Hi,
Just finishing off a master bathroom remodel. I installed a vent/light in the shower stall and as per instructions I’m connecting it to a GFCI breaker.
What I did was disconnect the switched feed from the old fan and connected it to the new fan/light. Then replaced that breaker with the GFCI. The GFCI breaker is tripping immediately on the resumption of power. I’ve re read the installation instructions/troubleshooting and troubleshooted it to a “Gounded Neutral Wire”. Not too sure where to go from there. There’s quite a few things on that circuit, lights and outlets, original to the house. I can just run a new circuit for the fan/light if the solution is too complex. Also, what’s a “Grounded Neutral?”
Forgot to mention, and now I think, the neutral on this circuit is shared with another circuit. 14/3. I’ll bet that’s an issue.
All help appreciated.
Mike
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Replies
I'll bet you're right. Can you rerun the circuit with a single piece of 12/2 or 14/2?
David,
Thanks. I'll just see what other advice comes in but I agree, I think that's what I'll end up doing.
Mike
I forgot another piece of pertinent info. There's a couple of GFCI outlets on that circuit also.
Mike
Yep, you can't use a shared neutral with a single-pole GFCI breaker. The neutral must be for only that circuit and must be connected to the neutral terminal on the GFCI breaker.
Dan,
Thanks. So does that mean if I run a new circuit for the light/fan I would need 2 GFCI breakers. One for the light and one for the fan?
Mike
No. You just need to not share neutrals between breakers. If it's just a 14/3 or whatever cable running from switch to light/fan, that's no problem. If it's a 14/3 leaving the breaker panel, and one "hot" in the cable is on one breaker and another "hot" on a different breaker (or the two sides of a 240V breaker) then you have a shared neutral situation.
If your view never changes you're following the wrong leader
I wont get on the wiring, but is the fixture designed for a wet area?
Yes.
Try this instead of how you currently wired it:
1. Hook it back up to the normal breaker.
2. Place a double box at the switch location.
3. In the second slot, install a GFI protection device only - it looks like a GFI outlet, with the buttons without the outlets.
4. Power the GFI from the 14/3, them power your lights/fans from there
This is exactly what I did. I didn't want to traips outside while wet to reset my GFI!
Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA
Also a CRX fanatic!
If your hair looks funny, it's because God likes to scratch his nuts. You nut, you.
Thanks Paul,
That sounds workable except for a couple of things that pertain to my situation.
1) The switch that control the fan at the moment is on a gang of four, and near a corner. There's no way to get another box. Plus I know the wife won't sign off on an additional 2 boxes above the 4 gang.
2) Lowes only had a 20 amp GFCI ($39) no 15 amp. I had to go to the local elec supply house. 15 amp cost me $83 (ouch!) with no returns. So I'm going to have to use the 15 amp.
Mike
$83, that's stiff!
But that may sound cheap after you figure out how much a PIA running a new wire will be.
It hasn't been mentioned yet, but they do make a 3 wire GFI for just your situation, though I'm not sure it's made for your breaker box or not.Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA
Also a CRX fanatic!
If your hair looks funny, it's because God likes to scratch his nuts. You nut, you.