View Full Version : Tripped gfi
Paul agostino
Dec 11, 2013, 05:38 PM
Pulled 2prong Xmas lights plug out of outdoor standard receptacle. Back bedroom. Tripped. Gfi. Would not. Reset . Replaced gfi. Will not reset. Found. The feed wire and the neutral to have. 120v. Checked between them 1.4v. The load wires. Black and white. Have continuity. If I touch. Either load. Wires to. Line. Wires. 90v. I am. Sooooo lost and scared to. Rebook any. Wires. No power in 20% of house. Gfi hasn't tripped in 12 months no recent wiring. How could it work. .
hfcarson
Dec 12, 2013, 08:09 AM
Paul,
The grammar and punctuation of your question needs improvement before I'll venture any response.
donf
Dec 12, 2013, 02:47 PM
Help me please, I have no idea what you are talking about.
The light string had two plugs, was one of them polarized? You unplugged the string from a GFCI receptacle outside the bedroom? Does that mean that mean receptacle was on the bedroom's circuit and now the bedroom is without power?
A GFCI receptacle will trip the breaker. Both the breaker and the receptacle will have to be reset.
stanfortyman
Dec 12, 2013, 03:09 PM
Wow! This original post is classic! Gibberish level 4.8 out of 5! LOL
Now taking bets as to whether Paul will return to clarify. I say 80/20 negative.
Paul agostino
Dec 12, 2013, 04:51 PM
Sorry, my cousin unplugged a 2prong christmas light string outside from a standard non gfi outlet ,which in turn tripped a gfi receptacle inside the house, in his back bedroom. It would not reset all night.in the morning it had energized itself somehow . When my cousin turned on the light switch to that bedroom, it tripped again and has been dead for 3 days . I replaced the gfi and it will not energize. The breaker at the panel never tripped and is feeding other loads up and to the gfi.
I apoligize for my first rant, I hope this is acceptable.
hkstroud
Dec 12, 2013, 05:39 PM
I hope this is acceptable.
Much better.
Is there anything plugged into any outside receptacle?
in the morning it had energized itself somehow That just does not happen. You must have gotten it to reset but didn't know it.
When my cousin turned on the light switch to that bedroom, it tripped again
Are you trying to reset the GFI with the light on or off. Perhaps it was the light that tripped the GFI and not the unplugging of the exterior cord. Perhaps the light tripped the breaker and not the GFI. Some breakers do not move very much when they trip. To insure that the breaker is reset, turn it off and then back on.
Turn off everything on that circuit, including the lights. Make sure that nothing is plugged into any outlet on that circuit, inside or out.
Reset breaker and then reset and test GFI. If GFI resets begin turning on things on that circuit, then plug things into outlets.
Why is GFI in bedroom and not the first exterior outlet
Paul agostino
Dec 12, 2013, 06:57 PM
The house was purchased in this condition 10 years ago. 1960s home , the panel breaker has been switched on and off. And the gfi will not let me reset it. I tested the 2 pairs of wires going to the gfi with the gfi disconnected,One black and white read 120v each to ground .the other black and white wires. Have. Continuity
I think the previous owner installed the gfi upstairs in the bedroom. So they wouldn't have to go downstairs to reset the breaker frequently. 4 rooms On 1Circuit. I will double check shutting all lights off and unplugging all devices and try again
I appreciate your time,expertise and patience
hkstroud
Dec 12, 2013, 08:13 PM
Just as a matter of information.
When you do a voltage check, the meter shows the difference in voltage of the two conductors. If you have 120 volts on the hot (black) and 0 volts on the neutral, the meter will show the difference, 120 volts. The same is true for the hot and the ground. That is not to say that there is no voltage on the neutral. There is at times, but the neutral and the ground should be at the same voltage. The neutral and the ground come together at the panel, therefore they should be at the same voltage and your meter should show 0 volts.
So if you meter shows voltage between neutral and ground as you stated (at least the way I read it) you have an open neutral.
So how could the neutral have voltage?
The hot brings current to the light bulb, current goes through the light bulb and comes out the neutral, with a slight voltage drop due to resistance of the light bulb, and returns to its source. If you have an open neutral, current flow stops and the light does not burn. But you still have current on the neutral. A voltage check between neutral and ground will show the a voltage slightly less than the input voltage.
If you indeed do show voltage between the neutral and the ground you have an open neutral.
.the other black and white wires. Have. Continuity
What does that mean?
Paul agostino
Dec 13, 2013, 05:49 PM
Success! Thank you for all guidance and expertise. After ripping apart about 12 receptacles , all loads, and shutting off all light switches ,still no further. Until I cursed and looked up at the ceiling and noticed a ceiling fan. As soon as I disconnected it ,everything went back to normal at all outlets. I will be relocating the gfi. To the outdoor receptacle.
A shorted winding in a cheap ceiling fan . Now. I understand how the neutral and the black both had. 120volts.
I can't thank you enough, for all your help and professionalism.
hkstroud
Dec 13, 2013, 06:16 PM
Congratulations.
Paul agostino
Dec 24, 2013, 01:46 PM
Thanking everybody and wishing you all a happy holiday season.
hkstroud
Dec 24, 2013, 07:25 PM
Merry Christmas to all.