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Electrical Inspections Contains discussions about electrical systems. This includes receptacles, panels, wiring, etc.

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Old 8/11/08, 7:01 PM
Kevin A. Richardson Kevin A. Richardson is offline
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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



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Old 8/11/08, 7:20 PM
Joshua L. Frederick Joshua L. Frederick is online now
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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.
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Old 8/11/08, 7:29 PM
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Jeffrey R. Pope Jeffrey R. Pope is offline
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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/



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Old 8/11/08, 8:17 PM
Kevin A. Richardson Kevin A. Richardson is offline
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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



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Old 8/11/08, 8:26 PM
rshuey rshuey is offline
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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)
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Old 8/11/08, 9:10 PM
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Mark A. Timpani, CMI Mark A. Timpani, CMI is online now
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Default Re: Gfci

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




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