GFCI / Breaker- and buck booster

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dive2663225

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a two pole 20-A gfci in panel, going to a Tanning bed..existing Voltages require a .5 KVA buck booster, will the Buck booster interfere with proper operation of the GF circuit? in any way?

thanks.... dive
 
I moved this post to it's own thread, as it was unrelated to the thread it was originally posted in.

As to your question, I'm not really sure, people are talking around me so I can't think. :D
 
Boost as autotransformer or isolated windings? A GFI might just trip on start up as an autotransformer. Anyway - I aggree 'after the transformer' would be the better choice for GFI protection either way.
 
Since a buck-boost is an autotransformer, it will not "isolate" the load side, so the gfci on the line side will provide protection. I'm too am a little puzzled why a GFCI on a tanning bed, but whatever you want to do...
 
'Buck and boost' seems to have become an often misused generic term - which is why I asked the question. Since there is no mention of what he is 'boosting' from or 'bucking' to.

While I have never GFI'ed a transformer - wouldn't the differing current through an autotransformer just trip the GFI? Or at least it does in my head... :rolleyes:
 
e57 said:
'Buck and boost' seems to have become an often misused generic term - which is why I asked the question. Since there is no mention of what he is 'boosting' from or 'bucking' to.
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I feel sure it's buck-boost, since he mentions a tanning bed. Almost always do you need to use a buck-boost with a tanning bed, per manufacturer's instructions.
 
e57 said:
While I have never GFI'ed a transformer - wouldn't the differing current through an autotransformer just trip the GFI? Or at least it does in my head... :rolleyes:
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It should not, whatever happens to the current it still must obey the rules and what ever current goes 'out' must come back, as long as that is through the CTs of the GFCIs it will work. For the GFCI to trip the buck boost would have to have a fault.

I also agree with Marc that a buck boost will not prevent GFCI operation.
 
Say the tanning bed called for 240V, and was being boosted from 208.

Would a 240V GFCI installed on the load side of the autotransformer be damaged from overvoltage if the load were shut off?
 
georgestolz said:
Say the tanning bed called for 240V, and was being boosted from 208.

Would a 240V GFCI installed on the load side of the autotransformer be damaged from overvoltage if the load were shut off?
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Only if there was a substantial voltage drop when the load was on.

If you use a transformer to go from one nominal voltage to another then voltage regulation is a non-issue. But, if you use a transfromer (or taps) to correct for loaded voltage drop then you do need to look at the no load voltage.
 
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