puzzled by GFCI

[dreamsville]

Installed a GFCI receptacle in a bathroom wall replacing a standard outlet, where I determined that the ground wire was not bonded or grounded! I had no continuity between the neutral and the ground wire in the bathroom. I attached the line and load wires to the GFCI. (I checked to make sure that I had the the correct line wires to the correct terminals. I also temporarily shorted the ground wire to the hot just to check ground wire and nothing happened). Test button on GFCI would not trip. Installed same GFCI in another location and it worked fine. Could a small neutral voltage on the wires going to the GFCI cause a GFCI test button not to work?

 

[dereckbc]

No, in order for a GFCI test function to operate a ground must be connected. When you push the TEST button it places a resistor between Phase and ground to complete a circuit. Without a ground, no complete circuit for it to operate.

However a ground is not nessecary for the GFCI to operate normally.

 

[petersonra]

No, in order for a GFCI test function to operate a ground must be connected. When you push the TEST button it places a resistor between Phase and ground to complete a circuit. Without a ground, no complete circuit for it to operate.

However a ground is not nessecary for the GFCI to operate normally.

I was under the impression that the test button would work without a ground connection since the resistor went to neutral but the current flow through the test resistor was outside the normal current path so it would be detected.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Are we talking about the grounded or the grounding conductor here? A GFCI and its built in test button will work without an equipment grounding conductor...it won't work without an grounded conductor, but then neither will any equipment plugged into it. A plug in GFCI tester require an EGC to work.
Don

 

[tom baker]

No, in order for a GFCI test function to operate a ground must be connected. When you push the TEST button it places a resistor between Phase and ground to complete a circuit. Without a ground, no complete circuit for it to operate.

However a ground is not nessecary for the GFCI to operate normally.

Dereck a ground is not required for the GFCI test function. The resistor goes from hot to neutral, but only one wire to the GFCI goes thru the CT. Mike Holt has a graphic that shows this.

However a ground is required for the plug in GFCI testers.