swimming pool lighting...... geez.

[dbuckley]

I'd go another round with the clamp, testing both wires. If there's a asymetric short, there must be asymetric current - Messers Ohm and Kirchoff never lie...

 

[WinZip]

The thing is this must be an older pool an now the problem pops out from the blue , these fixtures were working at one time so something that has been done recently may be the problem.

Best of luck with this an please let us know what it was.

 

[GUNNING]

bad breaker, bad BAD breaker...

bad breaker, bad BAD breaker...

Replace the breaker with a GFCI breaker and remove the ground fault receptacle. Sounds like a weak or defective breaker. Make sure the neutral is tight in panel.

 

[LarryFine]

i shut the switch off, hook both of them up, turn it on, breaker holds for about 2-3 seconds, pulling 20 amps, and breaker trips.

Randy, can you get a current reading before the breaker trips?

Or, just try another breaker. Either there really is over 20a, or the breaker trips

 

[mxslick]

sounds like there is a metallic path between the lights that is not a path to ground or is a path to the supply EGC, and one or both of the lights has faulted to this metallic path, one with the neutral and one with a hot, so when you hookup both lights it completes the path from neutral to hot?

we know there is not a ground fault because of the GFCI not tripping, so the only other fault would be hot to neutral which the GFCI just passes back to the breaker in the panel.

Long pathway 5.4 ohms in circuit = 22 amps at breaker.

only thing that would make sense to me?

is there any transformers involved with these lights?

I agree with Hurk.

Randy, take your ohmmeter and measure between one light's (A) hot and the other light's (B) neutral. Repeat on (B) vs. (A). And measure all leads of (A) and (B) to the conduit, niche or ground.

Call me if this doesn't work, I may be available to help.

 

[hurk27]

Randy, can you get a current reading before the breaker trips?
Or, just try another breaker. Either there really is over 20a, or the breaker trips

see post 8
22 amps I believe

 

[Fulthrotl]

Randy, can you get a current reading before the breaker trips?

Or, just try another breaker. Either there really is over 20a, or the breaker trips

gentlemen, thank you... i have a wealth of things to snoodle with here,
and will probe some more, armed with meters, the internet, a ouiga board,
a swimsuit, and the oracle of delphi, who may also be available for
consultation.

oh, yeah... and a towel... the hitchhikers guide to the universe says to bring a towel......

i will find out what the disorder is, and do a follow up report... at this point,
it's not about the money, i'm just curious to know what the deal is....

thanks again for the help....


randy

 

[WinZip]

Yes I am curious myself , good luck to.

 

[dbuckley]

Nothing worse than a good detective story with no ending...

 

[WinZip]

Any news on the Lighting problem ??

 

[hardworkingstiff]

I haven't wired a pool since the 70's so if I sound ignorant, please excuse me.

If I understand your setup, I would disconnect the circuit from the breaker to the GFCI receptacle and megger those conductors.

 

[hardworkingstiff]

randy

randy

Did you ever find the problem?

 

[WinZip]

ok. service call to a residence.

pool with attached jacuzzi. both have pentair pool lights, 120 vac.

breaker is tripped. when reset, and lamps turned on with switch.
breaker trips. breaker is 20 amp.

GFCI does NOT trip.

i replace GFCI, just for drill. brand new leviton GFCI blank face,
after the light switch. test gfci downstream. it works correctly.

disconnect both lights at their respective junction boxes, and
reset the breaker, and turn the switch on. breaker holds.
gfci holds. premises wiring to box is good.

120 volts at the junction box.

i hook up the first pool light. it goes on, pulls 4 amps. lights up
fine. i disconnect it, and hook up the second pool light. it goes
on as well, pulls 4 amps. lights up fine.

i shut the switch off, hook both of them up, turn it on, breaker
holds for about 2-3 seconds, pulling 20 amps, and breaker trips.

GFCI does NOT trip. at all. ever.

any thoughts on this one?


randy

Any luck as of yet or is this a hoax.