Predator Generator GFCI Tripping

[tommo15]

Hey folks,

Recently I purchased this 4375 watt generator from HF - I have heard some bad things about HF's generators but the insanely low price is what attracted me - however, before I go about returning or upgrading I want to eliminate any issues in my wiring setup.

Here's the setup: Generator has two 120vac GFCI outlets each of which I am running a 100 foot 16 gauge extension cord out of. Plugged into each of these extension cords are two 3-outlet wall taps, and plugged into these wall taps are different surge protectors, powering audio gear such as two audio interfaces (65w) laptop (100w or so) guitar amps (50w or less) an LED lamp (150w) and so on. Nothing is daisy chained, the audio interfaces and laptop are on one outlet and the amps are on another so the loops are separated.

Here's the trouble: When plugging in specifically the laptop, the GFCI for that outlet tripped immediately, without even turning the laptop on. After this point, just plugging in the audio interface was enough to trip it. Later, just turning on the surge protector was enough to trip it. Tried the other outlet, different surge protector, just the laptop - same issue. Now weirdly, I was able to run two guitar amps and pedalboards off of one extension cord with no trouble - maybe about 300-400 watts altogether.

I have considered going for higher gauge extension cords? Or even biting the bullet and getting a Honda inverter generator. Any ideas you guys might have? Thanks so much.

p.s. yes, the generator is grounded to a galvanized steel rod about a foot deep.

 

[Solarphil]

GFCIs trip when there is an imbalance between the phases - essentially when whatever goes out on the black wire isn’t perfectly balanced with what’s coming back on the white. I’m suspecting there’s something in the laptop power supply brick that’s chopping the waveform in a way the GFCI doesn’t like. Just for shits and grins (and science!), try plugging in an old fashioned resistive load in the same circuit before plugging in the laptop. Something like an electric heater or toaster. I don’t know for sure if it would fix the problem but it would be interesting hearing the results.

 

[a_whale]

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[nadogail]

Add individual loads, one at a time starting with an extension cord, until you find what causes your problem.

I use a bank of incandescent light bulbs to demonstrate the output of my generator set.

 

[Rob_b]

Does that power supply for the laptop trip a GFCI in your own home or office? Have you tried another laptop with a different power supply directly to the outlet on the generator? Sounds like you've already figured out the problem. Also, using a #16 - 100' cord is not a great idea. Try using a #12-14 cord at that length would be better.

 

[tommo15]

GFCIs trip when there is an imbalance between the phases - essentially when whatever goes out on the black wire isn’t perfectly balanced with what’s coming back on the white. I’m suspecting there’s something in the laptop power supply brick that’s chopping the waveform in a way the GFCI doesn’t like. Just for shits and grins (and science!), try plugging in an old fashioned resistive load in the same circuit before plugging in the laptop. Something like an electric heater or toaster. I don’t know for sure if it would fix the problem but it would be interesting hearing the results.

I had a 150w LED lamp plugged into a separate line from the extension cord, and that outlet would trip more often when that lamp was plugged in. So, I would plug in an audio interface, no problem, two audio interfaces, all good, plug in the lamp, GFCI trip.

The laptop alone always causes a trip, but I'm not sure why the GFCI is tripping seemingly randomly with other devices, and even just from turning a surge protector on.

 

[tommo15]

Does that power supply for the laptop trip a GFCI in your own home or office? Have you tried another laptop with a different power supply directly to the outlet on the generator? Sounds like you've already figured out the problem. Also, using a #16 - 100' cord is not a great idea. Try using a #12-14 cord at that length would be better.

I will definitely try both of those and get back to you. My initial thought was the cord since nothing plugged directly into the generator caused a problem.

 

[tommo15]

Hi Rob, I tested each of those devices on a bathroom GFCI outlet and it did not trip. I will test out different laptops plugged directly into the generator