F@ing GFCI issue

[Pucman1]

So the electrical guy made me install a GFCI breaker to pass code on a group of outlets in the ceiling. These outlets are in the ceiling 10 and 12 feet off the ground. I am using them as switched plugs to control fluorescent lights. I got the lights pigtailed with grounded plugs and mounted them to the ceiling, plugged in the lights, flipped the lights on and bam breaker trips. I thought ok maybe I wired something wrong so extension cord over to a GFCI plug and works great. I might add that these are slightly older recycled four foot nice units that have outdoors rated ballasts. Ballast are grounded to the case and connected the plug.What the hell am I missing??? Any ideas?

 

[cybrdyke]

Ballasts have leakage current that trips GFI breakers. Shoplights, lights with cords, are not meant to be used for general illumination to light up the whole space. If they had been hardwired in, you wouldn't have needed the GFI breaker.
Hope that helps.
CD

 

[mustanginky]

I dont think shop lights and gfci outlets enjoy one another.

 

[Shiftless]

As a long term experiment I decided to buy 5 of the Costco FEIT LED shop lights to illuminate my work area which is approximately 10 by 20 with a low 7 foot ceiling. I realize that they are not designed for this use. I ran a row of receptacles with the first one being a GFCI. 12 gauge wire in EMT, dedicated circuit with a switch before the first receptacle. I know that the button to reset a GFCI must be accessible. I am 5 foot 9 and can reach the button while standing on the floor.
Total cost for 5 fixtures and all the wiring supplies was under $200.

Been up only a few months.

So far so good.

 

[Travv]

Ballasts have leakage current that trips GFI breakers. Shoplights, lights with cords, are not meant to be used for general illumination to light up the whole space. If they had been hardwired in, you wouldn't have needed the GFI breaker.
Hope that helps.
CD

The above advice is wrong on every level.

First I would unplug everything and then start plugging them in one by one and see when it trips and go from there. GFCI protection is required everywhere in the garage regardless of heighth.


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[Shiftless]

The above advice is wrong on every level.

First I would unplug everything and then start plugging them in one by one and see when it trips and go from there.


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Take it easy Travv, cd is an expert lighting designer and engineer.
Hardwired fixtures do not need GFCI protection as per NEC. Just receptacles whether they are next to your kitchen sink or 20 feet in the air on your ceiling.
But your advice to check each fixture individually is spot on.

 

[cybrdyke]

The above advice is wrong on every level.

First I would unplug everything and then start plugging them in one by one and see when it trips and go from there.


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Sorry, but it's true. Always has been.
Electronic ballasts have always had small amounts of leakage current. It can be enough to trip GFI's. It's one reason that you dont see professionally done lighting circuits with ceiling outlets.
If the OP had hardwired them, as a lighting circuit, it wouldn't require GFI protection. As a receptacle circuit, it does.
Common problem with DIY projects.
CD

 

[gregtwojeeps]

Hmmmm. the part saying the GFCI breaker trips but yet the GFCI outlet you test plugged your cord in to ....does not trip the GFCI receptacle ? ...

Question... Are you sure the neutral conductor in the cable that feeds the ceiling outlets is correctly wired on your breaker box's ....GFCI breaker for the ceiling outlet's ?

I agree with cybrd also......

 

[Shiftless]

Good point, Greg,
First make sure that the wiring inside the panel is correct. Then check your GFCI receptacle with a tester to make sure it is working properly. Then test each fixture using that extension cord. If each one tests out OK, then I would try swapping out the GFCI breaker with another one that is known to be OK.
Let us know how this works out for you.

 

[dslabuda]

I found the plug in fluorescent/gfci thing as well in researching after I had that issue. I have an 8ft 4 bulb t8 hardwire fixture that I added a pull chain switch and 8ft of 14/2 sjoow cord (overkill I know) with a 3 prong plug. This is mounted under a shelf over my workbench. It will randomly trip the gfci on occasion when I turn it on. It only happens when initially turning it on.

From what I remember reading it was because of current leakage inherent to the ballast. Iirc I remember reading it only affected hardwire style fixtures wired with a cord and plug. Regular plug in fixtures weren't supposed to do that.

Disclaimer: I could be and very well likely am wrong. This is just my personal experience, I am not an expert in electrical/lighting/rocket science/etc. I've only obtained just enough knowledge to be dangerous.

That being said I second the motion to double check the wiring. If anything else is plugged into the circuit does it trip the gfci?


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[Pucman1]

So after I pulled all the outlets and rechecked the wiring I still was confused! I plugged in a drill and tried it but still popped as soon as I flipped the switch. But a quick check in the panel and I saw my error I still had the neutral connected to the bus bar along with the coils wire from the GFCI breaker! A quick disconnect from the bar and feed it in the back screw on the breaker! Turned all the power back on and grabbed a cold beer....light and switches are working great. Got plenty of light! Thanks for all the suggestions and ideas!

 

[gregtwojeeps]

Great to hear ! And thanks for coming back to let us know all is well

 

[Shiftless]

Great to hear ! And thanks for coming back to let us know all is well

to that

And being up front about the error you made in the first place. I for one always try to learn from others' mistakes...as if I don't make enough of them on my own.

 

[cybrdyke]

good to hear.

 

[ddawg16]

Puc...glad you got it working. Too bad you had to read so much wrong info before you got it working.

For future reference.....a quick way to tell if you have a fixture issue....disconnect the earth ground at the fixture. Assuming it's not grounded to anything, if the GFCI no longer trips, then, yea, it has leakage to ground.

But in 99% of the cases, the cause for a trip is improper wiring.