High load killed GFI outlet

[nate379]

I was using my air compressor the other day. I had it plugged into the GFI outlet, though all the outlets in the garage are protected through that one outlet so I don't think it really matters. It's just a smaller 30 gallon 120v oil less unit.

Later that day I went to use another tool and realize that I have no juice running to the outlet I plugged it into.

I checked the GFI and it wasn't tripped, but when I pushed the Test it clicked and now the reset won't work.

Sound like a bad outlet? I hate to replace it and kill another one since they aren't all that cheap. The compressor worked fine in my previous shop which was GFI protected as well, so I don't think it's a problem with that.

I was talking to my Dad and he said that some stuff doesn't get along well with GFI and I might just have to remove it and put a regular outlet. I know it's not code, but big deal.

 

[bward76]

More than likely it's just a bad GFI. They fail all the time. You can unhook the load side of the GFI and try to set it again. This would just rule out a problem down stream of the GFI. Also, dont forget to check your breaker first.

 

[LoneGunman]

That's why my garage is not GFI protected, yeah I know what the code says, I also know as an electrician I have stopped counting how many I have replaced. If you have power at the receptacle and the gfi won't reset, it's NFG.

 

[Gary S]

I agree with bward76. The GFI receptacle probably just failed. They are an electronic device, so they can fail anytime without reason.
Try what was suggested and then replace it. They are cheap and they do protect you.

 

[walrus]

I was using my air compressor the other day. I had it plugged into the GFI outlet, though all the outlets in the garage are protected through that one outlet so I don't think it really matters. It's just a smaller 30 gallon 120v oil less unit.

Later that day I went to use another tool and realize that I have no juice running to the outlet I plugged it into.

I checked the GFI and it wasn't tripped, but when I pushed the Test it clicked and now the reset won't work.

Sound like a bad outlet? I hate to replace it and kill another one since they aren't all that cheap. The compressor worked fine in my previous shop which was GFI protected as well, so I don't think it's a problem with that.

I was talking to my Dad and he said that some stuff doesn't get along well with GFI and I might just have to remove it and put a regular outlet. I know it's not code, but big deal.

Replace with a 20ampGFI instead of a 15 amp.

 

[nate379]

$20 for an outlet isn't cheap IMO when a reg outlet costs $0.99 Thing is brand freaking new too.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Replace with a 20ampGFI instead of a 15 amp.

That won't do anything. The difference between the 15 amp GFCI and the 20 amp GFCI is the extra side ways slot cut in the face. Look inside, the contacts are already made to accept the 20 amp plugs, they just throw a different face plate on it. The pass thru is 20 amp rated even on a 15 amp model and the current sensing device inside could care less.

Most likely the electronics that are part of the current sensing device went south. Trip the breaker, reset the breaker, and then try a reset. Use something to push with, as your finger doesn't fit well into the recess the button is in, and you may simply be not pushing the reset button in far enough.

I have several different GFCI receptacles around here, some are Eagle/Cooper, some are Leviton, some with indicator lamps, some without. Some of mine will NOT reset unless power is applied to them, some will, so just because it will not reset with the breaker tripped doesn't mean its bad.

Are there other receptacles on the circuit, supplied by the breaker in the panelboard and not thru that particular GFCI? Make sure your circuit breaker is passing current properly also.

Charles

 

[Chris Adams]

Killed one myself a year or three ago with an 1800 watt compressor. Toasted it nicely.

Replaced it with a 6 buck one from HF, works fine.


In my new shop it came with one 15 amp circuit with a GFI, but I didn't put them on the 15 and 20 amp circuits I added.

I figure if I'm waxing the car or doing something 'wet' I will plug into the white GFI sockets.

If I am using my drill press, grinder, whatever, I will plug into the Brown 20 amp sockets. Or why I color coded my sockets...

I also have two 4 pack not on a GFI, but they are for very light duty things like the phone, radio, TV, computer and battery chargers, which are all on surge protected strips.

 

[nissan_crawler]

That's why my garage is not GFI protected, yeah I know what the code says, I also know as an electrician I have stopped counting how many I have replaced. If you have power at the receptacle and the gfi won't reset, it's NFG.

x2. On the rare occasion I need one, I have a short 3' cord with a gfi on it.

I have gfi's in the kitchen (not on the fridge, learned that lesson twice), and the bathrooms, that's it.

We used to burn up GFI's every 3-6 months back home, just gave up on them.

 

[Gary S]

Charles (in GA) is right. There is no difference in the GFI sensing circuit between a 20a and a 15a. They all have to trip with a few microamps or you die.
I have them on all my garage circuits. They seldom fail, but if one does, it is cheap to replace, and I figure my safety is worth more than a $7 receptacle.

