A GFCI mystery (for me at least)

[Paul W. Abernathy]

Well they better " Get them off the phone system " before I come...if their is a GFCI in the house..I am testing them.... Can't figure a judge who is ruling on a kids life that may have been lost saying to me...

Mr.Abernathy....it says you must test all GFCI's and you did not because WHY......hmmm...ok sir...tell that to the family of the 6 year old that was just killed because that GFCI was defective....

Nah......When they know I am coming for an inspection I let them know I will be tripping things on GFCI's and AFCI's....so if they have anything in them of importance they better take care of it before I come...

I prefer to pay for a CHANCE at spoiling some meat versus paying for a life......but thats just me....

[dbook]

Why won't a 3-light GFCI tester work in a 2-wire electrcial system?
Thanks for the help

Doug

[Erby Crofutt]

Looks like quite a few people need that electrical course.

[Larry D. Kage]

Originally Posted by dbook

Why won't a 3-light GFCI tester work in a 2-wire electrcial system?
Thanks for the help

Doug

A "3-light" tester uses the ground wire to make the current imbalance for testing. A 2-wire system has no ground wire.

[Paul W. Abernathy]

Originally Posted by ecrofutt

Looks like quite a few people need that electrical course.

...thats why I am here.( and others )..... even if upper nachi does not understand that Electrical issues are of the " MAJOR" importance....

[dbook]

Thanks, Larry,
It's the answer that I was asking for. When I've tested a 2-wire GFCI, it shows open ground, I write it up as such but now I know why.
doug

[dbook]

Chris or Paul or whoever has the answer .....
If the house has an older 2-wire system and they’ve installed GFCI’s in the appropriate places, I understand they will not ‘break’ as expected.

However, my questions is - why put them in, if they won’t stop the flow of electrical current when needed? And how do I test them if they won’t ‘break’?

Thanks for the help.

[Michael Larson]

Originally Posted by dbook

Chris or Paul or whoever has the answer .....
If the house has an older 2-wire system and they’ve installed GFCI’s in the appropriate places, I understand they will not ‘break’ as expected.

But they will "break" the circuit.
The GFCI monitors the current in the "Hot" and "Neutral" conductors. If there is more than a 5mA difference the GFCI Will open the circuit. When used with 2-wire circuits the receptacles are supposed to be marked "No equipment Ground"

[dbook]

Michael,
So, I should note that labels should be installed or simply note that there is No equipment Ground?
doug

[Michael Larson]

Originally Posted by dbook

Michael,
So, I should note that labels should be installed or simply note that there is No equipment Ground?
doug

It's not uncommon to see the missing labels. I'm just telling what is suppose to happen.

I would note in the report that GFCIs are installed and where tested for proper operation and make a notation in the report that they are not grounded.
Yes they are supposed to be marked but let the buyer decide how important it is. It's quite a small matter IMHO. Report it and move on.

[Doug Edwards]

I am simply amazed, shocked and bewildered by the lack of basic knowledge and understanding of an increasingly large portion of the HI industry who are performing inspections on a daily basis. Not the rare, complex and difficult things in this business but the routine and supposedly elementary baseline information every Home Inspector should know before they ever take another person's money for services and place those families in danger.

[mthomas2]

A while back a link was posted to a pretty good video on testing GFCIs, but I don't seem to have bookmarked it... perhaps someone else has.