Bad GFCI receptacle

[steve66]

I ran into a second bad GFCI receptacle in my house last week.

It started with a single trip that I believe happened during a thunderstorm. Then it started tripping more often, until it wouldn't stay on for more than a few hours.

It was the only receptacle on a 20A branch circuit, and it had my computer and printer plugged into it via 2 power strips. At first I thought it was a bad power strip. But after throwing one power strip in the trash, it still kept tripping.

Funny thing was it would often trip when I turned off a light switch that runs a couple of fluorescent lights. I had another bad GFCI receptacle that did the same thing when I turned off the lights. Neither receptacle was on the same circuit with the lights.

Anyhow, on both receptacles, the nuisance tripping quit after replacing the GFCI receptacle. I guess that's what I get for buying cheap receptacles. I think they were both an off brand.

So if you have trouble with nuisance tripping of a GFCI receptacle, and you can't find anything wrong, it might be worth a try to replace the receptacle.

 

[raider1]

Lightning surges are notorious for damaging GFCI receptacles. A friend of mine had a close lightning strike and it destroyed all the GFCI receptacles in the house as well as their well pump controller. Needless to say they now have a whole house surge suppressor installed.

Chris

 

[Sierrasparky]

Yea POCO power surges and lighting strikes are killers here too.
Surge protection a good Idea with all of todays electronics.

Don't fault the GFCI there still great devices. The other day I had a customer who had a constant trip when a light went on. I traced it to a nail in the wire during a remodel.

 

[steve66]

Lightning surges are notorious for damaging GFCI receptacles. A friend of mine had a close lightning strike and it destroyed all the GFCI receptacles in the house as well as their well pump controller. Needless to say they now have a whole house surge suppressor installed.

Chris

That's the pitts. I don't feel nearly as bad about having to replace 2.

Yea POCO power surges and lighting strikes are killers here too.
Surge protection a good Idea with all of todays electronics.

Don't fault the GFCI there still great devices. The other day I had a customer who had a constant trip when a light went on. I traced it to a nail in the wire during a remodel.

No, I don't fault them. I agree, GFCI's are life savers. (No AFCI's in my house yet.) I mostly fault myself for getting the cheapest ones I could find. A better one would probalby still be working.