InterNACHI


Go Back   InterNACHI Inspection Forum > Specific Inspection Topics > Electrical Inspections

Notices

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

 
Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 4/18/08, 8:05 PM
Kenneth (Kip) R. McCullough, Jr. Kenneth (Kip) R. McCullough, Jr. is offline
InterNACHI Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Smyrna, GA
Posts: 35
Default Help GFCI Tester Showing All Lights

This afternoon during an inspection when I tested an outlet all three lights lit up on my GFCI tester. There is nothing in the manual stating what type of connection this may be. Does anyone know what this means? I've never seen this before.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 4/18/08, 8:09 PM
Doug Edwards's Avatar
Doug Edwards Doug Edwards is offline
InterNACHI Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Florida panhandle
Posts: 4,846
Default Re: Help GFCI Tester Showing All Lights

One would have to know what kind of tester you have. Most of the ones Ive ever seen or own have their own code chart attached. You did not say whether it is a 4 dollar tester or a $300 tester and which brand.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 4/18/08, 8:10 PM
Bob Elliott's Avatar
Bob Elliott Bob Elliott is offline
InterNACHI Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Chicago
Posts: 21,908
Default Re: Help GFCI Tester Showing All Lights

It is a combination problem.
Simple as that.
I assume it was fine on the others.
Try checking for ground and reverse with a multi meter.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 4/18/08, 8:14 PM
Marc D. Shunk's Avatar
Marc D. Shunk Marc D. Shunk is offline
Banned
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Central PA
Posts: 1,980
Please Note: Marc D. Shunk is a non-member guest and is in no way affiliated with InterNACHI or its members.
Default Re: Help GFCI Tester Showing All Lights

This can happen if someone has a regular receptacle wired for 240V.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 4/18/08, 8:16 PM
Kenneth (Kip) R. McCullough, Jr. Kenneth (Kip) R. McCullough, Jr. is offline
InterNACHI Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Smyrna, GA
Posts: 35
Default Re: Help GFCI Tester Showing All Lights

It is a cheap $9 GFCI tester from Home Depot. All of the other outlets tested okay. The attahed chart does not show the configuration for all three light coming on. I am at a loss on this one. Thanks for all of your replies.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 4/18/08, 9:18 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: 8,047
Default Re: Help GFCI Tester Showing All Lights

Quote:
Originally Posted by Marc D. Shunk
This can happen if someone has a regular receptacle wired for 240V.
Mark is correct. That's the issue exactly.



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
  #7  
Old 4/18/08, 9:32 PM
Speedy Petey Speedy Petey is offline
Unmoderated Guest
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,297
Please Note: Speedy Petey is a non-member guest and is in no way affiliated with InterNACHI or its members.
Default Re: Help GFCI Tester Showing All Lights

Quote:
Originally Posted by jpope
Mark is correct. That's the issue exactly.
I agree as well.

An improper MWBC with an open neutral and a load can do this.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 4/19/08, 12:23 PM
Bruce A. King's Avatar
Bruce A. King Bruce A. King is offline
InterNACHI Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: York, SC
Posts: 3,206
Default Re: Help GFCI Tester Showing All Lights

I just noticed the other day on a new, 120V GFCI outlet, forget which brand, all three lights come on (cheap tester) while holding in on the GFCI reset button.



B.A. King Home Inspections, LLC
www.BAKingHomeInspections.com
Serving Charlotte NC area and Rock Hill SC areas.
CMI Certified Master Inspector and Independent
License NC2449 and SC1597
704 301-3207



"Discovery consists in seeing what everyone else has seen and thinking what no one else has thought."
- Albert Szent-Gyvrgyi, Nobel Prize for Medicine 1937
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 4/19/08, 1:11 PM
Greg Fretwell Greg Fretwell is offline
Active Poster
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Estero Florida
Posts: 1,798
Please Note: Greg Fretwell is a non-member guest and is in no way affiliated with InterNACHI or its members.
Default Re: Help GFCI Tester Showing All Lights

If your line voltage is on the high side an open ground can light all 3 on a cheap tester. (L/N and N/G lights end up in series). There will be one bright one and 2 dim.
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
GFCI won't trip by tester rstufflebeem Electrical Inspections 22 3/22/08 8:10 PM
More GFCI info from U/L Greg Fretwell Electrical Inspections 9 12/4/07 8:33 PM
GFCI Safety Notice rcooke Electrical Inspections 1 10/30/07 12:29 PM
Lights & GFCI Outlets thejnicki Electrical Inspections 14 2/28/07 3:48 PM
The question asked on the new HI Study test here? jtedesco1 Electrical Inspections 28 10/4/06 9:31 AM


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 3:14 AM.


Popular Sections

:

All Sections

Inspection News

InterNACHI Membership

Inspection Standards

Inspection Education

InterNACHI Inspectors

Inspection Links

 

 

 

NACHI.ORG Statistics

 

 

no new posts