how long should a GFCI outlet last?

[sdowney717]

The cheap one I got off Ebay in July has now failed.
No power comes out the load side and red light fail mode is on.
It seems like no matter where I buy them and install them, when they get used a lot, half of them just burn out quit working.

What is the most reliable brand to buy?
Or do you just keep buying replacements.

IS there a better idea, how well do the GFCI breakers perform for lifespan?

I also want one that will work with a MSW inverter.

 

[Gary S]

Why would you buy things like that from Ebay? Your local stores have thousands of them on the shelves. I'm currently using about 25 of them in my house and garage. I bought the cheap ones from Menards, and none of them have failed yet in 8 years.

GFCIs like all electronics will last until they die.

 

[nehog]

Agreed, they should last almost indefinitely, other than enhancements that have made them better over the years.

My house's bathroom GFCIs are now 25 years old, I test them with my GFCI tester and they still pass just fine.

 

[Gregishome]

Since I read that no matter where he buys them, he gets short service from them. Hmmm, time to check the intergrity of the loads being plugged in to them or the wiring/ connections on the oulets. jmo

 

[sdowney717]

Ok, I bought a Leviton this time.
8599-BE 20 AMP BLACK

supposedly is 20 Amp-125 Volt Feed-Through. Smartlock monochromatic GFCI receptacle, phase 7 bridge contact, white test and reset buttons. Black

Description is here
http://www.onestopbuy.com/leviton/8599-BE-55369.asp?pt=buy-leviton

Will it buzz? on the invertor

Is it this the thinner one? Leviton is pushing the thin ones and the self test ones
http://www.leviton.com/OA_HTML/ibeCCtpSctDspRte.jsp?section=33474&minisite=10021

 

[sdowney717]

http://www.leviton.com/OA_HTML/ibeCCtpItmDspRte.jsp?item=35299&section=10925&minisite=10026

looks like Leviton is a cheap Chinese made item.
No lights?
No self test?
Does it buzz?
Will it just quit working?
barely fits in the box?

 

[79firebird]

ive had new expensive ones last 1 week and ive had some last over 12 years, its a luck of the draw with them

 

[Will67]

Maybe switch out that circuit to a GFIC breaker at panel?

 

[pattenp]

I personally like Cooper brand wiring devices. I've had their GFCI receptacles to last for years. The first one to die was over 10 years old.

 

[sdowney717]

I took apart the broken GFCI.
It failed mechanically not electrically.
It cant hold in the reset button.
There is a pin which interlocks with a release solenoid which has some how failed. Perhaps an alignment issue as when the top outer cover is off, it will lock.

Got the Leviton and it is slightly smaller profile and resets everytime fine.

 

[cortez]

They last a lot longer if the unit is not constantly changing loads (plug in, plug out on a daily basis). A continuous load creates little if not any false grounding false positives. There are appliances with a built in GFCI protection and they work well with in the wall GFCI units.

Also make sure that the "load" (downstream load) is not incorrectly connected to the "line" circuit.

 

[DRP6833]

I had a GFCI that I got from Home Depot that was defective out of the box. It had no power itself but the outlets downstream did.

 

[Teken]

I can tell you from personal experience that anything will fail given poor & erratic power supply at the mains. If you live in such an environment the best brand from any vendor will die a premature death.

These GFCI devices have small little parts which can not sustain a sudden surge / spike. For your reference I use Hubble, Cooper, and Leviton with great results.

Having said this: I have some locations with surge arrestors upstream to ensure the down stream GFCI's are well protected against transient surge / spikes.

Your area may not allow such an arrangement so please do follow all NEC codes for your specific local. It goes with out saying, grounding, grounding, grounding, is paramount.

I know a lot of your folks are big on using those plastic J Box's. But, in my mind this does not allow long term reliability for the infrastructure within the building. I use them because they are robust, and won't flex, or break.

Having said this: It is also code where I live, no plastic or other random material is allowed to be used in a new build. If it is a reno, than the home owner may use what ever is on the shelves at the local HD, Lowes, what have you.

