outdoor flag pole light

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racer6m

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got a h.o. called having problem with outdoor light tripping gfci.
looked for other loads conected off of the circuit found none
looked at circuit were ran out of garage j box had pinched wire
with copper showing but alot of silicone were pinched
fixed that but went ahead looked at rest of installation
everything looked fine
wires tested fine
so thought maybe the pinched spot couldve been culprit
change gfci (homeowner said he reset it a'' jillion" times!
calls a week later gfci still trippin .any ideas think ballast may be on brink??

light :500watt halegen
120 volt
no other load on circuit
direct buriel cable
 
Since I don't know the layout I'm only guessing.

Water in the light?

Sprinklers hitting the GFI?

Could be a bad fixture. As you said.

Loose wire?

You didn't say if you repulled the wire or not.
 
GFCIs seldom go bad. I have replaced a couple in 25 years that were bad.
Isolate the problem by disconnecting the flagpole fixture.
Leave it disconnected, put a male plug on its supply wires and plug into a GFCI.
 
tom baker said:
GFCIs seldom go bad. I have replaced a couple in 25 years that were bad.
Click to expand...
Interesting because I have replaced about 25 in a couple of years. They do go bad esp. after a lightning storm.
 
The older gfci receptacles were highly prone to failure becauese of lightning. They would either not trip or not reset. I have not replaced very many of the CB style.

I do not believe a "500 watt halegen" has a ballast and silicone is not a real fix for nicked wire unless it is in an approved splice or connector.
 
thanks for input
cables direct burial
approx. 20' of wire
in for approx. 4 years h.o. says
the siliconce was from the previous installer ( looked like to me
they had pinched the wire and didnt notice it,
and just siliconed the box were it was not flush to the other box inbrick.

goin back have to go there for some other items
will trouble shoot this further.
looking at my notes the lite was a 150 watt m.h .flood
i must of had 500w halegen on my mind.
again thanks for input will let you know.
really enjoy this board and contents
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