GFCI question

[akpolaris]

I recently had a GFCI that kept tripping and after checking the circuits I found a switch box with a loose wire nut. I re secured the wire nut and everything worked fine until recently. Following a night when there were 2 power outages this GFCI tripped. When it was reset if seems to be working fine. Is there something else I should be looking at? Why would the unannounced power outage trip the breaker?
Thanks

 

[AffableCurmudgeon]

Why not just change the outlet and see if your problem goes away?

 

[_Stang_]

How old is the gfci? They do go bad especially when hit with transients on the line (ie surge from lightning)

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Which conductor had the loose wire nut?

Some GFCIs trip upon power loss

 

[akpolaris]

I initially replaced a GFCI when the problem 1st occurred, that is the breaker would not hold at all. I was hoping it was just a bad breaker. Since that didn't resolve the problem I started checking all the switches on the circuit and found a loose wire nut. I tightened the wires and replaced the nut and all was well for about a month and there was a night with 2 power outages. The breaker tripped and was reset with no problem but nothing else tripped during this outage. This breaker runs mostly exterior lighting and power outlets

 

[Fly YX]

So did the breaker trip and GFCI? Is it a breaker with a GFCI in it or a GFCI receptacle?If just the gfci disconnect the load side of the GFCI receptacle. With nothing plugged into the GFCI see if that clears the fault. If it does you have an imbalance somewhere check for corrosion in the connections. If you have a GFCI breaker you can go through the circuit and disconnect part of it to see what is tripping. if it's a current imbalance it'll trip the GFCI if it's an overcurrent it'll trip the breaker.

 

[akpolaris]

It is the GFCI breaker.

So did the breaker trip and GFCI? Is it a breaker with a GFCI in it or a GFCI receptacle?If just the gfci disconnect the load side of the GFCI receptacle. With nothing plugged into the GFCI see if that clears the fault. If it does you have an imbalance somewhere check for corrosion in the connections. If you have a GFCI breaker you can go through the circuit and disconnect part of it to see what is tripping. if it's a current imbalance it'll trip the GFCI if it's an overcurrent it'll trip the breaker.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

ok since its a GFCI breaker the troubleshooting gets a little more tricky

what circuits and loads are on this breaker?

Are any outdoor outlets connected to it?

What is the make and model of the panel?

What is the make and model of the breaker?

How old is the breaker?

how many times has it tripped?

 

[akpolaris]

I am not at home yet for a couple of days. I believe it is a 20 amp siemens style, but a different brand name. not sure of the panel, it is a sub panel which I installed about 10 yrs ago. The service to the residence is a 100 amp service installed approx. 35 yrs ago. Most of the circuit is exterior lighting and plug in boxes. All are under cover or inside sheds. This breaker is brand new as noted above and only tripped during a power outage. It has held with no problems since the outage. Could it be that it tripped due to the surge of the outage and reenergization of the panel?