Pond pump tripping GFCI

azwurth · #1 May 11, 2007, 03:27 AM

Three years ago a new outdoor GFCI outlet was installed mainly to run a small pond pump. I mean small..the pump is about the size of a baseball, but keeps the pond water circulating well enough. Just within the past two weeks, the outlet kept tripping, I quickly determined it must be the pump(left in pond all year, all weather, in frozen pond, etc)..and replaced the pump. Bought new pump, plugged in..all worked fine for a day..it ran non-stop, until last evening and it kicked out again(the GFCI)..Unplugged the cord to the pump, woke up this morning, plugged it in..all running again. Now I'm going to see how long it takes to kick out again....assuming it will.

What's going on here? The electrical box does NOT trip...AND..even when GFCI does trip, if I unplug the pump, I can reset it..without it popping out. That is what made me suspect it was the pump in the beginning. Thanks

azwurth · May 11, 2007, 05:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azwurth

Three years ago a new outdoor GFCI outlet was installed mainly to run a small pond pump. I mean small..the pump is about the size of a baseball, but keeps the pond water circulating well enough. Just within the past two weeks, the outlet kept tripping, I quickly determined it must be the pump(left in pond all year, all weather, in frozen pond, etc)..and replaced the pump. Bought new pump, plugged in..all worked fine for a day..it ran non-stop, until last evening and it kicked out again(the GFCI)..Unplugged the cord to the pump, woke up this morning, plugged it in..all running again. Now I'm going to see how long it takes to kick out again....assuming it will.

What's going on here? The electrical box does NOT trip...AND..even when GFCI does trip, if I unplug the pump, I can reset it..without it popping out. That is what made me suspect it was the pump in the beginning. Thanks

OK, answering myself here.................The longer I turn it off, the longer it takes for it to trip AFTER resetting and plugging back in. Sounds like the GFCI is either overheating or is just plain defective.

I can replace it for $16.95. If that doesn't work, I give.



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