Gfci failing multiple times

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dpb

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Cleveland, Ohio
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Electrical contractor
So I have a friend I have been helping on the side for a while that has been having a problem with a gfci in his garage failing multiple times. Since he has lives there he said he has had to replace it several times. So the details are. It is indeed line and loaded to about 4 or 5 other receptacles none of which really get used too much according to him. I don't have much information on what could make a gfci fail, so I wondered if anyone has any experience with a consistent gfci failure. Again, Not tripping. This house is somehow killing gfci's
Thanks guys!
 
There is probably something plugged in that is causing the problem. Maybe a timer for the irrigation or something outside....possible rain being a problem. It clearly is not a gfci problem, IMO so I would check what he actually has on the circuit
 
Good Catch! I forgot to mention. There is a security system plugged in downstream in the line and load and I didn't know if that could affect it. I could see weather destroying a gfci if it is out in the weather. But if the gfci is line and load and the actual unit is in the garage I would normally think the gfci would be tripping all the time. Not failing
 
I agree with Dennis, the GFCI is doing it's job.
Trying to trouble shoot a problem through a layman's description will be futile to say the least
 
While I do appreciate the input. I am not diagnosing through a description. I have been over to deal with it and I see nothing to fail this gfci. honestly. I don't even know what could cause a gfci to fail early in general unless it's getting rained on or something
 
dpb said:
Good Catch! I forgot to mention. There is a security system plugged in downstream in the line and load and I didn't know if that could affect it. I could see weather destroying a gfci if it is out in the weather. But if the gfci is line and load and the actual unit is in the garage I would normally think the gfci would be tripping all the time. Not failing
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What do you mean by failing? Exactly what is happening? Are there any other electrical issues in the garage? Is the garage detached and fed from a 120/240 volt feeder?
 
So by failing I mean his gfci stops completely. Doesn't reset. I took it home and hooked it up to a known 120v power source and still doesn't work. This has happened multiple times too. So the unit itself is failing. It is a very much newer house with an attached garage. Circuit has never lost power throughout this time too. Now I have seen plenty of weird problems in new work around here that have been hard for us to diagnose but In my time so far I haven't seen anything that breaks a gfci. Just tripping of course
 
Is the GFCI fed by a multiwire branch circuit? If so, maybe the neutral has a poor or intermittent connection and it's causing an overvoltage to occur sometimes on the GFCI, and thereby causing it to fail. Perhaps @don_resqcapt19 was thinking along these lines when he asked whether the garage has a 120/240V feeder.
 
I do believe that it is a branch feeding it. I haven't gone back from the gfci yet. That's is a great idea though! I have had that experience of a bad neutral causing very strange problems down the line. Do you guys think that could be frying a gfci downline? If this ends up being a bad neutral I'm gonna be pissed cause I'm already convinced that is the Bain of the electricians existence haha
 
A MWBC with bad neutral would cause under or overvoltage. A voltage data logger would help you. Most data loggers are $$$ perhaps you can borrow one
 
Had one go bad. Bench tested it to make sure. Replaced it and later also installed a GFIC breaker. Both would trip. Turned out to be a nick in the neutral grounding out. Don't know if or why that might destroy a GFIC receptacle though.
 
dpb said:
I do believe that it is a branch feeding it. I haven't gone back from the gfci yet. That's is a great idea though! I have had that experience of a bad neutral causing very strange problems down the line. Do you guys think that could be frying a gfci downline? If this ends up being a bad neutral I'm gonna be pissed cause I'm already convinced that is the Bain of the electricians existence haha
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Yes it must be a branch circuit feeding the receptacle however, it was asked if it is a multiwire branch circuit< which means that there are @ circuits sharing a neutral
 
IMO, if its a HD brand they are junk. Ive had several bad right out of the box. Go to a supply house and buy a quality one. See if that fixes it.
 
Dennis Alwon said:
Yes it must be a branch circuit feeding the receptacle however, it was asked if it is a multiwire branch circuit< which means that there are @ circuits sharing a neutral
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Yup my bad. What I ment is do believe it is not a multi wire i didn't even think about an overvoltage from a bad neutral. That is a great idea though! I will look into to it. It was a single breaker but of course who knows if somebody had a 3 wire on 2 separate single poles. I definitely like the idea though cause I could logically see an overvoltage breaking a gfci
 
As far as people asking about quality he has put in multiple types himself and I always use leviton. Which are what the company buys from our supplier. They have always done us good. But if anyone has experience otherwise I would love to hear it
 
Actually found ants in there. Do you think those could cause it to fail? I never thought of that but if they can then that may be the issue
 
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