Neat GFCI Experiment

[relliott]

I was going to right up a closet location that has Laundry facility for a double stack , but this should be an exception to the GFCI recommendation I would imagine since it is a inaccessible location with the units in place.

[rbrady]

I ALWAYS recommend that large appliances (refrigerators, washing machines, clothes dryers) have a proper ground. I do not recommend (even if the code says it's OK) the use of GFCI on motor driven appliances due to the risk of nuicance tripping, which in the case of a fridge or freezer, could result in food spoilage.

Also as was mentioned in another thread recently, a GFCI might save your life, but it can still be VERY painful!

[relliott]

Ralph I thought that was an old argument as they do not nuisance trip like the old days.

[rbrady]

Originally Posted by relliott

Ralph I thought that was an old argument as they do not nuisance trip like the old days.

I hadn't heard that, but would be very interested in having more information on that. I will have to do some research. I did run across a sump pump recently that had tripped the GFCI receptacle.
Thanks for the heads up.

[relliott]

Yeah.. I have read this argument on many forums and specificly remember Paul Abernathy telling me this in a phone conversation.

[Marc D. Shunk]

There is no such thing as nuisance tripping, and there never was. There is, and always was, "reason tripping". It's not always clear what the reason is, so people term it a nuisance. Proper testing will always reveal the reason. Sump pump or a refrigerator that trips a GFCI is doing so for a very valid reason, which is quite measurable and demonstrable.

[relliott]

So in plain English they are defective and not the circuit interrupter.
I take it your opinion is the same for cousin AFCI?

[Richard L. Bennett]

Robert

Hope we are helping and not making things worse

I just came home from a Saturday inspection where the GFCIs were in the breaker box (all sockets were marked GFCI protected)

None would trip

Went to the breaker box and someone had replaced the GFCI breakers with standard breakers

Used home sales person wanted to solve the problem by replacing the cover plates with ones that did not have stickers on them.

Hey he can do anything he wants but it is in my report as I saw it and I include pictures at no additional cost.

My client was not at the inspection

Wonder how many homes required GFCI's when built or upgraded and someone replaced the breakers and cover plates

As HI's we would assume that it was not required and not even put it in the report.

This is why I always point out this issue

All have a good day

Many K$ and few $ to do it right - Guess I am just getting old

rlb

[rbrady]

Originally Posted by Marc D. Shunk

There is no such thing as nuisance tripping, and there never was.

From the Levitron GFCI spec sheet:

"Improved immunity to high-frequency noise reduces nuisance tripping"
&
"Advanced electronics design provides superior resistance to electrical surges and over-voltages"

It sounds like refrigerators and GFCI circuits have both gotten better at not tripping during high impedence start-up surges.

[relliott]

In Chicago I looked up our code which is different, and it does except hard to reach places.

[rromoser]

GFCI's actually trip when there is more than a 5 milliamp difference in current flow of the hot wire compared to the flow on the neutral wire. All of the 2 wire (hot & neutral only) tests done in a non-conductive plastic bucket will not trip a GFCI. It may trip a circuit breaker from current being to high.
If your hand submerged in the bucket provides a ground path through you with a low enough resistance that allows at least a 5 milliamp current to flow the GFCI should trip.
FYI 5 milliamps is considered the threshold point of current flow that could be lethal.

[cbuell]

I can tell you for a fact that a metal bucket with 120 volts from the bucket sitting on bare ground to a hot conductor in a GFCI protected receptacle (indicating that the bucket is in fact grounded) will not trip the GFCI when the extension cord plugged into the GFCI is dipped into the water----regular good ole tap water. The water is not conductive to 5ma. Now, if I start adding salt or making it dirty----all bets are off

[jtedesco1]

Originally Posted by jtedesco1

This one worked and tripped the GFCI in the hotel bathroom in NH

I have another video from a hotel in Connecticut where the hair dryer drop sink caper did not work, it just kept running and running!

Will post it later.

Here it is!

[tdietrich1]

Originally Posted by jtedesco1

Here it is!

Looks like an endorement for 100% metal drain piping.

Anyone notice the coffeemaker?

tom

[Marc D. Shunk]

Originally Posted by tdietrich1

Anyone notice the coffeemaker?

Rented a hotel room lately? They all have a coffee maker in the bathroom.