If the primary winding in the ballast goes bad they almost always trip the breaker , unless there is a fuse installed just ahead of the ballast. After checking all of the wiring, as you have been directed to do, the last chip is a bad ballast.
Why is my GFCI suddenly tripping?
Circuit overload occurs when more amperage flows through an electric wire or circuit than it can handle. This may happen if you connect malfunctioning or defective appliances. Loose, corroded wires or connections may also be to blame. Once the GFCI outlet senses an overload, it trips or “breaks” the circuit.
Can a bad ballast trip a GFCI?
Replace the ballast with a modern electronic type, and it’ll probably stop tripping the GFCI . In this day and age, consider replacing with a direct-wire LED and never look back.
What are some examples of the causes of nuisance tripping of GFCI breakers?
- There are too many appliances being protected by the GFCI. ...
- The circuit is too long for the equipment being protected by the GFCI. ...
- The GFCI was improperly wired by an electrician. ...
- The area is too wet. ...
- An appliance may have manufacturing defects. ...
- The GFCI device may be defective.
Will fluorescent lights trip a GFCI?
They were worse than even glow-starter fluorescent. They will trip GFCIs when the ballast is powered down when even motors and glow starter fluorescents won’t.
What to do if GFCI keeps tripping?
Make sure to protect the outlet with a hermetic or waterproof cover. If there’s water in the GFCI, trip the breaker and use a blow dryer to dry out the receptacle box. Once the outlet is completely dry, reset the GFCI. Unplug everything from the outlet and see if the GFCI stops tripping.
What is the difference between GFI and GFCI?
Ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) and ground fault interrupters (GFI) are the exact same device under slightly different names. Though GFCI is more commonly used than GFI, the terms are interchangeable.
How do I fix nuisance tripping?
To solve the nuisance tripping problem and provide arc fault protection, start with things you can do yourself. Unplug or turn off surge protectors plugged into bedroom outlets, fluorescent lights with electronic ballasts , and lighting controls with LED displays that are on the AFCI circuit.
What is a GFCI designed to do?
The ground-fault circuit interrupter, or GFCI, is a fast-acting circuit breaker designed to shut off electric power in the event of a ground-fault within as little as 1/40 of a second . ... The GFCI is rated to trip quickly enough to prevent an electrical incident.
How can you tell if a GFCI outlet is bad?
If the red button is already inside but there is still no power to the GFCI outlet or the outlets connected to it, push the black button. This should cause the red button to pop out. If the red button does not pop out , the GFCI outlet is defective.
Can a bad light switch cause a GFCI to trip?
Check any GFCI receptacles on the circuit for a malfunction. If the light switch wiring is going through a GFCI receptacle and the GFCI is faulty , this can cause a problem and trip the breaker.
What causes a breaker to keep tripping?
If your circuit breaker keeps tripping, it’s usually a sign of something wrong with the circuit. There could be a short circuit in one of the appliances or somewhere in the wiring. There could be a ground fault causing the breaker to keep tripping. There could be a circuit overload.
Will water cause GFCI to trip?
If the problem GFCI is an outdoor receptacle or an indoor outlet that was exposed to water in some way, moisture inside the receptacle box could be causing the GFCI to trip . A wet GFCI will trip regardless of what is plugged into it and may continue to trip even if there is no visible moisture inside the box.
Why do people say GFI instead of GFCI?
Technically, GFCI refers to a breaker that protects an entire circuit . This would be a GFCI breaker on your electric distribution
Can I put a GFCI anywhere in a circuit?
You can replace almost any electrical outlet with a GFCI outlet . Correctly wired GFCIs will also protect other outlets on the same circuit. ... The electrical code also requires GFCIs in unfinished basements, garages, most outdoor receptacles and places where construction activity occurs.
Can you have more than one GFCI outlet on the same circuit?
Yes, you can use two or more GFCI outlets on the same circuit without any problem at all . The only downside to this is that if one of your GFCI outlets goes down, the others will probably go down as well. ... It is well worth putting two or more GFCI outlets on the same circuit, and it’s quite common.