Regards

Teken . . .

 

[ishiboo]

The cheap one I got off Ebay in July has now failed.
No power comes out the load side and red light fail mode is on.
It seems like no matter where I buy them and install them, when they get used a lot, half of them just burn out quit working.

What is the most reliable brand to buy?
Or do you just keep buying replacements.

IS there a better idea, how well do the GFCI breakers perform for lifespan?

I also want one that will work with a MSW inverter.

It varies greatly, like most things buy a quality brand name in the US and you'll get basically the same quality, even though they're probably made in China like the eBay POS.

Agreed, they should last almost indefinitely, other than enhancements that have made them better over the years.

My house's bathroom GFCIs are now 25 years old, I test them with my GFCI tester and they still pass just fine.

If "GFCI tester" means one of those plug-in outlet testers, stop using that and just press the "test" button on the GFCI. Of the two options, that is the only approved way to test a GFCI - use the button on it.

Ok, I bought a Leviton this time.
8599-BE 20 AMP BLACK

supposedly is 20 Amp-125 Volt Feed-Through. Smartlock monochromatic GFCI receptacle, phase 7 bridge contact, white test and reset buttons. Black

Description is here
http://www.onestopbuy.com/leviton/8599-BE-55369.asp?pt=buy-leviton

Will it buzz? on the invertor

Is it this the thinner one? Leviton is pushing the thin ones and the self test ones
http://www.leviton.com/OA_HTML/ibeCCtpSctDspRte.jsp?section=33474&minisite=10021

Your inverter's manual should probably have a list of GFCIs approved for use, the Xantrex inverters do.

http://www.leviton.com/OA_HTML/ibeCCtpItmDspRte.jsp?item=35299&section=10925&minisite=10026

looks like Leviton is a cheap Chinese made item.
No lights?
No self test?
Does it buzz?
Will it just quit working?
barely fits in the box?

Self test button is a requirement of all GFCIs.

I can tell you from personal experience that anything will fail given poor & erratic power supply at the mains. If you live in such an environment the best brand from any vendor will die a premature death.

These GFCI devices have small little parts which can not sustain a sudden surge / spike. For your reference I use Hubble, Cooper, and Leviton with great results.

Having said this: I have some locations with surge arrestors upstream to ensure the down stream GFCI's are well protected against transient surge / spikes.

Your area may not allow such an arrangement so please do follow all NEC codes for your specific local. It goes with out saying, grounding, grounding, grounding, is paramount.

I know a lot of your folks are big on using those plastic J Box's. But, in my mind this does not allow long term reliability for the infrastructure within the building. I use them because they are robust, and won't flex, or break.

Having said this: It is also code where I live, no plastic or other random material is allowed to be used in a new build. If it is a reno, than the home owner may use what ever is on the shelves at the local HD, Lowes, what have you.

Regards

Teken . . .

NEC is probably not applicable, unless he's using the inverter in his house or business, which I'm guessing is not the case. Cars and boats are not subject to the NEC, although specific codes may reference it. The ABYC has a recommended subset of standards similar in scope to the NEC, and are good to follow, but the only legal requirements that I am aware of are the very basic Coast Guard regulations.

GFCIs will work fine and last just as long with ground, without ground, or a "crappy" ground... the ground is not used or connected to the GFCI itself whatsoever. It's only the metal tabs which mount the device to the box that are grounded, and perhaps a bit of metal bracket.

 

[Falcon67]

I've put in 10 or 12 of the things new in various building here since 1997 and replaced two over that time. IIRC, both of those were non resettable after a trip.

 

[Greatbear]

Not all GFCIs will be happy being fed by a MSW inverter. Most use a series capacitor-style internal power supply for the electronics inside. Since most modified sine wave inverters are basically square wave, the sharp switching waveform causes the internal power supply to actually produce a much higher voltage, this will reduce the life of the GFCI (or any one of hundreds of similarly designed and powered equipment) if not fry it outright. You'd have to pore over manufacturer's specs to see if such non-standard AC power is acceptable.