Ground fault issue

[RVA-Jeff]

Front porch ground fault kept tripping. When I pulled the device, one wire pulled out of back. Figured that was the issue. Threw breaker, reattached loose wire, tightened all wires as others were loose, keeps tripping. Replaced device, keeps tripping. Simple hot/neutral line in and hot/neutral load out. Diagnostic tips please pros.

 

[MrMark]

downstream short to ground. Some of the line current is not coming back on the neutral so you get the trip. If the device is good, it can only be line current leaking to ground somehow as through a wet connection or something like that.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Disconnect the load side wires, and try again. If it don't trip, then your problem is down stream. If it continues to trip, you may have a hot/neutral crossed somewhere in the circuit, as newer GFCI receptacles are made to trip if the hot/neutral are reversed.

Charles

 

[awdblazer]

did you say you changed out the gfci to a new one?

 

[RVA-Jeff]

Yes, I did change to a new GFCI device.

Disconnected load and it is staying on.

Pulled fixture from pole. I think this is the only thing on load side. It is wet near connections. Wires are all oxidized. It's a ten year old cheapo builder's grade fixture. Will replace it, clean/trim wires, replace the dusk/dawn eye, then see where that takes me.

 

[rockwithjason]

i bet that you found the issue.

 

[Aceman]

Even a little moisture will do it, it sounds like you're on the right track.