Downstream GFI question

[moparkid440]

wanted to install a GFI outside my garage, but it kept tripping the upstream GFI that was first in the circuit. This is the circuit:
The wires from the Panel box come into the first GFI outlet in the circuit, and attach to the "LINE" side of the GFI. I then have wires running from that GFI's "Load" side to a regular non GFI outlet. I then had wires running from that regular outlet, to a GFI outlet that I wanted to install. However, when I hooked those wires up to the "Load" side of the GFI that I wanted to install, the outlet would not work and my outlet tester said that there was an "open hot". I then took those wires and attached them to the "Line" side of the GFI, just to see if it would work and it didnt (no power) AND kept tripping the first GFI in the circuit. Can someone explain why it did that and how should that GFI be wired? I'm not sure why the GFI I wanted to install was tripping that first GFI.

Note: All of my previous outlets were wired correctly with Zero issues for the last 3 years, so they were not the problem. Also, I ended up installing a regular outlet in its place, since it would already be GFI protected by the upstream GFI in the circuit.

 

[sparky 1971]

1st, you don't put a gfci downstream off the load side of another gfci. There is no reason for it, and upon a fault, even if it's at the second gfci, the first gfci could be the one that trips. 2nd, the load side is the output, so when you installed the 2nd gfci the first time, it was basically wired backwards and wouldn't have worked even if the first gfci hadn't tripped. 3rd, I would guess that somewhere in between the first gfci and the one you just installed there was a neutral and ground touching to cause the tripping. That happens, usually the ground tail folds back over and touches the neutral screws when cramming the receptacle into the box.

If you want the exterior to be gfci protected all by itself, you need to go back to the first receptacle, pigtail it and hook the wires to the line side only. Then you need to go to the 2nd outlet, pigtail those wires, and install another gfci at that location. Keep doing this until you get to the outside receptacle and, you guessed it, install another gfci using the line side terminals. That can potentially get kind of pricy and is one of the various reasons I have no gfci protection in my shop.

 

[Terry D]

I Take that the new GFCI is outside. Just replace it with a regular duplex. This receptacle and the one ahead of it will be protected off the load side of the existing GFCI. If it still trips it, you possibly have a ground and neutral touching somewhere