I recently purchased a new Square D 50 amp GFCI breaker for my new spa. I installed it in a box 20′ from the water and hooked it up. The GFCI is feed from a 50 amp regular breaked in my main box.The main panel has a ground rod installed along with a rod at both the spa and the GFCI.
When a load is applied to the GFCI it trips. At first I checked the spa for problems but later unhooked the wiring and wired in a 100 watt light circuit and it tripped also.
Have I missed something ? HELP.
Replies
You need to run a separate ground wire and neutral wire from the panel to the GFCI.
And at the GFCI the ground wire should be continued through, but bonded to the GFCI box if metal. Also to the local ground rods, but don't know why you added those.
The neutral from the panel is connected to the line side of the GFCI.
A SEPARATE neutral is run from the GFCI load side to the load.
Sounds like you either have the neutral and ground cross connected or the line and load neutrals mixed up.
Edited 9/3/2005 11:27 am ET by BillHartmann
What it sounds like to me is...
some of the power is being grounded by the spa ground rod; thereby creating an imbalance for the GFCI breaker and causing it to trip. Remove all ground bonds from the electrical system at the spa end, so that ALL the power being returned, is being returned by the neutral wire. Also, double check your connections and find out WHY that power is going to ground in the first place. You may have a defective motor in the system.
locolobo; Edmonton, AB
I think locolobo is on the right track -- especially the comments on extra rods at the spa and GFCI.
Good troubleshoot by disconnecting the spa -- problem is in your wiring somewhere -- now ya' gotta find it!
I'm sure there is some reason you did not connect the GFCI breaker directly in the main panel -- could try trading the regular breaker and the GFCI and see what happens, if it still trips then I suspect your problem is in the wire run (buried?) between the main panel and the small box where the GFCI is located.
Jim
Never underestimate the value of a sharp pencil or good light.