Flourescents on gfi's

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jap2525

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Installed gfi receptacles on temporary panels for arts and crafts fair as per 525.23,(85) spaces (1) gfi receptacle per space.Most all trailers and booths have flourescent lighting which are tripping the gfi's when the lights are turned on.
any suggestions?I know the lighting doesn't have to be gfi protected but with one cord run to each booth it incorporates the booths lights and fan and or small handheld tools.
 
Re: Flourescents on gfi's

inductive load of the ballast, some will, some want trip the GFCI... and if you add more the worst it can get, plus the inductive nature of Refrigerators/freezers that some of these trailer/booths may have and it all just adds up to the over all problem........ u could try some Class B GFCI?s 30mA units if they will allow them!
 
Re: Flourescents on gfi's

525.23A calls for gfci protection for personnel for all 125v 1ph. 15 and 20a receptacles,,,,,it also says that this protection shall be permitted to be an integral part of the attachment plug which would be in the cordset from the receptacle to the end user,,,,,,210.8b only requires gfi protection in bathrooms,rooftops and kitchens in other than dwelling units,this is in an open field near a church lot,,,,,this may be far fetched but could a standard weatherproof duplex receptacle be installed at the panel and require the booth holder to provide thier own gfi protected cords from that receptacle to thier booth or does the responsibility fall with the electrician?where is the line drawn.
 
Re: Flourescents on gfi's

Why do something if you can have someone else do it? It saves you time and money...

But really, yes you can have them provide the gfi protected cord sets. Is it a good practice if the booth owners are not electrically inclined? In my opinion, no.

So go out there, protect the idiots as much as you can, but keep in mind, they will build a better idiot.
 
Re: Flourescents on gfi's

Ballast will leak 5-to-10 ma to ground per unit, GFCI is suppose to trip under that condition. The more ballast load you have the larger the leakage. I believe you have to use magnetic ballast on GFCI ciruits to eliminate the leakage current.
 
Re: Flourescents on gfi's

If it is announced that gfi protection is to be provided by the booth holder for this type of event does a weatherproof non gfi protected outlet installed at the panel satisfy 525.23 or not?
 
Re: Flourescents on gfi's

I can't see why not. But I would cover my license by providing the cords set myself, or at the very least, have a poster at every receptacle location stating that a gfi cord set is mandatory to use.
 
Re: Flourescents on gfi's

This may or may not be helpful in answering the question but maybe some educated input on GFCI design or newer or older product behavior can be generated.

I used to have a lot of trouble running inductive loads on GFCI's and other electricians would tell me they don't know what I'm talking about because they run massively inductive loads all the time. Well, I did have trouble wether other people like it or not. Now days it's not nearly so bad. I'm thinking maybe there's a time window applied in the measuring circuit that would allow the momentary mess caused by a coil to be ignored.

Maybe I'm not even close but maybe a different manufacturer would solve the problem. Of course if it is, as dereckbc illustrates, a constant leak, then a better mouse trap wont help.
 
Re: Flourescents on gfi's

Originally posted by jap2525:
could someone reply to this before it withers away.Thanks!
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OK I say provide the GFCI outlets as required by 525.23 and your job is done. :)

The outlets you are installing are outlets for use by personal not trailer feeders.

Most all trailers and booths have flourescent lighting which are tripping the gfi's when the lights are turned on.
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Who inspected the wiring in these trailers?

The fact that these trailers apparently have one twenty amp cord as the power supply makes me think these are home built trailers and the inspector could probably refuse to let them be connected. :D
 
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