I just added 4 96 watt PCs to my system. They are on two ballasts. When I plug them into a regular outlet, they work just fine but I plugged them into my GFI's and when I flip the switch on the ballast it trips it. The hood has a fan on a separate plug and I plugged that into these GFi's and it works fine. Anyone know why this might be happening? Thanx appreciate it. Nick.
PCs tripping GFI.
- Thread starter IcantTHINKofONE
- Start date
No no no. There is something wrong with your ballasts.
Did you wire the ballast or did it come pre-wired? Maybe something is hooked up wrong. If they came pre-wired I'd take them back where you got them for an exchange.
GFI's simply detect ground current. If there is more than 5 milliamps, it trips. The fact that your ballast are making funny noises when plugged into a regular breaker points further to a problem with the ballasts or wiring.
Louey
Did you wire the ballast or did it come pre-wired? Maybe something is hooked up wrong. If they came pre-wired I'd take them back where you got them for an exchange.
GFI's simply detect ground current. If there is more than 5 milliamps, it trips. The fact that your ballast are making funny noises when plugged into a regular breaker points further to a problem with the ballasts or wiring.
Louey
DO NOT plug them in again at this point. Sparks are not a good sign! As Louey said, your ballasts or the wiring of them is the problem. Most likely, if they're still turning on, you have two wires that are making slight contact, shorting (not completely, that's why the lights come on). If you continue to run these, you are at risk of fire until the problem is solved.
It does not measure shorts to the ground, it measures the current difference between the hot and neutral wires
It also measures shorts to ground. Without a ground, and during a hot to ground short condition, the GFI will not trip until you touch a grounded appliance or surface.
A GFI is not dependent of a ground to function
Correct, it will work, but not to it's complete safety pontential.
Marco
It also measures shorts to ground. Without a ground, and during a hot to ground short condition, the GFI will not trip until you touch a grounded appliance or surface.
A GFI is not dependent of a ground to function
Correct, it will work, but not to it's complete safety pontential.
Marco
Marcosreef":33xodwdb said:
The lost of the current, that trips GFI, occures when you connect yourself to the ground. GFI, however, doesn't monitor ground - when there is a load (I should clarified this before). GFI compares what comes out to what comes in. When you take something away it trips.
. Ground monitoring is only utilized when protecting against fault in neutral wire - when there is not a load.rb
I had a similar problem with my GFI and a VHO set up - it would constantly trip. I ulimately replaced the VHO with hallides for other reasons - without similar problems. That being said - I have noticed in my set up that my GFI outlet occassionaly trips for no apparent reason and, if there is a power outage, tends to trip - a real problem when power is restored but the tank is not. I've since moved my tank's major systems (system pump and skimmer) to a non-GFI outlet and I'm thinking about removing the GFI from the other outlet.
I think you missed the most important point with all the other debate about GFI's. If you ballast makes ANY sparks or ANY popping noise, there is some wrong. You need to resolve this problem. Trying a GFI's until you find one that doesn't trip isn't resolving the problem with the ballast. For all you know, that one GFI that doesn't trip might be becuase IT doesn't work. I would focus on resolving the spark and pop problem before worrying about GFI's.
Let me clarify on the spark thing....the ballast never sparked. The plug sparks a bit when I plug it into the wall like some other things sometimes do also (for example my hair dryer does this). Nor does the ballast make a popping sound. The plug make a tiny popping sound when it sparks but I think that's because I had the ballast on when I plugged it in. Everything seems to be working perfectly now on the different brand GFI. Thanx for your help. Nick.
What Nick is describing is very common. When you plug something in and its on, you'll get a spark because of the load on the circuit. But that should not be tripping the GFI. If you want to test the GFI, go to the depot and pick up one of those plug in testers. When you hit the test button on it, the GFI will trip. I would double check the wiring on the pc's and make sure everything is ok....HTH
I was saying to you that you should at least try what we are suggesting. i really don't want to hear on the news that your house burned down with you in it because while you were sleeping the PC's started a fire. PLEASE do something more than "well it works in this plug so it must be okay."
p.s. my previous post was not intended to be a flame.....
p.s. my previous post was not intended to be a flame.....
Not taken as a flame. Thanx for your concern. Actually, my electrician came over and checked it out for me with one of those wattage meters or whatever computing tools they use. He is coming back today to change all my GFI's as he says the other brand is cheap and trip very easily. He explained to me that even though the ballasts only say 1.4 amps, it takes a lot more than that to start them up so as long as they start up, the amperage will go down and everything will be ok. I trust this guy because he is a good friend of mine. Again, thanx for your concern and insight but I feel pretty confident that my electrician reassured me it will be ok. Thanx again! Nick.
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