Troubleshooting spurious(?) GFCI trips

[firebirdparts]

I am having a problem. I have a hot tub. I've had it 30 years. It has some 110 volt features, so the GFCI has to be set up for that. It runs all the time, never off. the heater kicks on and off obviously. But other than that, it's always running. Always.

In those 30 years, I would say I've worn out about 3 circuit breakers, and it wasn't uncommon for them to trip during electrical storms and whatnot.

So right now I am having a GFCI trip about once every 24 hours. Is there any realistic hope of finding an actual problem? I work in a big factory, and I am sure the power guys here could record a lot of data on the event if they were at my house. However, I don't feel like there's much chance of me catching the problem at home.

Edit: I guess if I upgrade to a spa panel, at least I would get a different choice of breakers. I don't have one.

 

[a_whale]

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[Terry D]

Is the spa 240 or 120.

Is this GFCI a breaker or receptacle.

Post some pictures.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

need more info

 

[Copymutt]

May be a faulty GFCI. IMHO the most common failure of any device.

 

[firebirdparts]

Kinda what I am thinking.

Anyway, the breaker is in the main panel on the house. I never had a spa panel, but I'm not opposed to putting one in. The main panel is GE. The heater is 240v but there is some 120v stuff like a timer and a light. All on one 50 amp two pole GFCI breaker.

Since it goes about 24 or 48 hours, there's no way that anything only happens once in that timeframe. The timer might be suspicious. I could bypass the timer. I don't use it. 100% on.

It has never ever shut off when I'm actually in it. I don't want to be a test subject, but I am very aware that I will be eventually.

 

[samss]

Maybe try a process of elimination. Disconnect the light circuit for a couple of days, then the heat elements.....etc. A data logging multimeter would help to determine a timing issue.

 

[Syberia]

When mine did that, it had a small water leak dripping into the vents on one of the motors.