GFCI keeps tripping.

[dragonballz]

I have a GFCI in the basement. The only thing on that was plugged into it is my cable amplifier from Comcast. A table fan and TV are also plugged into it but those were off... The extension strip was switched off.

The amplifier was there for years. Yesterday, the GFCI tripped. I reset it and about an hour later, it tripped again. It was not raining, the basement is not too humid. I constantly run a dehumidifer in the basement on a different circuit.

Any ideas? Thanks

 

[nehog]

I'd give serious thought to replacing the GFCI. Also unplug the fan and TV as a test. Even if off, they can easily trip a GFCI.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Does this GFCI feed other outlets. If so, turn the power off to the GFCI, take the wires off the load side of the GFCI, and then restore power and reset the GFCI to see if it trips again. If it does trip again, or if the GFCI doesnt feed any other outlets, try replacing it!

If it doesnt trip after removing load side wiring, then theres an issue with the downstream wiring somewhere!

 

[dragonballz]

Thanks guys

Does this GFCI feed other outlets. If so, turn the power off to the GFCI, take the wires off the load side of the GFCI, and then restore power and reaer GFCI to see if it trips again. If it does, or if the GFCI doesnt feed any other outlets, try replacing it!

If it doesnt trip after removing load side wiring, then theres an issue with the downstream wiring somewhere!

Im not an electrician, so let me get these terms right.

By "feeding other outlets", do you mean if there are any other outlets after it on that same circuit?

 

[ezzzzzzz]

A GFCI can protect other outlets that are daisy chained off the GFCI. When you look at a GCFI outlet you'll see a 'line' side and a 'load' side. The 'line' side wiring goes to the breaker panel (120 volt source). The 'load' side can be left unconnected (like a single outlet in a bathroom) or it can have other outlets connected in parallel off the 'load' side. The GFCI will protect those other outlets connected to the 'load' side. Side note: Let's say you have a breaker feeding a standard outlet and then you connect a GCFI to the other side of that standard outlet. In that condition only the GCFI outlet will have 'ground fault protection'. The standard outlet is not GCFI protected is this wiring arrangement.

 

[dragonballz]

I understand now. Thank you.

 

[MeentSS02]

The only time I've ever had a problem with a GFCI tripping somewhat regularly was one that protected 3 outside outlets...it seemed to coincide with a heavy rain, so I replaced and sealed all of the "in-use" outdoor boxes. Turns out, one of them was letting water in in enough quantity to set it off. Haven't had a problem since.

Not saying that is your problem here...if this one isn't protecting outside outlets, that obviously isn't your problem. GFCIs sometimes go bad...they aren't cheap, but sometimes it is worth a shot to just try replacing it and see if the problem persists.

 

[astroracer]

I have replaced a few that got "weak". It seems, the more they get tripped, the less it takes to trip them.