Generator & Panel GFI breaker...

[1793]

I have installed a manual 6 circuit transfer switch at my house and everything seems to work great until I transfer the circuit that is connected to a GFCI breaker in the panel. When switched to Gen. the breaker trips.

The TS has a pre-wired whip with a grounded, neutral, and an EGC. I connected both of these to the neutral bar in the main panel.

What are your thoughts as to why the GFI breaker is tripping and what options are available to fix it?

This GFI breaker feeds my bathroom circuit. I have thought about setting a handy box next to the panel, install a standard breaker to feed a faceless then feed from the load side of the faceless to the bathroom.

 

[480sparky]

Did you reroute just the hot and not the neutral to the genny's panel?

 

[chris kennedy]

Did you reroute just the hot and not the neutral to the genny's panel?

Norb, is this the panel with the one #6 neutral?

 

[1793]

Norb, is this the panel with the one #6 neutral?

Yes it is, actually the neutral is only a #10. This is a 30 amp max TS, see link: http://www.reliancecontrols.com/ProductDetail.aspx?30216A

There is only one neutral for the TS.

 

[480sparky]

So it's the GFI breaker in the original panel that's tripping?

Is it because the power is being fed to the circuit through the genny panel, and the neutral is going back through the original GFI breaker? If so, the current on the neutral is what is causing the imbalance and tripping it.

 

[1793]

So it's the GFI breaker in the original panel that's tripping?

Is it because the power is being fed to the circuit through the genny panel, and the neutral is going back through the original GFI breaker? If so, the current on the neutral is what is causing the imbalance and tripping it.

Yes

That is what I was leaning towards, what about the work-around mentioned in OP?

 

[480sparky]

Yes

That is what I was leaning towards, what about the work-around mentioned in OP?

Why not an ordinary GFI recep in the bathroom? They're far cheaper than the faceless ones, and easier for the HO to locate if it trips.

 

[1793]

Yes

That is what I was leaning towards, what about the work-around mentioned in OP?

Why not an ordinary GFI recep in the bathroom? They're far cheaper than the faceless ones, and easier for the HO to locate if it trips.

The circuit hits more than one bathroom and box fill is an issue with the first box.

 

[480sparky]

The circuit hits more than one bathroom and box fill is an issue with the first box.

You state there is already a faceless GFI there.

 

[1793]

The circuit hits more than one bathroom and box fill is an issue with the first box.

You state there is already a faceless GFI there.

No, my thought was to replace the GFI breaker at the panel with a standard breaker, set a faceless, because of the bathroom requirment, at the panel to feed the circuit.

 

[480sparky]

No, my thought was to replace the GFI breaker at the panel with a standard breaker, set a faceless, because of the bathroom requirment, at the panel to feed the circuit.

Gotcha. I misread the part about feeding the load side of the faceless to the bathroom as meaning you already had a faceless in the bathroom.
Your fix would work just fine. Just spend a couple minutes to explain to the customer what you did, and how to reset the GFI (instead of the breaker), That may prevent an unncecessary phone call or service trip.

 

[chris kennedy]

I have installed a manual 6 circuit transfer switch at my house

Just spend a couple minutes to explain to the customer what you did

That would mean Norb is talking to himself again.

I see the panel has a 4 wire inlet. Does the genny have a 4 wire output:-?

 

[480sparky]

That would mean Norb is talking to himself again.

I see the panel has a 4 wire inlet. Does the genny have a 4 wire output:-?

Sorry, Chris. I may have Alzheimers, but at least I don't have Alzheimers.

 

[1793]

That would mean Norb is talking to himself again.

I see the panel has a 4 wire inlet. Does the genny have a 4 wire output:-?

Yes, the genny does have a 4 wire output.

 

[chris kennedy]

Yes, the genny does have a 4 wire output.

Since the genny can't supply an EGC, if there is a EGC to grounded conductor bond, there is your parallel path.

 

[ceb58]

That would mean Norb is talking to himself again.

Norb this is Norb. You need to come fix this crap you installed at your house. But it's 11:00pm. I dont care I payed you good money for this and I want it fixed now. Don't make me come find me

 

[LarryFine]

Is it because the power is being fed to the circuit through the genny panel, and the neutral is going back through the original GFI breaker? If so, the current on the neutral is what is causing the imbalance and tripping it.

That is correct. You'd theoretically need a 2-pole switch to overcome this.

That is what I was leaning towards, what about the work-around mentioned in OP?

Won't make a difference. Either both or neither BC conductor must be supplied via the GFCI breaker.

 

[LarryFine]

No, my thought was to replace the GFI breaker at the panel with a standard breaker, set a faceless, because of the bathroom requirment, at the panel to feed the circuit.

That's a good solution, in my opinion.

 

[1793]

norb this is norb. You need to come fix this crap you installed at your house. But it's 11:00pm. I dont care i payed you good money for this and i want it fixed now. Don't make me come find me:d

lmao......:d

 

[JennyR8tor]

Why not move the GFI breaker to the TS panel and add your own neutral jumper from the original neutral to the breaker in the new box? Or is this one of those rocker switch panels?