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    tkirac's Avatar
    tkirac Posts: 7, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Jun 2, 2010, 02:05 PM
    Timer and themostat work fine independently. In combination the GFCI trips.
    Timer and thermostat work fine independently and do not trip the GFCI. In combination the GFCI trips. The GFCI is in main panel and thermostat and timer are in sub-panel near sauna heater. Main panel is about 30 ft away. Neutral is capped off in sub-panel.
    KISS's Avatar
    KISS Posts: 12,510, Reputation: 839
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    #2

    Jun 2, 2010, 02:14 PM

    Check the wiring of the GFCI in the main panel. The pigtail is line neutral. It MUST be connected. The load neutral terminal should feed the sub-panel.

    You might have to attach pics using "go advanced/manage attachments".
    ballengerb1's Avatar
    ballengerb1 Posts: 27,378, Reputation: 2280
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    #3

    Jun 2, 2010, 02:17 PM

    How long did it work before it started tripping?
    tkirac's Avatar
    tkirac Posts: 7, Reputation: 1
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    #4

    Jun 2, 2010, 02:57 PM

    Approx. 15 minutes.
    BTW, the sub-panel is not a panel. It's a connection box with the thermostat and timer mounted on the face plate.
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    ballengerb1 Posts: 27,378, Reputation: 2280
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    #5

    Jun 2, 2010, 03:04 PM

    What is the raing of the GFCI and what's the draw of your unit with everything on?
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    tkirac Posts: 7, Reputation: 1
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    #6

    Jun 2, 2010, 03:47 PM

    GFCI is 30A and the sauna heater is 20A. When wired one at a time it does not trip. Peculiar.
    KISS's Avatar
    KISS Posts: 12,510, Reputation: 839
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    #7

    Jun 2, 2010, 04:03 PM

    Does the faceplate have a ground bond wire? e.g. are the mounted devices grounded via a screw to the device o are they grounded via the panel to box connection?
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    tkirac Posts: 7, Reputation: 1
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    #8

    Jun 2, 2010, 04:08 PM

    The box and faceplate are solidly grounded via screwed-on ground wire from the main panel.
    ballengerb1's Avatar
    ballengerb1 Posts: 27,378, Reputation: 2280
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    #9

    Jun 2, 2010, 04:22 PM

    What is the rating of the GFCI
    tkirac's Avatar
    tkirac Posts: 7, Reputation: 1
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    #10

    Jun 2, 2010, 04:36 PM
    30a.
    tkirac's Avatar
    tkirac Posts: 7, Reputation: 1
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    #11

    Jun 3, 2010, 04:03 PM

    Any ideas why when the timer and thermostat are hooked up together the GFCI trips and does not when they are separately hooked up?
    tkirac's Avatar
    tkirac Posts: 7, Reputation: 1
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    #12

    Jun 3, 2010, 04:12 PM

    ??
    KISS's Avatar
    KISS Posts: 12,510, Reputation: 839
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    #13

    Jun 5, 2010, 04:32 AM

    In a last ditch effort to help, can you?
    1. Post links to instruction manuals for timer and thermostat
    2. Post pics of the inside of both panels

    Taking 15 minutes to trip and work independently have little in common.

    Is one of the devices solid state and the other relay based?

    Going out on a limb have you tried:

    1. Temporarily putting like a 60 W light bulb between the timer and the thermostat?
    2. Temporarily disconnecting the heater entirely and substituting another load for the heater?

    Right now, that's all I can think of.
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