switched gfi recep tripping when energized

[DaveBowden]

A customer wanted 3 low voltage lights on his back deck to come on when he turned on the carriage lights outside his back door. We installed a gfi receptacle with an in-use cover for the lovo transformer to plug into and tied it on the existing switch. When the switch is turned on, the gfi trips. After the gfi is reset, it doesn't trip again until after the switch is turned off and then back on. We had a similar problem a couple of years ago with a gfi receptacle feeding a fountain. Held forever as long as the circuit stayed energized but tripped when the switch was first turned on.
Any ideas what could be causing this?

 

[Dennis Alwon]

I know that P&S Gfci trip the first time they are energized but are fine after that.
Does it still trip after the first time? Is so then, I can only guess that you have some bad GFCI's.

 

[WinZip]

We use the 20 amp WR TP GFCI all the time switched for Landscape lighting an have had no problems.

 

[DaveBowden]

It trips when the switch is turned on. After resetting the gfi - the switch has to be on to reset the gfi- it stays on indefinitely. After the switch is turned off, the gfi trips when the switch is turned on. The same thing happened with the fountain receptacle - after resetting it would not trip. They both only tripped when the switch was turned on.

 

[satcom]

A customer wanted 3 low voltage lights on his back deck to come on when he turned on the carriage lights outside his back door. We installed a gfi receptacle with an in-use cover for the lovo transformer to plug into and tied it on the existing switch. When the switch is turned on, the gfi trips. After the gfi is reset, it doesn't trip again until after the switch is turned off and then back on. We had a similar problem a couple of years ago with a gfi receptacle feeding a fountain. Held forever as long as the circuit stayed energized but tripped when the switch was first turned on.
Any ideas what could be causing this?

Yup, a boot leg neutral

You had a neutral in the switch box? how did you connect the neutral in the box

 

[ELA]

If I understand it correctly you are switching the input to the GFCI outlet?
Transformer plugs into GFCI output?

I have used some portable GFCI's that needed to be reset each time power was removed from the input and then reapplied again.
It might be possible that your GFCI has this issue? You might try one of the other brands that others have suggested.

 

[iwire]

Yup, a boot leg neutral

Then it would trip all the time, not just when first energized.

 

[DaveBowden]

Yes there was a neutral in the 3 gang switch box its fed from. It is a Leviton GFI receptacle. Only trips at the time the switch is turned on.
Yes ELA that is exactly the situation.

 

[satcom]

Then it would trip all the time, not just when first energized.

He may be on the wrong circuit neutral which can act like a boot leg, and the breaker will reset each time the power is removed.

 

[cadpoint]

Wag

Wag

How about a moter rated snap switch ? >

Let's review, you have two different lights and a transformer, and a GFCI receptacle besides the fact that other stuff might be handing something... ? Don't know...

 

[LarryFine]

One other option: feed a GFCI (somewhere nearby) always hot, install a 2p switch, and use the second pole of the switch, fed from the GFCI load terminals, to switch a standard duplex.

 

[TT009]

Is the low volt transformer over loaded? It may be the inrush of the transformer, GFCI's trip at 4-6mA. Could be the problem. What is the wattage of the transformer and lights?

 

[LarryFine]

It may be the inrush of the transformer . . .

Simply unplugging the transformer will confirm that.