Strange GFCI tripping?

[rushinordraggin]

Hey all,
First post, and I have a weird situation. There is a GFCI breaker that feeds a junction box that then splits off into 2 separate 12/2 UF runs. One is running to a receptical outside and another runs to a set of LED flagpole lights.
I noticed this morning the GFCI breaker had tripped. Switching it back on it trips instantly when the lights turn on via the photocell. Disconnecting the lights in the junction box yields the receptical working perfectly. Disconnecting the receptical and leaving just the LED lights causes it to trip after 5 or so minutes. Leaving both connected (the instant trip situation) ans disconnecting the second light in the string causes it to trip after 15 or so seconds.

So far that’s all I’ve had time to test as I didn’t have any tools with me. I plan to update tomorrow with any other findings, but I’m curious as to if anyone knows why this could happen? I’d think the lights themselves would instantly trip whether the receptical was connected or not since it won’t trip with the receptical itself. Is this similar to the underground feeder going bad? It’s only a few years old.

Thanks yall

 

[ActionDave]

I am closing this thread in accordance with forum rules. If you are not an electrician, we are not permitted to assist you in performing your own electrical installation or maintenance work.

If installing stuff is not your occupation, then we can’t help you install stuff. You would have had to agree with that rule during the process of registering on the forum.

The reason is that the forum’s owner does not want a person to get an answer to the question they asked, but not get answers to the dozens of other questions they should have asked and were unaware they needed to ask. An EE is less of a risk in that category. Mike doesn’t want anyone to get injured by any incidents related to electrical installations. But he also doesn’t want to be sued by the injured party’s relatives on the basis of him not telling you enough to keep you safe.