Backfed GFCI Breaker

Status
Not open for further replies.
S

Sparkbob

Member
Good morning all.
Pool inspection yesterday. Pool panel in detached structure that supplies 4 pumps and various other loads. Previous correction was to provide GFCI protection for pumps and provide main breaker in this panel as more than 6 operations of the hand are required to disconnect all circuits.
Electrician has installed a 2pole 60amp GFCI breaker as the main, and backfed the breaker. Aside from being required to be fastened in place per 408.36(D), can this breaker be used in a backfed configuration? (Murray c/b by the way) The wiring diagram on the Murray website does not show a backfed configuration. I am inclined to require that the GFCI breaker be moved to the source of the pool panel feeder, and a standard 2pole breaker be installed as the main in the pool panel with appropriate fastening. Any thoughts are appreciated..
 
Most GFCI breakers include the words LINE and/or LOAD, this makes them unsuitable for backfeeding.
 
If the terminals on the breaker are identified as line a.d load it is not allowed to be backfed.
I have not heard of any GFCI breaker or receptacle that is designed to be backfed.
 
If the gfci is feeding the pool panel from another panel then how is it back fed. Something does not seem right.
 
Dennis Alwon said:
If the gfci is feeding the pool panel from another panel then how is it back fed. Something does not seem right.
Click to expand...
The GFCI is being used as the "main" breaker in the pool subpanel. Since it is not available as a true main breaker, it is being backfed in a normal breaker location.
 
GoldDigger said:
The GFCI is being used as the "main" breaker in the pool subpanel. Since it is not available as a true main breaker, it is being backfed in a normal breaker location.
Click to expand...

Gotcha.... I read it totally wrong..:D. I have never seen a gfci hooked up as backfed but I don't see why you couldn't. I have never notice line/load or anything on them- maybe there is...
 
I just checked - I have over 100 afci's but I found 1 gfci and it is marked on the side of the breaker "Load Power". In that case JIm is correct - the unit cannot be back fed.
 
backfed

backfed

Sparkbob said:
Good morning all.
Pool inspection yesterday. Pool panel in detached structure that supplies 4 pumps and various other loads. Previous correction was to provide GFCI protection for pumps and provide main breaker in this panel as more than 6 operations of the hand are required to disconnect all circuits.
Electrician has installed a 2pole 60amp GFCI breaker as the main, and backfed the breaker. Aside from being required to be fastened in place per 408.36(D), can this breaker be used in a backfed configuration? (Murray c/b by the way) The wiring diagram on the Murray website does not show a backfed configuration. I am inclined to require that the GFCI breaker be moved to the source of the pool panel feeder, and a standard 2pole breaker be installed as the main in the pool panel with appropriate fastening. Any thoughts are appreciated..
Click to expand...

All the loads would have to be 240 volt.
 
domnic said:
All the loads would have to be 240 volt.
Click to expand...
I do not see the reasoning behind this.
If the GFCI breaker is designed to be compatible with a 120/240 MWBC (i.e. has a separate neutral wire and neutral connection point for the circuit neutral), then it should also be able to support 120 volt loads when backfed. The panel neutral bus will have to be driven through the GFCI breaker rather than directly from the feeder neutral.

However, even if only 240 volt loads are present, it cannot be installed this way under NEC if LINE and LOAD terminals are identified on the breaker.
 
domnic said:
All the loads would have to be 240 volt.
Click to expand...

GoldDigger said:
I do not see the reasoning behind this.
If the GFCI breaker is designed to be compatible with a 120/240 MWBC (i.e. has a separate neutral wire and neutral connection point for the circuit neutral), then it should also be able to support 120 volt loads when backfed. The panel neutral bus will have to be driven through the GFCI breaker rather than directly from the feeder neutral.

However, even if only 240 volt loads are present, it cannot be installed this way under NEC if LINE and LOAD terminals are identified on the breaker.
Click to expand...

I don't know about the Murray breaker in the OP, but I do know that Square D QO series 60 amp GFCI does not have a neutral terminal and can not be used for 120/240 circuits - it is for straight 208 or 240 only.
 
kwired said:
I don't know about the Murray breaker in the OP, but I do know that Square D QO series 60 amp GFCI does not have a neutral terminal and can not be used for 120/240 circuits - it is for straight 208 or 240 only.
Click to expand...
I don't know what Murray breaker the OP is looking at either, but this one definitely has a neutral terminal and a neutral pigtail.

I do see a Square D breaker like the one you describe, but I also see 120/240 breakers that do have a load-side neutral terminal.
Seems to be a feature of the QO line.
 
Last edited:
Sierrasparky said:
Why does the panel need a main. It does not appear to be service.
Click to expand...
The panel does not need a main, but that apparently seemed to be the easiest way to install GFCI protection for all of the devices attached to the panel. Maybe no room for a GFCI breaker at the other end of the feeder?
 
Sierrasparky said:
Why does the panel need a main. It does not appear to be service.
Click to expand...

GoldDigger said:
The panel does not need a main, but that apparently seemed to be the easiest way to install GFCI protection for all of the devices attached to the panel. Maybe no room for a GFCI breaker at the other end of the feeder?
Click to expand...

The panel would either need a main or a disconnect before the panel. OP said there were more than "six throws of the hand" needed to turn off all the breakers.
 
Little Bill said:
The panel would either need a main or a disconnect before the panel. OP said there were more than "six throws of the hand" needed to turn off all the breakers.
Click to expand...
+1
And therefore putting the GFCI at the feeding panel to also serve as that disconnect would seem to be the way to go. :)
 
Little Bill said:
The panel would either need a main or a disconnect before the panel. OP said there were more than "six throws of the hand" needed to turn off all the breakers.
Click to expand...

GoldDigger said:
+1
And therefore putting the GFCI at the feeding panel to also serve as that disconnect would seem to be the way to go. :)
Click to expand...

OP also said this panel was in a separate structure, so if there were more than six breakers in the panel a main at the separate structure is needed.

Easiest solution is likely to put the GFCI in the other structure as the feeder breaker, and a main is still needed in the pool shed, other option is to place another (two space) panel in the pool shed with the GFCI installed in it and supply the existing panel from that GFCI.

If the GFCI is a 60 amp with no neutral (like the Square D mentioned earlier) and there are neutral loads then you are out of luck with the GFCI main if a 60 amp feeder is what is necessary.
 
NEUTRAL

NEUTRAL

GoldDigger said:
I do not see the reasoning behind this.
If the GFCI breaker is designed to be compatible with a 120/240 MWBC (i.e. has a separate neutral wire and neutral connection point for the circuit neutral), then it should also be able to support 120 volt loads when backfed. The panel neutral bus will have to be driven through the GFCI breaker rather than directly from the feeder neutral.

However, even if only 240 volt loads are present, it cannot be installed this way under NEC if LINE and LOAD terminals are identified on the breaker.
Click to expand...
The panel neutral bus will have to be driven through the GFCI breaker. HOW would this be done ?
 
domnic said:
The panel neutral bus will have to be driven through the GFCI breaker. HOW would this be done ?
Click to expand...
Through the neutral terminations of the GFCI breaker, and if it doesn't have neutral terminations then it can not drive 120/240 loads.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top