GFI Wiring Problems

[jake26]

Happy Friday!

Here is the situation. I have power running from the breaker into a gang with two loads running from the gang to switches. I had pigtailed the three wires into the GFI but the GFI constantly trips. Do I need to only pigtail the loads and have that and supply wire go into the GFI?

Sorry about the amateur question but I would appreciate any help

 

[pattenp]

I'm sorry but I can't wrap my head around how you've wired the GFCI. Can you hand draw a diagram of the wiring and post it?

Here's example of correct way to wire:

 

[jake26]

Hopefully, this will help

 

[nehog]

#2 should work...

 

[pattenp]

Both should work. The difference is the first one is with only the outlet being protected and the second one is also protecting whatever the down stream switches are switching.

What's on the switches?

 

[jake26]

Both should work. The difference is the first one is with only the outlet being protected and the second one is also protecting whatever the down stream switches are switching.

What's on the switches?

Although the switch wiring is not yet completed, one switch will control eight 4' (2 bulb) florescent lights and the second switch was to control eight 4" can lights for accent lighting.

I was so certain about the wiring, I have only about 5" of wire outside the gang box. I will need to use some quick connectors because after I cut off the twist from the wires, I will be down to about 4". That is getting a little tight.

 

[pattenp]

Your first "What I did" should work fine. You don't need lighting to be GFCI protected. If the GFCI outlet is tripping as wired in "What I did" then you may have a bad/cheap GFCT outlet. Was there something plugged into the outlet while it constantly tripped?

On a side note. You should really have lighting and outlets on separate circuits if possible.

 

[jake26]

On a side note. You should really have lighting and outlets on separate circuits if possible.

Agreed but in my garage makeover, I had to run wiring through a finished wall to get the new switches to the door. In my infinite wisdom, I thought I could run just one wire the majority of the way into the outlet (that is 2' from a new sink, hence the GFI) and splice from that. This is the only recepticle on the circuit.

In my defense, I am too poor to pay an electrician so I have been doing allot of research and asking questions. Because of the information on the Internet and this site, I thought I was doing it right. This is my first experience with electrical but everything else was going very well.

Before I pull it all apart, I will check another outlet to see if I have a bad one.

Thanks for the help