Outdoor Socket GFI Keeps Tripping

[MDSPHOTO]

I have an outdoor outlet that is under a covered porch and in a plastic cover. I just tried plugging some LED rope lights in and every time I do it trips the GFI. Thought it might be the lights so I plugged a lamp into it and go the same result.

Any ideas or remedy's?

 

[mark11]

GFCI's do go bad. I'd try the same lights on a different GFCI and if it doesn't trip you might need a new one.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

GFCI's do go bad. I'd try the same lights on a different GFCI and if it doesn't trip you might need a new one.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

+2 on the bad GFI. There are also indoor and outdoor rated GFIs. Indoor GFIs get used outdoors a lot. They aren't always too happy in that role...

Tommy

 

[MDSPHOTO]

Thanks guys. It's only 3-years old and had only been used for Christmas lights, so I didn't think of it being bad already. Guess I will get to HD today and get it replaced since it's going to be 77 here today.

 

[xyster101]

Just rewire it with a normal outlet. I hate my outdoor GFCI as it would always trip the breaker when it rained. It doesn't trip anymore.

I am sure I will get flamed for this. I grew up with normal outlets outside and never had a problem.

 

[Shiftless]

No flame from me.
Assuming your outdoor receptacle is not the first one in a string of receptacles, rewire the first receptacle, (indoors right?) in the string to be a GFCI. That will keep the indoor rated GFCI indoors and protect your outdoor receptacle from ground faults as well as all the others after the GFCI.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Just rewire it with a normal outlet. I hate my outdoor GFCI as it would always trip the breaker when it rained. It doesn't trip anymore.

I am sure I will get flamed for this. I grew up with normal outlets outside and never had a problem.

Outdoor outlets are required to be GFCI protected. But that doesnt mean the GFCI has to be outside as said above.

 

[CNGsaves]

^ ^ Thiink you mean that . . . . New Construction outlets must be GFCI protected.

Prior installed outdoor outlets aren't required to be updated (ie grandfathered).

Same with the giant plastic rainhouse cover requirements they have now !
(ie old normal foam-sealing outlets for outdoor use are grandfathered)

 

[checkthisout]

^ ^ Thiink you mean that . . . . New Construction outlets must be GFCI protected.

Prior installed outdoor outlets aren't required to be updated (ie grandfathered).

Same with the giant plastic rainhouse cover requirements they have now !
(ie old normal foam-sealing outlets for outdoor use are grandfathered)

I bet code requires that you update the outlet to current standards if you replace it.

 

[CNGsaves]

^ ^ ^ Right, OP should find way to make a GFCI work since he is replacing a likely faulty outlet. Thus, he can't get away with downgrading to old school way.

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

+2 on the bad GFI. There are also indoor and outdoor rated GFIs. Indoor GFIs get used outdoors a lot. They aren't always too happy in that role...

Tommy

I tried to buy a TR/WR gfi at menards the other day,The guy looked at me like I had a horn growing out the middle of my head!
Fortunately there was a 3E about a block away where I found one.

 

[alfredeneuman]

I bet code requires that you update the outlet to current standards if you replace it.

The Code does.

NEC 2011 - 406.3 (D)

(3) Ground-Fault Circuit-Interrupters. Ground-fault circuit-interrupter protected receptacles shall be provided where replacements are made at receptacle outlets that are required to be so protected elsewhere in this Code.

The same applies for Tamper Resistant, and Weather Resistant receptacles.

 

[bandaidmd]

any moisture in the connections will trip them, spray them with wd 40 (the wd stands for water displacement)

 

[Zeke]

any moisture in the connections will trip them, spray them with wd 40 (the wd stands for water displacement)

you're kidding....

 

[ForceFed70]

Had a similar problem this year myself. Couldn't get the Christmas lights working because the GFCI outlet was constantly tripping (would last about 15min after a reset) - even when I didn't have anything plugged in.

Bought a new outlet and hasn't tripped since.

 

[alfredeneuman]

any moisture in the connections will trip them, spray them with wd 40 (the wd stands for water displacement)

I know an old guy that had some manure dust (horse stables) arcing in his breaker panel due to unsealed knockouts .
He took off the cover, sprayed WD-40 on it, and the whole panel burst into flames.
Then he tried to put it out with a water hose.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I know an old guy that had some manure dust (horse stables) arcing in his breaker panel due to unsealed knockouts .
He took off the cover, sprayed WD-40 on it, and the whole panel burst into flames.
Then he tried to put it out with a water hose.

Wow i guess he wasnt the sharpest tool in the shed.

 

[alfredeneuman]

Wow i guess he wasnt the sharpest tool in the shed.

He used WD-40 for everything under the Sun.
He ruined innumerable distributor caps by putting WD on a rag, and wiping the caps with it to remove the moisture

He was a most ridiculous man.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

He used WD-40 for everything under the Sun.
He ruined innumerable distributor caps by putting WD on a rag, and wiping the caps with it to remove the moisture

He was a most ridiculous man.

Never had a problem with WD40 on distribby caps. What did he do wrong?

Tommy

 

[Zeke]

He used WD-40 for everything under the Sun.
He ruined innumerable distributor caps by putting WD on a rag, and wiping the caps with it to remove the moisture

He was a most ridiculous man.

Never had a problem with WD40 on distribby caps. What did he do wrong?

Tommy

When I had an older Jag I carried WD40 in the glove box. If I hit a puddle the engine would quit. Pull the dizzy cap, wet it down and drive away. Eventually I found some water proof lacquer type of clear spray that sealed the unit pretty well. The dizzy lives well sown on the lower front of the motor.