InterNACHI


Go Back   InterNACHI Message Board > Specific Inspection Topics > Electrical

Notices

Electrical Contains discussions about electrical systems. This includes outlets, panels, wiring, et cetera.

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 8/11/08, 7:01 PM
Kevin A. Richardson Kevin A. Richardson is offline
InterNACHI Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,145
Default Gfci

Anyone ever have a GFCI circuit register normal, then when tripped with a testing device, register reverse polarity?

I had it happen to me today. All of the GFCI's (exterior, garage, bathrooms) were tied to a single GFCI in the Hall Bath, which is normal. When I intentially tripped the exterior GFCI, it went directly to registering reversed.

All of the GFCI's on that circuit registered reversed (garage and master bath). When I get up to the Hall Bath, I reset the tripped GFCI, then test it again. It registered "all green." But, once I tripped it, it went back to reversed.

Never had a GFCI do that.

Kevin



Kevin A. Richardson, BA
Level III Certified Infrared Thermographer, #7493
BPI Certified Building Performance Analyst
Maryland Licensed Home Inspector, #29727
INACHI Certified Home Inspector, #04091175

301-942-4610
www.richnspect.com
(Residential Inspections)
www.infrared-diagnostics.com
(Commercial Infrared Services)
www.thehomegreenteam.com
(Home Energy Performance Audits)
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 8/11/08, 7:20 PM
Joshua L. Frederick Joshua L. Frederick is online now
InterNACHI Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Defiance, OH
Posts: 270
Send a message via AIM to jfrederick
Default Re: Gfci

I'm not sure about the whole rev pol thing, but what I wonder about is having all those outlets tied together, seems a bit crowded to me (that's definitely not "normal" in my parts).

Hope all is well over your way.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 8/11/08, 7:29 PM
Jeffrey R. Pope's Avatar
Jeffrey R. Pope Jeffrey R. Pope is offline
InterNACHI Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Santa Clarita, CA
Posts: 5,033
Default Re: Gfci

Defective GFCI receptacle.

Your three-light tester "reads" it as reverse polarity, but it's actually just a bad reset. In this condition, if you had plugged in a SureTest, or some other device that needs a bit more current, the circuit would have tripped again.

http://www.nachi.org/forum/f19/do-you-write-up-open-neutral-31340/



IF YOUR INSPECTOR IS NOT USING THERMAL IMAGING, YOU'RE NOT GETTING THE WHOLE PICTURE
Jeff Pope
JPI Home Inspection Service
Santa Clarita CA
(661) 212-0738
Santa Clarita Home Inspection
http://www.MyInspector.net
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 8/11/08, 8:17 PM
Kevin A. Richardson Kevin A. Richardson is offline
InterNACHI Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,145
Default Re: Gfci

Quote:
Originally Posted by jpope
Defective GFCI receptacle.

Your three-light tester "reads" it as reverse polarity, but it's actually just a bad reset. In this condition, if you had plugged in a SureTest, or some other device that needs a bit more current, the circuit would have tripped again.

http://www.nachi.org/forum/f19/do-you-write-up-open-neutral-31340/
Thanks, Jeff.

Definitely wrote it up as defective, but wanted to see if anyone else came across this scenario.

Thanks again for the info....your always here to help

Kevin



Kevin A. Richardson, BA
Level III Certified Infrared Thermographer, #7493
BPI Certified Building Performance Analyst
Maryland Licensed Home Inspector, #29727
INACHI Certified Home Inspector, #04091175

301-942-4610
www.richnspect.com
(Residential Inspections)
www.infrared-diagnostics.com
(Commercial Infrared Services)
www.thehomegreenteam.com
(Home Energy Performance Audits)
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 8/11/08, 8:26 PM
rshuey rshuey is offline
Account Suspended Due to Excessive Complaints
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 199
Please Note: rshuey is a non-member guest and is in no way affiliated with InterNACHI or its members.
Default Re: Gfci

Quote:
Originally Posted by jfrederick
I'm not sure about the whole rev pol thing, but what I wonder about is having all those outlets tied together, seems a bit crowded to me (that's definitely not "normal" in my parts).

Hope all is well over your way.
Actually, some GFCI's are tested and rated to allow up to 12 outlets downstream from one GFCI. You would have to turn on all the bath lights, receptacles, plug in a heater in the garage and runn a swimming pool motor off the circuit before a problem existed. (i am making a point, not quite literal)
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 8/11/08, 9:10 PM
Mark A. Timpani's Avatar
Mark A. Timpani Mark A. Timpani is offline
InterNACHI Member
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 1,613
Default Re: Gfci

yes, it is happened to me, then I reset it and try again and it usually is ok...




"Be Proud of Your Home, Go With Pride!"
'Not just a Home Inspection, but an Education'

Pride Property Inspections provides professional Home Inspections throughout Tucson and Southern Arizona including Pima, Cochise, Pinal, Santa Cruz, Graham counties.

Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
National Electrical Code Information and Discussion jtedesco1 Electrical 44 4/18/08 12:43 AM
More GFCI info from U/L Greg Fretwell Electrical 9 12/4/07 9:33 PM
GFCI Safety Notice rcooke Electrical 1 10/30/07 1:29 PM
The question asked on the new HI Study test here? jtedesco1 Electrical 28 10/4/06 10:31 AM
AFCI Questions and Answers - Mike Holt pabernathy Electrical 0 7/7/06 1:24 PM


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 9:10 AM.


Copyright © International Association of Certified Home Inspectors, Inc. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147

Popular Sections

:

All Sections

Popular

Membership

Inspection Standards

Education

Chapters & Members

Articles & Links

Other Organizations

 

 

 

NACHI.ORG Statistics

 

 

no new posts