Fountain Pump tripping GFI

[bbailey]

I had an outdoor fountain installed last year. It ran fine for a couple of months, then I brought it inside for the winter and kept it in water as the installer recommended. In the spring it would not start up when I plugged it in. I called the installer and they come out and got it working. They said it sometimes sticks when not used for a few months.

After running for a couple of days, it tripped the GFI in my garage. I can’t get it to run for more than a couple of hours before it trips it. I connected the power to an extension cord which ran directly to the GFI and it made no difference.

The installer has been nice but slow to respond.

Bad pump, replace the GFI, something else?

 

[pattenp]

The thing is it could be the pump or it could be the GFCI outlet. Do you have another GFCI circuit you can test the pump on?

 

[bbailey]

I don't have easy access to another one. I have extension cords, so I guess I could reach the inside bathroom somehow.

I am guessing it is the pump since the pump had issues. Only a guess and I am far from being an electrician.

 

[justsam]

I am guessing it is the pump since the pump had issues. Only a guess and I am far from being an electrician.

I will buy into your guess. There is some current leakage going on with the pump and some current is being carried by the ground conductor. Trying another GFI outlet as suggested is a good plan with a temporary extension cord.

Has any electrical work been done since the pump was last used? Any chance that some neutrals from different circuits were in the same box? It is a long shot, and my bet is on the pump motor.

 

[pattenp]

Those pumps aren't cheap. I'd make sure it's the pump before going out and buying a new one. Can you put the pump in the bathtub to test it? Don't laugh, just trying to think of an easy way to get it to that other GFCI outlet.

 

[Tech Guy]

Check the ground on your GFI receptacle and make sure its tight. A loose ground will cause it to trip as well. Had the same issue with my hot tub after they replaced a motor 6 months after the fact.

 

[indestrolover]

Those will trip if drawing to many amps try use a regular outlet and see if that works

 

[Norcal]

Those will trip if drawing to many amps try use a regular outlet and see if that works

A GFCI receptacle does not provide overcurrent protection, that is the job of a fuse or circuit breaker.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Just a reminder so we are all on the same page. A GFCI will trip if amount of current going into an appliance on the hot wire is NOT equal to the amount of current coming out of the appliance on the neutral.

If they are not equal, current is "leaking" to ground somewhere.

 

[Tim The Tool Man]

Did you have an electrician install the line from your garage to the pond when it was installed or did the pond installers run it? Were permits pulled and inspected? I have built many ponds in my day and fixed many other bad installs from well-known landscape firms. My guess would be that over the winter moisture got into the line or outlet box and/or the wrong type of wire was used and it is tripping the GFCI. (I have seen way to much NMB used in outdoor conduit runs) I would imagine the tripping you are experiencing happens after a rain storm maybe?

The pump could be the culprit but they are pretty hardy and unless you let it freeze with water in it then it is probably fine. (B.T.W. I have never heard of the advice you were given to keep it in water over the winter. In my humble opinion that is unnecessary and really will not preserve the seals any more than letting it air dry.)

One other thought is that if your GFCI is exposed to moisture (i.e. in an outside weather-tite receptacle) that can really shorten its life span.

 

[jhelrey]

Our landscape company specialized in ponds. When that happens, usually the pump is getting stuck upon startup, the pump needs rebuilt, or issues with your GFI. It's usually the rebuilt factor. The internal seals could have let go, etc.

We ALWAYS store pumps in water in the winter. Tell the person to keep it in their basement or a garage that will not freeze. The seals really do go out if you don't.