Tripping GFCI

[Schurkey]

We're having problems with a GFCI getting tripped. My wife's "food processor" trips a GFCI every time she uses it.

Wifely's "food processor" is plugged directly into a GFCI that also protects other outlets on that circuit. And if THAT was the GFCI that was being tripped, I'd figure that the motor in the food processor wasn't functioning properly.

The odd part is that the GFCI outlet that the food processor is plugged into isn't the one that trips! The one that trips is in another room, on another circuit. The only thing plugged into it is our internet router and cable modem.

Can the food processor produce RFI interference that the wireless router is unhappy with? Is there some other way that an electric motor can repeatedly pop a GFCI that it ISN'T plugged into?

 

[larry4406]

You have arc fault breakers? I am having problems on an active construction site where CB radios from truckers comes thru the computer speakers than bam there trips the arc faults. POS they are.

Have replaced many arc fault breakers in customers homes as their vacuums trip the arc faults. Even had some LED/plasma trip the arc faults. They don't want to hear that the arc faults are sensitive.

Not sure if this helps you but yes arc faults are RFI sensitive.

 

[Mustang51js]

Sounds like you may have a multi branch curcuit in the gfi that is tripping and they put both nuetrals on the outlet instead of a wire nut with pig tail. Other than that i dont see how it could trip a gfi on a different curcuit

 

[nehog]

The short answer is yes, particularly if both GFCIs are on the same buss. Electrical noise might well trip a GFCI that is perhaps defective or poorly designed. I'd first replace the tripping GFCI with a new one (since they are not expensive) and see if that cures the problem. Electrical noise from brushed motors can be significant.

Another fix might be to use a power-line filter on the offending device. However a good filter would cost more than a new GFCI outlet.

 

[mm08822]

I tend to go with mustang's hunch as i just fixed the very same problem in a flip. And the clowns put the gfi recept behind the fridge! Also try another load in that recept that the fp is currently plugged into. Also try the fp in the remote gfi that trips.

 

[Cmreschke]

Sounds like you may have a multi branch curcuit in the gfi that is tripping and they put both nuetrals on the outlet instead of a wire nut with pig tail. Other than that i dont see how it could trip a gfi on a different curcuit

That makes no sense, the gfi doesn't know the difference between pigtail and landing on the line side together.

 

[klassenl]

Did you try a coffee perk or something in the offending plug? First see if it is the food processor or the wiring.

 

[mm08822]

Cmr, mustang is correct. The pigtail allows the current in one hot leg to equal the current exiting the gfi. That nuetral current will combine at the wirenut away from the gfi measuring that current and prevent imbalance on the nuetral created by a load passing through the other hot leg/gfi.

 

[Cmreschke]

It will not. If it's a 2 line gfi on a multi wire or 2 line and say the other line is feeding a non protected plug the gfi won't recognize it as its not going thru the gfi it only lands on the same terminal. If say that gfi is fed from the other gfi or say the neutrals aren't landed correctly (should be on line but it's on load) then sure. But the gfi will not be able to tell if 1 wire lands on the line side terminal or 2 wires land on the line side terminal. The measurement is between the line and load.

 

[Cmreschke]

Are you sure it's another circuit? Physically checked that you can turn one off at the breaker and have power on the other. I'm thinking that maybe the gfi that is tripping has the kitchen jumper landed on the load of it. Homer un to the line side of tripper, load side of tripper to line side of kitchen gfi. That's what I'm putting my money on.

 

[Schurkey]

1. Not arc-fault breakers.

2. The circuit the food processor is plugged-into is original construction, but with the GFCI installed in place of the 1958 outlet in perhaps 1992. The downstairs GFCI that trips was a new circuit during a remodel in '97--'98.

3. We occasionally pop the kitchen (food processor) circuit breaker due to overload--Fridge, microwave, electric grill, etc. I can't remember the last time the GFCI on that circuit tripped. We haven't lost internet (the other circuit) however, I will check breakers tomorrow.

 

[Mustang51js]

That makes no sense, the gfi doesn't know the difference between pigtail and landing on the line side together.

I was thinking if its a shared neutral going through the screw it may trip compared to a pigtail. Just something else for him to check.

 

[mm08822]

Attached are the possible connections scenarios previously discussed that the OP might be dealing with if he has a MWBC.

 

[Cmreschke]

Mm yout first scenario doesn't work. If gfi 1 trips gfi 2 will NOT work. It will have an open neutral.

 

[mm08822]

The only point here is that you don't want to wire the neutral of the other leg thru the gfi. It creates an imbalance and both ckts won't work independently. So you either pigtail them or make sure the neutral connections stay of the line side of the gfi. That is the only point here. This is what mustang and i were both attempting to explain.

 

[Cmreschke]

My whole point was that in scenario 2 and 3 theee is no difference. The gfi doesn't know that it is pigtailed or not. It would work either way. The scenario 1 is wrong for many reasons. I truly don't even think that gfi 1 would reset because of the way it is wired, but I could be wrong about that last statement. I do know that if gfi 1 trips that gfi 2 will not work in scenario 1. It will read an open neutral. I will also say I thought that you were arguing the difference between 2 and 3. I think we are all three seeing and saying the same thing just not getting each other.

The 4th scenario (not listed) involves a single circuit not a multi wire branch ckt. I think from ops most recent description, we are not dealing with multi wire branch ckts at all.

 

[Samh]

I have something similar, where my welder will trip 2 gfcis on separate circuits. I assume from the HF start.