Ground fault breaker

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louismayes

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St Louis Missouri
I'm working on a small waterfall and pond. I installed the standard 5ma GFI breakers and they are constantly tripping. The breakers check out Ok. Am I setting my self up for trouble by installing the Ground Fault equipment protection device(EPD) which is rated for 30ma. Grounds people do work around this area.
 
You would be setting yourself up for a code violation, and more importantly you would be placing the "grounds people" at risk of shock (or worse). NEC article 210.8 (in conjunction with the article 100 definition of GFCI) requires the 4-6 ma device. If the devices you have already installed keep tripping, then they are doing their job. You have a short circuit to ground somewhere in the wiring system. What you need to do is find it and fix it.
 
louismayes said:
I'm working on a small waterfall and pond. I installed the standard 5ma GFI breakers and they are constantly tripping. The breakers check out Ok. Am I setting my self up for trouble by installing the Ground Fault equipment protection device(EPD) which is rated for 30ma. Grounds people do work around this area.
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What type of megger reading did you get?
 
louismayes said:
Didn't use a megger....Just to clear the air...these are pumps direct wired
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When a GFCI trips it is due to the device detecting an imbalance of current between the hot and the neutral. If less is flowing on the neutral than the hot then some has to be flowing back to the panel via the ground. That means that somewhere there is a fault (an unintentional current path from the hot to the ground) somewhere in the circuit. To be safe, it must be located and repaired. The GFCI is doing what it is supposed to be doing when it trips.

If you have no experience troubleshooting such a problem, it would be wise to ask (and pay) for the assistance of a qualified electrician that does.
 
480sparky said:
Do you mean a ground fault instead?
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Same difference. A "short circuit" means that current is bypassing the load. If it bypasses the load by taking a trip through dirt, I think I can safely call it a "short circuit to ground," if I like. ;)
 
K8MHZ said:
If you have no experience troubleshooting such a problem, it would be wise to ask (and pay) for the assistance of a qualified electrician that does.
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Did you check the person's profile, before giving that advice? We don't typically suggest that electricians hire electricians.
 
I would see which motor is causing the problem if there is more than one. This is one of the problems with ground fault protection and AC motors. Did anyone give that thought after they used a megger?
 
K8MHZ said:
I did. He does not state he is an electrician. He states he is a contractor that does wiring. *Big* difference.
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My screen says he is an electrical contractor.Now while that probably means an electrician as well lets keep in mind that we all dont know everything about all aspects of wiring.

How long is this run from the gfci to the pump ?
And what was it ran in ?
 
K8MHZ said:
One more thing.

There is a difference between a GFI and a GFCI. GFCIs are required for the protection of personnel. GFIs will not satisfy that requirement as they are designed primarily for the protection of equipment.
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Yes Mark, my biggest pet peeves, I have fought that battle in here and gave up. Slang trumps truth somethimes.
 
zog said:
Yes Mark, my biggest pet peeves, I have fought that battle in here and gave up. Slang trumps truth somethimes.
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So why are we calling it a GFI?

In my mind its a GFCI or GFP.

GFCI protects people

GFP protects equipment
 
Ground Fault

Ground Fault

2 pumps are about 5 feet away and the other 2 pumps are 15 feet away. The circuit is ran with 12/3 SO cord with weatherproof twist locks. Yes I'm electrician, been in business for 35 years and work out in the field everyday. Also licensed in St Louis city and county.
 
louismayes said:
2 pumps are about 5 feet away and the other 2 pumps are 15 feet away. The circuit is ran with 12/3 SO cord with weatherproof twist locks. Yes I'm electrician, been in business for 35 years and work out in the field everyday. Also licensed in St Louis city and county.
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So you shared your neutral. Do you understand how the GFCI functions?
 
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