GFCI AND PADDLE FANS
- Thread starter domnic
- Start date
- Status
davedottcom
Senior Member
Re: GFCI AND PADDLE FANS
Can't say I've ever heard of a Ceiling Fan being on a GFCI circuit before!
Dave
Can't say I've ever heard of a Ceiling Fan being on a GFCI circuit before!
Dave
- Location
- Windsor, CO NEC: 2023
- Occupation
- Hospital Master Electrician
Re: GFCI AND PADDLE FANS
Domnic, welcome to the forum. Turn off the "Caps Lock", it's hard to read and considered shouting.
Some bath fans have caused issues with AFCI's for some, but I haven't had a problem with Ceiling fans or controls, myself. You might try swapping out the breaker for a newer one, or a different brand of control.
Domnic, welcome to the forum. Turn off the "Caps Lock", it's hard to read and considered shouting.
Some bath fans have caused issues with AFCI's for some, but I haven't had a problem with Ceiling fans or controls, myself. You might try swapping out the breaker for a newer one, or a different brand of control.
davedottcom
Senior Member
Re: GFCI AND PADDLE FANS
Sorry domnic, I've never had any problems with them either. Curious as to what brand AFCI you're using though?
Dave
Sorry domnic, I've never had any problems with them either. Curious as to what brand AFCI you're using though?
Dave
peter d
Senior Member
- Location
- New England
Re: GFCI AND PADDLE FANS
These AFCI's sure are solving a lot of problems, aren't they? :roll:
These AFCI's sure are solving a lot of problems, aren't they? :roll:
hurk27
Senior Member
- Location
- Portage, Indiana NEC: 2008
Re: GFCI AND PADDLE FANS
I have had problems with ITE AFCI's with the click type fan control. And if there is a surge supressor plug into one of the wall outlets It can make it worse.
I have had problems with ITE AFCI's with the click type fan control. And if there is a surge supressor plug into one of the wall outlets It can make it worse.
charlie
Senior Member
- Location
- Indianapolis
Re: GFCI AND PADDLE FANS
I would tell you what I think of AFCIs but most of you know by now.
I would tell you what I think of AFCIs but most of you know by now.
pierre
Senior Member
- Location
- Westchester County, New York
Re: GFCI AND PADDLE FANS
I say before putting the blame on the AFCI breaker, check your wiring. It seems the AFCI is also very sensitive to incorrect wiring, especially inadvertent neutral to ground connections down stream. About 83% of the time we see that the wiring is creating this issue.
Notice of late how there are less complaints about the AFCI breakers? I think that the installers are starting to see why this is happening and are making sure it is not their wiring.
Also, should you have any situations, definitely notify the manufacturer, as they use this info to help in making improvements to their product - remember how GFCIs created the same "problems".
I say before putting the blame on the AFCI breaker, check your wiring. It seems the AFCI is also very sensitive to incorrect wiring, especially inadvertent neutral to ground connections down stream. About 83% of the time we see that the wiring is creating this issue.
Notice of late how there are less complaints about the AFCI breakers? I think that the installers are starting to see why this is happening and are making sure it is not their wiring.
Also, should you have any situations, definitely notify the manufacturer, as they use this info to help in making improvements to their product - remember how GFCIs created the same "problems".
charlie
Senior Member
- Location
- Indianapolis
Re: GFCI AND PADDLE FANS
As much as I detest AFCIs, I agree with Pierre.
As much as I detest AFCIs, I agree with Pierre.
- Location
- Windsor, CO NEC: 2023
- Occupation
- Hospital Master Electrician
Re: GFCI AND PADDLE FANS
Poppycock! I maintain that it's clearly the wiring 89% of the time!
allenwayne
Senior Member
Re: GFCI AND PADDLE FANS
to properly hot check a house you have have an afci tester to check for neutral to ground faults,pricey huh or plug a light into all bedrooms same result 1/100 the price
to properly hot check a house you have have an afci tester to check for neutral to ground faults,pricey huh or plug a light into all bedrooms same result 1/100 the price
jimwalker
Senior Member
- Location
- TAMPA FLORIDA
Re: GFCI AND PADDLE FANS
A simple GFCI tester costs maybe $10 and tells you more than if its just hot.We never leave a job without doing that.Too many things today could fry with reversed polarity.GFCI trip only when there is a problem.
A simple GFCI tester costs maybe $10 and tells you more than if its just hot.We never leave a job without doing that.Too many things today could fry with reversed polarity.GFCI trip only when there is a problem.
allenwayne
Senior Member
Re: GFCI AND PADDLE FANS
jim this is AFCI not GFCI,a simple receptacle to bulb adapter will test for ground to neutral faults.A plug tester says all is ok till a load is used.I have our guys one of those cheezy 2 prong bakelite adapters and a 7 watt edison based bulb to test ground neutral faults.Fluke says all ok plug tester says all is ok but a 89 cent item says whoawwwwww (Huston we have a problem)
jim this is AFCI not GFCI,a simple receptacle to bulb adapter will test for ground to neutral faults.A plug tester says all is ok till a load is used.I have our guys one of those cheezy 2 prong bakelite adapters and a 7 watt edison based bulb to test ground neutral faults.Fluke says all ok plug tester says all is ok but a 89 cent item says whoawwwwww (Huston we have a problem)
harley
Member
- Location
- Pennsylvania
Re: GFCI AND PADDLE FANS
Yes some fan controls will trip AFCI. Depends on Manuf and style. The breaker will trip when changeing speeds. Inductive load with caps in speed control creating ugly waveform. Try a slider type speed control.
Yes some fan controls will trip AFCI. Depends on Manuf and style. The breaker will trip when changeing speeds. Inductive load with caps in speed control creating ugly waveform. Try a slider type speed control.
Re: GFCI AND PADDLE FANS
There are several problems with motors and both AFCIs and GFCIs:
1. 120 volt motors have very thin and cheap insulation and have more than their fair share of insulation resistance and capacitance problems when new.
2.a. When you turn off a circuit, circuit inductance tends to force a phantom ground fault to flow throught the wiring capacitance to ground. Essentially, a high voltage fast rise time spike is looking for a place to go and one place is to ground through insulation capacitance.
2.b. When the starting circuit of a motor opens you also get a phantom ground fault. Split phase motors are bery bad in this regard.
3. With the way that some people work fast bare ground wires accidentally contacting neutral terminals is a distnct possibility. I used to think that taping wiring devices was bush league until I started installing GFCI receptacles. Now I tape wiring devices religiously unless it is a single device in a single gang nonmetallic box and I feel confident about how the wires are folded.
There are several problems with motors and both AFCIs and GFCIs:
1. 120 volt motors have very thin and cheap insulation and have more than their fair share of insulation resistance and capacitance problems when new.
2.a. When you turn off a circuit, circuit inductance tends to force a phantom ground fault to flow throught the wiring capacitance to ground. Essentially, a high voltage fast rise time spike is looking for a place to go and one place is to ground through insulation capacitance.
2.b. When the starting circuit of a motor opens you also get a phantom ground fault. Split phase motors are bery bad in this regard.
3. With the way that some people work fast bare ground wires accidentally contacting neutral terminals is a distnct possibility. I used to think that taping wiring devices was bush league until I started installing GFCI receptacles. Now I tape wiring devices religiously unless it is a single device in a single gang nonmetallic box and I feel confident about how the wires are folded.
- Status