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#177750 05/11/08 11:55 AM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 399
A
Member
Since many enjoyed the puzzle Henry posted the other day I thought I would add one that had me stumped.
A few years ago (NEC 1999) a contractor called me to check out a problem with a new inground swimming pool.
The problem was that the GFI receptacle kept tripping.
He then went to the sub panel and showed me that the breaker for the receptacle was in the OFF position. We then reset the receptacle and it tripped, with the breaker off.
What do you think was causing it ?


Alan--
If it was easy, anyone could do it.
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,335
S
Member
Since it was in the 'off' positon and not the 'tripped' position, I'd say the breaker was defective


"Live Awesome!" - Kevin Carosa
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 187
Member
Where was the sub-panel located, inside or out?


Hank
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 9,923
Likes: 32
G
Member
Shared neutral.


Greg Fretwell
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,233
H
Member
My 2 cents on this puzzle.
If the breaker was OFF and the GFI receptacle had power but tripped the test/trip buttons on the receptacle, then the breaker must be defective.

If the breaker was OFF and you couldn't rest the test/trip buttons on the GFI receptacle, maybe you needed power in order to reset the buttons on the receptacle.

Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 947
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twh Offline
Member
It must be interesting or it wouldn't be posted here. I'll guess hot and neutral reversed.

Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 745
E
Member
My guess is that the load side of the GFI receptacle is being backfed from another circuit.


---Ed---

"But the guy at Home Depot said it would work."
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,213
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Member
It was tripping from current through the neutral and a neutral-ground fault.

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 399
A
Member
Breaker was in a sub panel located indoors near the pool.
The breaker was in the OFF position, not tripped.
When the reset was pushed ON the receptacle it would quickly trip.
The receptacle was on a dedicated circuit, no shared neutral.
Additional Information.
Thinking that the breaker was defective the black wire to the breaker was disconnected.
The GFI receptacle was reset*, and then tripped !
*Older GFIs could be reset with the power OFF.
Alan Nadon


Alan--
If it was easy, anyone could do it.
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 38
V
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Panel connections wrong/bad? Rod

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