

Hypothetical answer, in the absence of more information.
Assume you have a MWBC, phase A & B & N.

If you attach GFCI Rec onto MWBC (A & N) , and pull a load,
then the neutral is shared between the two phases ( A & B ).

Since the load on phase A & N is in use,
when you add a load on phase B & N,
the GFCI may sense an imbalance on its own circuit A & N, and trip.


If you supply more info,
then you get more answer.
 
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