Nuisance tripping of GFCI

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Paul Foucheaux

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Is a GFCI required on a Head Bolt Outlet? Or where in the NEC is this taken into consideration. If AFCI's are adopted into the NEC for all dwelling circuits, the same problem of nuisance tripping will have to be adressed, I assume by the AHJ.
 
I think that if the OP were to megger check whatever device was in use during a so-called "nuisance trip", the results would be most educational. I maintain that there's no such thing as a nuisance trip. There's always a reason.
 
I maintain that there's no such thing as a nuisance trip. There's always a reason.
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Marc: I agree almost 100%, other than a bad protective device (GFP or GFCI) and even then nuisance tripping is telling you the device is defective, so then there is no nuisance tripping. Though this term has become a standard term in the trade for unknown trippping and/or reoccuring tripping. AND disconnecting the protective device because of "nuisance tripping" IS ALWAYS A NO NO.
 
Thank you Marc for that clarification.

A couple of decades back when GFCIs were new tech, there was such a thing as nuisance tripping, and we discovered that some appliances, particularly microwave ovens, I seem to remember, had design "features" that made them play badly with GFCIs. Those old clunkers have now been replaced several times over with appliances that are designed not to trip GFCIs.

So that was then and this is now - now a trip means something is up, and effort should be expended to find out what.

But just on common sense - outdoor socket, wet / snow, GFCI a Good Idea, required or not.
 
dbuckley said:
A couple of decades back when GFCIs were new tech, there was such a thing as nuisance tripping, and we discovered that some appliances, particularly microwave ovens, I seem to remember, had design "features" that made them play badly with GFCIs.
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Speaking of "design features", there are some garage door openers on the market now that have DC motors in them that really screw with GFCI's. The one that says "excellerator" on it, in particular. Genie, maybe. They actually have an inductor wound in the equipment grounding conductor inside the garage door opener. I've bought three different models that are known to me to trip GFCI's, but I haven't gotten around to tearing them apart yet to determine exactly why. For this reason, if I'm wiring a new home and the GDO rec is 8' or more off the deck, I will not GFCI protect it.
 
stickboy1375 said:
IMO, anything over 6' is not readily accessible...
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I'm 6'3". Trust me: they're readily accessible even at 8'. :wink:

Having said that, I also would not GFCI-protect a receptacle in the ceiling for an opener.
 
In the 50's (and maybe earlier) there were special headbolts, drilled to accept an electric heater. One could also get a heater attached to the dipstick. In the 60s and 70s, side-arm heaters tapped into the heater circuit were popular. In the 80s, soft plug heaters came out. 300W - 500W. About the same time, silicon pad heaters came out for oilpan, transmission pan, and battery.

Using the term "headbolt heater" is about like using "220V" or "440V". A better term is "block heater".

carl
 
mdshunk said:
I maintain that there's no such thing as a nuisance trip. There's always a reason.
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I agree, the equipment or circuit has a problem.

But it's still a nuisance. ;)


mdshunk said:
if I'm wiring a new home and the GDO rec is 8' or more off the deck, I will not GFCI protect it.
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That option disappears with the adoption of the 2008 NEC.
 
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iwire said:
That option disappears with the adoption of the 2008 NEC.
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I know, which is why it will become important to sort this out. Lennox brand UV lights that are installed on furnaces are another item that will trip a GFCI right out of the box.
 
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