GFCI recepatcle On a GFCI circuit breaker

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drg

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Went on a service call the day where the owner say they had the breaker trip a few times in the past year, this is in a bathroom.

What I did find out that bathroom was remodled within the last year buy a carpenter and he did the wiring also.

I checked all the wiring connections and really found nothing out of line other than a GFCI receptacle on a circuit that is already GFCI protected at the panel.

I removed the GFCI receptacle and put in a plain duplex figuring this "could cause" a occasional trip and was not necessary for protection of the bathroom circuit anyways.

On this 1 circuit is a bath fan , 3 lights, and 1 duplex receptacle.

I am assuming that the carpenter added the GFCI during the remodel but the homeowners don't remember if he added it or not, they called him and he can't remember either, all they know is that GFCI breaker has tripped since he has done the remodel work last year .

Any thoughts from you guys ??
 
Evening, John. :)

I'm thinking I might have done it the other way around, left the receptacle in and swapped the breaker out. Long lines could result in a tripped GFI breaker, and I'd be suspicious of the bath fan.

But, half a dozen of one, six of the other, I guess. See if he calls back. :)
 
The GFCI recepatcle had its hot feed double lugged under the GFCI breaker , they actually ran a seperate 12-2 NM cable to feed this GFCI receptacle , the load side of the GFCI recptacle was not utilized to feed the lights or bath fan.

They ran it like a dedicated circuit but doubled it up on the breaker in the panel that feeds the bathroom lights and bath fan !

So seeing the breaker in the panel was a GFCI, i left the "wiring as is" and just removed the GFCI recptacle in the bathroom itself and put in a regular duplex.

Thanks
 
One approach is keep the GFI receptacle in place. Then, in the panel, take the 12/2 home run wires that went to the GFI receptacle and place it on a newly installed 20A standard breaker. As George mentioned, it might save the owners a trip to the panel, (providing the trip was origin was via the receptacle).

Was the GFI breaker double lugged at the breaker or was it pigtailed?
 
drg said:
The GFCI recepatcle had its hot feed double lugged under the GFCI breaker ,
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Was the neutral terminal on the breaker also doubled up?

If the GFCI breaker was supply two separate 12/2 cables both the hots and the neutrals would have to be connected directly to the breaker. If either of the neutrals goes directly to the neutral bar that would cause problems.
 
georgestolz said:
Evening, John. :)

I'm thinking I might have done it the other way around, left the receptacle in and swapped the breaker out. Long lines could result in a tripped GFI breaker, and I'd be suspicious of the bath fan.

But, half a dozen of one, six of the other, I guess. See if he calls back. :)
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Just need to see what else is on the circuit. If you change out the CB and it is feeding other bathrooms, exterior recepts etc, you may have to install more gfci recepts.
 
I would have tried to find out what else is on that circuit . If it's only that bathroom I would have left the receptacle in and changed out the breaker.Did you ask what was being used when the breaker tripped? Being in a bathroom they may have had a curling iron and hairdryer going at the same time, along with the lights and fan .
 
There was not a connection on that circuit that I did not check, unless there was some flying splice hidden in the wall's , of course I asked about the hair dryers and curling irons .........lady of the house said it tripped when she was in the shower , not when using these things.

The bath fan located outside the shower doors I took apart and cleaned, it was loaded with lint and dust but no apparent wiring problems.

I really don't know for sure what caused the problem but see no reason to keep the GFCI receptacle on the circuit when the breaker is already a GFCI , at the least I confirmed the connections and removed a device that served no additional protection to the circuit, maybe it was the problem, again I really don't know for sure but from all that I gathered they never had any problems before this device was installed .........or at least this is what they say, who knows ??

Thanks though
 
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