GFCI combo breaker

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deviltrini

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riverview, florida USA
So today I came across a GFCI combo 15amp breaker that would not trip when I pressed the test button. Typically that means bad breaker however today that was not the case. I changed out the breaker with 3, 2 of which I knew for a fact worked just fine. The circuit can be tripped from inside the home with my plug tester. The test button also worked when either the hot or neutral was removed from the breaker but not when both were tied in. Has anyone ever came across this if this what was the problem? I thought it may be a circuit that was not completed? Not to sure however I replaced the breaker with a 15amp Arc-fault and the test button worked just fine. I am sure someone must have came across this before. Any feedback would be great. Thank you
 
deviltrini said:
So today I came across a GFCI combo 15amp breaker that would not trip when I pressed the test button. Typically that means bad breaker however today that was not the case. I changed out the breaker with 3, 2 of which I knew for a fact worked just fine. The circuit can be tripped from inside the home with my plug tester. The test button also worked when either the hot or neutral was removed from the breaker but not when both were tied in. Has anyone ever came across this if this what was the problem? I thought it may be a circuit that was not completed? Not to sure however I replaced the breaker with a 15amp Arc-fault and the test button worked just fine. I am sure someone must have came across this before. Any feedback would be great. Thank you
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Bad neutral on the supply circuit? I assume you meant it trips when you remove the "load wires". Having a load connected possibly drops voltage too much to operate correctly, if you have the bad supply neutral like I mentioned. Not saying this is it but a possibility.
 
The in-breaker GFCI test circuit goes from energized conductor to grounded conductor; the plug-in GFCI tester inserts a circuit between the energized conductor and the equipment grounding conductor.

I agree with the others that something is going on with the neutral not being solid in, or ahead, of the circuit breaker panel.
 
kwired said:
Bad neutral on the supply circuit? I assume you meant it trips when you remove the "load wires". Having a load connected possibly drops voltage too much to operate correctly, if you have the bad supply neutral like I mentioned. Not saying this is it but a possibility.
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This is what I was leaving towards, I swapped it out for a sec fault breaker and it worked just fine homeowner was ok with that so I left it. However if it trips again I will have to further dig into his home.
 
Haven't really thought about what would happen, but what if the circuit was also fed from another breaker putting voltage on the load side of the GFCI? Did you check to see if there was any voltage on the hot and neutral conductors when they were off the breaker? And also to ground?

-Hal
 
hbiss said:
Haven't really thought about what would happen, but what if the circuit was also fed from another breaker putting voltage on the load side of the GFCI? Did you check to see if there was any voltage on the hot and neutral conductors when they were off the breaker? And also to ground?

-Hal
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I did check this and there was no voltage. All reading on the whole circuit was normal which blew my mind. I figured I would find something off but there was nothing.
 
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