QO GFI breaker trip

[Davebones]

I was asked if issues with the line feeding a panel could cause a QO GFI breaker in it to trip . I said I didn't see how but wanted to ask if anyone had seen something like this . I understand this is a panel at someone's house . I told them I'm sure the problem is downstream on the breaker .

 

[Davebones]

Sorry , meant to put this on General Electrical Forum

 

[ActionDave]

I moved it.

 

[Jraef]

Your instincts are correct. The GFCI breaker has a current sensor on it that is comparing the gazinta to the gazouta current and when they don't match by more than 6mA, it trips. What happens upstream is irrelevant.

 

[LarryFine]

What happens upstream is irrelevant.

Even if there's a voltage difference between the neutral and the EGC in the panel?

 

[hbiss]

Even if there's a voltage difference between the neutral and the EGC in the panel?

No. Happens all the time.

-Hal

 

[retirede]

Even if there's a voltage difference between the neutral and the EGC in the panel?

Every subpanel has this voltage difference as long as there is a load.

 

[Davebones]

Well I got a little more information today on GFI tripping . He tells me it was ( 2 ) gfi breakers he installed and ran to a few different outlets . I had given him a circuit checker to verify the wiring and he says everything was good but then whenever he plugged something into any outlet one of the GFI breakers would trip depending on which circuit he plugged into to . Long story short he said he opened everything up still couldn't find any issues . Said he pulled out the GFI breakers at the panel and found he had crossed the neutrals and landed them back to the wrong breaker .

 

[augie47]

happens ! (more often than imagined)

 

[hillbilly1]

Well I got a little more information today on GFI tripping . He tells me it was ( 2 ) gfi breakers he installed and ran to a few different outlets . I had given him a circuit checker to verify the wiring and he says everything was good but then whenever he plugged something into any outlet one of the GFI breakers would trip depending on which circuit he plugged into to . Long story short he said he opened everything up still couldn't find any issues . Said he pulled out the GFI breakers at the panel and found he had crossed the neutrals and landed them back to the wrong breaker .

That little bit of information makes the world of difference in troubleshooting! LOL!