GCFI question

[Jsf721]

There are 2 GCFI out lets that keep blowing. The only thing plugged into the first is a kerig coffee maker (and we unplug it after each use) and in the second there is a cordless phone base. It stays in 24/7.

Yesterday my wife plugged in the coffee maker and it blew the GCFI before it heated up. She called me and I told her to reset it. She said she tried but it would not reset. When the first blew the power light went out in the 2nd as well. These have a small green light in the top right corner.

When I came home I reset them, and thought, ok she did not push hard enough.

I plugged the coffee make in and in a few minutes it blew again. ( power to both out) only the first tripped? I guess they are linked. Is this normal? Them being linked?

My kitchen. Was wired by a licensed electrical contractor.

 

[Mustang51js]

One gfi shouldn't control the other gfi,that means it's wired incorrect,but it's also not a big deal. You prob have a bad gfi or wires are close to touching inside the box. I would replace the gfi with new ones. How many outlets do you have,I was going to say just put the all the wires on the line side of gfi but if it controls more than just that other gfi then any other non gfi outlets would need to be replaced with a gfi also,so might be easier to leave wired the way it was and just replace those two gfi's

 

[jkwilson]

Yes, it is normal for them to be linked, though you usually install a standard outlet as the "downstream" outlet and the single GFCI outlet protects them both.

You might (careful not to touch anything conductive while it is plugged in) run the coffee maker through a cycle or two on a non-GFCI outlet in case water got in someplace it shouldn't. The heat should dry it if it isn't leaking.

 

[volleyball]

Try another gfci outlet. Your bathroom and outside outlets should all be protected.
Remember, just because he was licensed, doesn't mean it was done right. I had to correct what a licensed electrician did with my gfci.

 

[Falcon67]

Don't overlook the possibility that the GFCI outlet is at fault. I have a BUNCH of GFCIs here in the shop and house and the only trips I get - expected, really - is the one feeding the pool pump. It likes to trip if the cord/plug from the motor gets splashed. Motor cord is too short and I just need to replace it. Have all kinds of other motors on GFCI units, no trips.

 

[pattenp]

What outlets turn off when you push the test buttons separately on the two GFCI outlets. As Mustang said, one GFCI shouldn't turn off another GFCI outlet.

 

[justsam]

There have been cases it appears that scale build up in the Keurig can become conductive and cause enough leakage current that it trips GFIs. Before tossing it out, assuming it is not just a failed GFI issue, you may try to de-scale.

 

[EOC_Jason]

I too would recommend replacing both those GFI's... If they are on the same circuit you only need one and the other can be replaced with a regular plug, but having two shouldn't hurt anything.

 

[ddawg16]

Confirm you are plugging directly into the GFCI?

If so, pull it out and see if something else is wired to the load side terminals.

One the most common mistakes people make is they wire the neutrals together on both the line side and load side. If there is no load on the load side, it will never trip...but if you put a small load on it....it trips

 

[Jsf721]

It appears that the current is pushed from the main outlet GCFI to the,other 2 on that wall. All three go out when the one blows.

It's not the kerig Bc if I plug it into another GCFI across the kitchen no issue.

One gfi shouldn't control the other gfi,that means it's wired incorrect,but it's also not a big deal. You prob have a bad gfi or wires are close to touching inside the box. I would replace the gfi with new ones. How many outlets do you have,I was going to say just put the all the wires on the line side of gfi but if it controls more than just that other gfi then any other non gfi outlets would need to be replaced with a gfi also,so might be easier to leave wired the way it was and just replace those two gfi's

 

[Jsf721]

Thanks did it and still blows the GCFI. Wonder it perhaps it's just worn out at this point?

Do these wear out like breakers?

Yes, it is normal for them to be linked, though you usually install a standard outlet as the "downstream" outlet and the single GFCI outlet protects them both.

You might (careful not to touch anything conductive while it is plugged in) run the coffee maker through a cycle or two on a non-GFCI outlet in case water got in someplace it shouldn't. The heat should dry it if it isn't leaking.

 

[Jsf721]

Since I am not well versed in electric I don't mess with it past checking for touching wires and I did not see any. Breakers are shut down for now and electrician coming Thursday am.

Try another gfci outlet. Your bathroom and outside outlets should all be protected.
Remember, just because he was licensed, doesn't mean it was done right. I had to correct what a licensed electrician did with my gfci.

 

[Jsf721]

What outlets turn off when you push the test buttons separately on the two GFCI outlets. As Mustang said, one GFCI shouldn't turn off another GFCI outlet.

2 others when it blows

There have been cases it appears that scale build up in the Keurig can become conductive and cause enough leakage current that it trips GFIs. Before tossing it out, assuming it is not just a failed GFI issue, you may try to de-scale.

It works in another GCFI. Still blows the problem one.

I too would recommend replacing both those GFI's... If they are on the same circuit you only need one and the other can be replaced with a regular plug, but having two shouldn't hurt anything.

Electrician coming with 3 new ones. Will check our and will trouble shoot and replace as necessary.

 

[Jsf721]

Yes directly. Not sure about neutrals. Just make sure nothing unwound.

Looks tight.

Confirm you are plugging directly into the GFCI?

If so, pull it out and see if something else is wired to the load side terminals.

One the most common mistakes people make is they wire the neutrals together on both the line side and load side. If there is no load on the load side, it will never trip...but if you put a small load on it....it trips

 

[SALIV8]

I too would recommend replacing both those GFI's... If they are on the same circuit you only need one and the other can be replaced with a regular plug, but having two shouldn't hurt anything.

This is wrong info and unsafe.

Wired on the same circuit has nothing to do with it. Wired in parallel or series has everything to do with it..

If you don't know electric call an electrican.

 

[SALIV8]

Thanks did it and still blows the GCFI. Wonder it perhaps it's just worn out at this point?

Do these wear out like breakers?

Yes gFCIs can "wear" out over time and will need to be replaced periodically depending on circumstances.

 

[volleyball]

This is wrong info and unsafe.

Wired on the same circuit has nothing to do with it. Wired in parallel or series has everything to do with it..

If you don't know electric call an electrican.

If the other is shutting off it is not in parallel, it is downstream as mentioned and he did call an electrician.
So it was correct and safe. You do bring up the point that the gfci may not have been wired to protect downstream in other situations. But irrelevant here

 

[alfredeneuman]

This is wrong info and unsafe.

Wired in parallel or series has everything to do with it..

If you don't know electric call an electrican.

ALL receptacles should be wired in parallel.

Series connection means that 1 wire would extend from the first receptacle to the second, and back through the first one, and that wouldn't work at all.

 

[volleyball]

GFCI's are an exception as they have a downstream terminal to protect additional outlets.

 

[alfredeneuman]

That's not a true series circuit. It's a parallel circuit fed through the GFI.

A true series circuit would be connected this way:

Switches or relays are in series with the load served, and that's about the extent of series connections in AC wiring.
The GFI has switches in them that interrupt the circuit, but the receptacles are NOT meant to be connected in series.

 

[volleyball]

It series for those that call an open circuit a "short".
Downstream is a better term but not everyone fishes.

 

[Bib Overalls]

Had to put a GFCI in every outlet in a kitchen once. The "inspector" from HUD could not grasp the concept of one GFCI protecting a complete circuit.