Need electrical help

[fly2cast]

I have an outlet outside that two pumps are plugged into. Both are pretty small pumps. One runs an aboveground pool. The other pump is for a backyard pond/waterfall.

My problem is that about every two days, my GFI trips and shuts off the pumps. Any ideas what to do to prevent this or find out what is happening?

 

[Colt45]

Prob just a nuisance trip, GFI's are notorious for that. I would replace it................... I assume you have a GFI outlet and not a breaker

 

[Kurtr]

that or moisture is just enough in the cords you are using to trip it. I had on that did that every morning till the dew dried off it

 

[eyexer]

don't take much at all for moisture to trip em. do you have an 'in-use" cover on the outlet so that it's covered when the cords are plugged in? If not you need one.

 

[sweeney]

guessing you did a quick once over of the cords and pumps and didn't find anything, next I would replace the outlet might find something in the wiring of the outlet not quite right(loose wire, water, or bad gfci, etc) while doing that, then if that isn't it I would look deeper into your wiring on your pumps and cords. A GFCI monitors the amount of current flowing from hot to neutral. If there is any imbalance, it trips the circuit. It is able to sense a mismatch as small as 4 or 5 milliamps, and it can react as quickly as one-thirtieth of a second

 

[Sub_Elect]

Anyone know any electricians?

 

[DirtyMike]

Anyone know any electricians?

No good ones anyway

 

[Stan's Dad]

guessing you did a quick once over of the cords and pumps and didn't find anything, next I would replace the outlet might find something in the wiring of the outlet not quite right(loose wire, water, or bad gfci, etc) while doing that, then if that isn't it I would look deeper into your wiring on your pumps and cords. A GFCI monitors the amount of current flowing from hot to neutral. If there is any imbalance, it trips the circuit. It is able to sense a mismatch as small as 4 or 5 milliamps, and it can react as quickly as one-thirtieth of a second

Wikipedia is amazing

 

[Lycanthrope]

Ditch the GFCI... Problem solved!

 

[JayKay]

No good ones anyway

ouch.

 

[sweeney]

why type it when you can copy and paste, when something is right it is right

 

[Stan's Dad]

why type it when you can copy and paste

hell yea!

 

[Sub_Elect]

No good ones anyway

I resemble that remark!

 

[sweeney]

I resemble that remark!

Maybe start reading wikipedia

 

[Stan's Dad]

No good ones anyway

I resemble that remark!

you resemble a bad electrician?

- - - Updated - - -

you dont need to red rep me again. Im just joshing around.

 

[SerchforPerch]

Ditch the GFCI... Problem solved!

^^ I once plugged a chest freezer into an outlet that was GFCI protected....... Ill never do that again.

 

[deleted member]

moisture. my does it too. get a cover if it isn't already covered. one that will close preferably. if there is heavy dew, its possible that it might still trip. if you were doing a water pump for a pool according to how it should be, the thing would be hard wired into a gfci electrical box with a breaker. any pool contractor will require it. but, those above grounds seem to get a pass on this. not sure why.

 

[LBrandt]

All newer GFI outlets are super touchy due to law suits. Hell even my paint sprayers will trip them.

 

[Traxion]

It amazes me that such code required items such as GFCI outlets and AFCI breakers can have such a high rate of failure. Heck when the AFCI's first came out 1 of 2 would not work properly. A $6 GFCI is bad enough when an AFCI costs much, much more. I am all for the code and understand the intent just disappointed in the manufacturers who can't seem to deliver a reliable product.

Hope you figure it out.....guessing dew or other types of moisture are tripping it!

 

[Ericb]

^^ I once plugged a chest freezer into an outlet that was GFCI protected....... Ill never do that again.

Yup, when I bought my house the loan company made the previous owner put gfci outlets back in the garage before we closed. I had him leave the old one's and switched them back as soon as we moved in. Seems a freezer will trip them every time you take a weeks vacation.