GFCI breaker tripping question?

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jango

jango

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Hopefully someone can shed some light on this... In my sub panel there are GFCI circuit breakers in the sub panel. We were using two-way radios to help us communicate while labeling the panel and figuring out where circuits go. When the two-way radio was activated while being held close to the GFCI circuit breakers, the GFCI breakers would "trip". How can this be explained???
 
GFCI's trip by detecting a difference in current between the circuit conductors. They do this by passing both conductors through a ferric ring. If the currents match, there is no magnetic flux developed in the ring.

However, if there is a current difference, the ring develops a flux that in turn creates a current in a sensor coil on the ring. This current is amplified and trips the GFCI.

Apparently, the radio is transmitting enough energy that it is inducing enough magnetism in the ring that the sensor coil is creating enough current to trip the GFCI.
 
tripping

tripping

same reason some flourescent lamps act like barber poles; one fixture has a ballast that hums like a hive of bees, it's sister fixture is totally quiet; a wirenut falls off in a junction box with your hand buried deep inside and some unknown force knocks you on your butt :) ; etc...it's WITCHCRAFT......lots of that in 'lectric work....
 
augie47 said:
same reason some flourescent lamps act like barber poles; one fixture has a ballast that hums like a hive of bees, it's sister fixture is totally quiet; a wirenut falls off in a junction box with your hand buried deep inside and some unknown force knocks you on your butt :) ; etc...it's WITCHCRAFT......lots of that in 'lectric work....
Click to expand...

True enough, many of us are guilty of dancing with the devil...
 
This is pretty common with cellphones too. 'had one buddy with a client that kept tripping kitchen receptacles; new receptacles had the same problem. he finally figured out that was where they would recharge their cellphones.
 
GFCIs have electronics in them, a radio transmitter at close range will 'confuse' inadequately screened electronics.

This is why Europe is so hot on EMC (electro magnetic compatibility); this sort of thing just shouldn't happen these days, and if it did so in Europe, there could well be an investigation, possibly leading to court appearances etc.
 
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