gfci breaker keeps tripping are there known issues with them?

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wasabiian

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We are wiring a RV storage bldg. it is 400' long. each of the bays has a receptacle and a 8' florescent strip fixture that are controlled by a timer. The Gfci breaker that we installed to protect the whole circuit keeps tripping, but when we use a standard breaker it holds.
are there any known issues with gfci breakers that would explain why it isnt holding? we are going through the circuit currently to TS but i wonder if there isnt something inherently wrong with using a gfci breaker for this type of install?

Sincerely
 
Get the lighting off of the GFCI.

I suggest putting a standard breaker in and putting in GFCI receptacle(s) where needed.
 
could you explain why? I bid the job using a Gfci breaker, replacing it with 6 gfcis would be going backwards in the money making department.

Thanks for the reply.
 
wasabiian said:
could you explain why? I bid the job using a Gfci breaker, replacing it with 6 gfcis would be going backwards in the money making department.

Thanks for the reply.
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GFCI breaker trips with 6mA of current leaking to ground. Cheaply constructed, fluorescent fixtures/ballasts regularly leak current to ground.
 
wasabiian said:
could you explain why? I bid the job using a Gfci breaker, replacing it with 6 gfcis would be going backwards in the money making department.

Thanks for the reply.
Click to expand...

Get the lights off the ckt and install just one GFI Recp. in front of the rest.
 
jim dungar said:
GFCI breaker trips with 6mA of current leaking to ground. Cheaply constructed, fluorescent fixtures/ballasts regularly leak current to ground.
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Thanks Jim, that makes sense. the fixtures were supplied by the builder.

Sincerely
Kevin Simpson
 
GFCI breakers have a wire length limit. I think its 250'. It goes back to the leakage current Jim mentioned.

So you leakage may be from either the fluorescent lights, or excessive lenghts of wire.

Steve
 
i think in this application each receptacle should be a GFCI, so that when one bay trips their gfi (which i am sure will happen often), it doesnt take out the whole building and the lights too....
 
wasabiian said:
I bid the job using a Gfci breaker, replacing it with 6 gfcis would be going backwards in the money making department.
Click to expand...
Depending on how you ran the wires, one GFCI receptacle can protect downstream receptacles, too. GFCI breakers aren't exactly cheap anyway.

I'd look at it like this: even if you have to install all six GFCI receptacles, it's gotta be less than the cost of making useless troubleshooting trips.
 
LarryFine said:
I'd look at it like this: even if you have to install all six GFCI receptacles, it's gotta be less than the cost of making useless troubleshooting trips.
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And after a bunch of those calls installing the six GFCIs anyway. :)
 
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