Ground fault / deicing/ GFCI

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frankft2000

frankft2000

Senior Member
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Maine
Ok, what to do.

I have a customer that has roof deicing cable plugged into an outside GFCI protected receptacle. The GFCI trips due to leakage current. I can change the breaker to a class B 30 miliamp breaker, but how do you prevent somebody to only use that receptacle for the deicing cable, and not for general use?
 
You don't. It is what it is.
How can you prevent someone installing a 60A breaker on a #12 wire? I've seen it, and not only once.

frankft2000 said:
Ok, what to do.

I have a customer that has roof deicing cable plugged into an outside GFCI protected receptacle. The GFCI trips due to leakage current. I can change the breaker to a class B 30 miliamp breaker, but how do you prevent somebody to only use that receptacle for the deicing cable, and not for general use?
Click to expand...
 
frankft2000 said:
Ok, what to do.

I have a customer that has roof deicing cable plugged into an outside GFCI protected receptacle. The GFCI trips due to leakage current. I can change the breaker to a class B 30 miliamp breaker, but how do you prevent somebody to only use that receptacle for the deicing cable, and not for general use?
Click to expand...

You can install a dedicated circuit by the deicing equipment (make sure it is higher than 6.5' above grade) also the receptacles needs to be GFEP ground fault equipment protection


210.8(a)(3)
Receptacles that are not readily accessible and are supplied by a branch circuit dedicated to electric snow-melting, deicing, or pipeline and vessel heating equipment shall be permitted to be installed in accordance with 426.28 or 427.22, as applicable.
 
edward said:
You can install a dedicated circuit by the deicing equipment (make sure it is higher than 6.5' above grade) also the receptacles needs to be GFEP ground fault equipment protection


210.8(a)(3)
Receptacles that are not readily accessible and are supplied by a branch circuit dedicated to electric snow-melting, deicing, or pipeline and vessel heating equipment shall be permitted to be installed in accordance with 426.28 or 427.22, as applicable.
Click to expand...

I agree, and this is what should have been done in the first place.

I would also suggest that you megger the cable to make sure the cable is not going bad.
 
frankft2000 said:
Ok, what to do.

I have a customer that has roof deicing cable plugged into an outside GFCI.....................but how do you prevent somebody to only use that receptacle for the deicing cable, and not for general use?
Click to expand...
You have to shoot them. There's no other way.:p

There shouldn't be any leakage if the cable is new. However, squirrels and chip monks love to gnaw on wire. If that's the case and reason for the leakage you have to either repair the cable or replace it. You can also try getting an extension cord and testing it in a different GFI receptacle. If it still trips then you know for sure it's a GF problem. If not, the GFI you're using may be defective. Just some thoughts before you go nuts trying to fix this problem.
 
goldstar said:
You have to shoot them. There's no other way.:p

There shouldn't be any leakage if the cable is new. However, squirrels and chip monks love to gnaw on wire. If that's the case and reason for the leakage you have to either repair the cable or replace it. You can also try getting an extension cord and testing it in a different GFI receptacle. If it still trips then you know for sure it's a GF problem. If not, the GFI you're using may be defective. Just some thoughts before you go nuts trying to fix this problem.
Click to expand...

It has been recognized that heat tracing cables inherently have higher leakage current than other ordinary circuits. This is especially true for deicing applications where the cable is expected to be continuous contact with water. Hence the NEC provision and development/marketing of GF breakers that allow higher leakage current than the standard GFCI's for personell protection.
 
If it is moisture someplace it does not belong causing the tripping you could connect it to non GFCI protected source for a little bit and see if it burns itself dry. Then connect it back to GFCI protection. I am not suggesting eliminating GFCI just bypassing it for a little bit to see if the fault will clear itself. Use some common sense and stay away from the area where the cable runs while doing this. Don't be suprised if you do remedy the problem that it doesn't come back however. There is likely a leak somewhere allowing exposure that can be dangerous - the whole purpose of providing the protection in the first place.
 
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