GFCI trips instantly

[Stepper]

I have an older rental property that only has 2 wire infrastructure throughout the house. The rental inspection required that I replace all 3-hole outlets with 2-hole receptacles. In addition, I had to replace a standard outlet by the kitchen sink with a gfci outlet. I correctly installed the white/neutral and the black/hot to the correct terminals. Best I can tell, I have the line vs. load wires hooked-up correctly.
My problem has to do with the fact that the instant I restore power to the outlet, it instantly trips and cannot be reset. The is now ground wire available to use, as the wiring does not have it and the receptacle box itself is not grounded.

I checked the single outlet downstream of the gfci and it seems to be fine...I.e. no cross wiring or exposed wires.

Any ideas how to troubleshoot this.

 

[HOTFR8]

Re: Gfci trips instantly

You have more than one fault would be my best guess.

 

[Ch3No2]

Re: Gfci trips instantly

You can't "share" neutral wires when using a GFCI

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Re: Gfci trips instantly

First, u should remove the wires from the load terminal and reset the GFCI to see if it holds. If it does, then u obviously know the problem is downstream. If it wont hold or reset u should make sure u have the correct wires on the correct terminals, ie. line wires on line terminal, hot on hot and neutral on neutral terminals. Another possibility, IF the wiring is good, is the GFCI is bad out of the box. This is pretty rare but could happen! Try using another NEW GFCI and see what happens.

 

[Stepper]

Re: Gfci trips instantly

Can you elaborate on what you mean by "share" the neutral? Currently a neutral wire is attached to the line screw and another separate neutral is attached to the load screw on the receptacle.

 

[Ch3No2]

Re: Gfci trips instantly

The GFCI requires a dedicated Neutral before being branched to other rcepticles

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Re: Gfci trips instantly

Disconnect the downstream wires from the load connections, then turn on power. If it still trips, then reverse the black and white wires at the GFCI, and try it, it if works OK, you probably have crossed wires at the panel or somewhere in between. This is an older house, so anything is possible. You do need to label this outlet as NO GROUND also.

Charles

 

[RPH]

Re: Gfci trips instantly

Gfi's monitor the current going into the device and also coming back on the neutral. If the currents don't match then the electronics shut it off. The shared neutral refers to another connection that allows the current to return to the fuse box via another wire. Then incoming current doesn't match and it kills the circuit in 1/40 th of a second. I agree with disconnecting down stream devices and see what happens. If it works then check the down stream devices for a "shared" neutral.

 

[ddawg16]

Re: Gfci trips instantly

Disconnect the downstream wires from the load connections, then turn on power. If it still trips, then reverse the black and white wires at the GFCI, and try it, it if works OK, you probably have crossed wires at the panel or somewhere in between. This is an older house, so anything is possible. You do need to label this outlet as NO GROUND also.

Charles

Gfi's monitor the current going into the device and also coming back on the neutral. If the currents don't match then the electronics shut it off. The shared neutral refers to another connection that allows the current to return to the fuse box via another wire. Then incoming current doesn't match and it kills the circuit in 1/40 th of a second. I agree with disconnecting down stream devices and see what happens. If it works then check the down stream devices for a "shared" neutral.

Both are correct....in other words....that neutral on the output could have a parallel connection somewhere to another neutral going back to your meter.

So, if you as charles says....disconnect the load side....if the GFIC does not trip....then your load side has an issue.

 

[Stepper]

Re: Gfci trips instantly

Thanks. I plan to wok on it this weekend and will try what you guys have suggested

 

[VHF]

Re: Gfci trips instantly

If the GFCI recepticle does reset with nothing connected to the load side, a shared neutral on the downstream circuit is likeley. Just hook it up with pigtails so only that recepticle is GFCI protected (i.e. nothing connected to load terminals.) Biggest challenege might be fitting everything back in the box with a couple wire nuts, pigtails, and the GFCI recepticle itself!

As already mentioned, make sure it is labeled "No Equipment Ground" in a 2-wire installation. The GFCI functionality will still work fine as that does not rely on the ground.

 

[Stepper]

Re: Gfci trips instantly

By pig tailing the wires and having them attach only to the line side terminals, I was able to keep it from tripping. Thanks for the advice.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Re: Gfci trips instantly

Ok, then just add another GFCI to any other locations that are near the sink!

 

[Stepper]

Re: Gfci trips instantly

That's the only one. I should be good to go for reinspection.
Thanks guys.

 

[1tonstroke]

Re: Gfci trips instantly

If there are any fluorescent lights on the circuit they have been known to trip GFCI's due to leakage.