 

[LoneGunman]

"I have several different GFCI receptacles around here, some are Eagle/Cooper, some are Leviton, some with indicator lamps, some without. Some of mine will NOT reset unless power is applied to them, some will, so just because it will not reset with the breaker tripped doesn't mean its bad."

I thought the OP said he had power going to it, I have NEVER came across a GFI receptacle that will reset when there is no power to the line side of the GFI.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

I thought the OP said he had power going to it, I have NEVER came across a GFI receptacle that will reset when there is no power to the line side of the GFI.

Before I posted earlier, I walked out to the shop and tried the ones I have out there. One is a newer Leviton, on one side (inside) of the garage door, the other two are side by side in a 4x4 box on the other side of the garage door, they are older ones, Eagle if I recall, two buttons side by side with a indicator light in line with the buttons. I also have four of these on the outside of the house. When tripped the indicator light comes on, you can reset with power on, or when I open the circuit breaker, I can then reset them, and when I close the breaker, the light is out and the receptacle has power out of it.

I think you are correct, generally, they won't reset unless they have juice to them, but these don't require it.

Charles

 

[Falcon67]

I've got 5 in the shop running the general use sockets. Some have motors under 1 hp on the circuit. In the last 12 years, I think I've had maybe 3 go bad on me. I'll keep the protection, it's not that big a deal at $10 a pop or so.

 

[nate379]

I don't really have a need for the protection of a GFI outlet in the garage. I mean honestly how often would I have enough water on the floor that it would present an issue? So the "protection" feature is a null point as far as I'm concerned. I know it's code though so I guess I'm going to replace it (LAME)


I looked into a bit more and it is a higher end one that lights up when tripped. I confirmed this with one in the kitchen (all the same GFIs in the house). The garage one is not lit up though.

I'm going to dig into a bit more later today. The breaker isn't tripped, and I turned it off and back on just to make sure.

 

[nissan_crawler]

air compressor, chopsaw, tablesaw, fridge, block heaters, all murder gfi's.

 

[Engineer Eric]

After killing a GFI outlet with a wire feed welder, I did a bit more research.

It ends up that your typical 15 amp GFI receptacle can pass through at 15 amps; however, my GFI receptacle was only rated for 10 amps.

Next time, plug the high-load device in the next receptacle, not the GFI itself.

 

[Gary S]

I guess I've been lucky. I've been running my 110v wirefeed welder on GFIs for 17 years in my garage and haven't killed one yet. Also, I have my refrigerator and my air conditioner on GFIs as well and have had no problems. Everything inside my garage except for my air compressors and garage door openers are on GFI and I haven't killed any in 17 years.

I did however see one GFI at work melt itself down into a puddle at work................and nothing was even plugged into it or drawing any power from it. It was on its own dedicated circuit with no additional receptacles downstream of it. The electronics in it just died while not being used, shorted itself out and melted and smoked until it finally developed an open circuit so it quit drawing power.
Electronics can die just as fast when not being used as when it is doing something useful. Just having power applied to an electronic device shortens its life.

 

[Falcon67]

I don't really have a need for the protection of a GFI outlet in the garage. I mean honestly how often would I have enough water on the floor that it would present an issue?

We regularly get wind and rain such that it may enter the shop. When the contractor poured the slab, he put it at ground level. I dug a runoff ditch around the foundation filled with gravel, use gutters, flashed the wall to foundation gap and try to keep vegetation away from the walls. This weekend, had water to mop up in the middle of the floor - wind/rain stacked up against the back wall enough to force it under. We do get some "rain" once in a while but usually our stuff comes as "kick your *** knock your house over tear off your shingles hide in the closet tornado warning" kinda stuff. 2-3" an hour, delivered in 15 minutes with a 50 MPH wind. Also why there are nearly 1000 wind turbines around here.

Ever get hot and sweat? Lots of things conductive besides water.

 

[HoosierBuddy]

I'm wondering what you guys think about using a GFI breaker for your garage receptical circuit?

That's the way mine is. Hope that's OK. The electrician seemed to think it was six of one / half-dozen of the other, so that's what we did.

Phil

 

[Falcon67]

I'm wondering what you guys think about using a GFI breaker for your garage receptical circuit?
Phil

First outlet in every plug run in my shop is a GFCI. The rest are connected to the LOAD side of the GFCI.

 

[malibu101]

I'm wondering what you guys think about using a GFI breaker for your garage receptical circuit?

That's the way mine is. Hope that's OK. The electrician seemed to think it was six of one / half-dozen of the other, so that's what we did.

Phil

Yep. At the end of the day you have GFI protection one way or the other.
Check the price difference between a GFI outlet and a GFI breaker. Breakers are MUCH more expensive. I bet you'll be feeding through an outlet rather than buying a breaker.