Hi
I have a GFCI outlet in the bathroom that keeps tripping off and it tends to do this in the dark of the night. This isn’t the only issue because once it switches off the GFCI keeps tripping and the noise that comes from that wakes me up. I’ve tried to push the reset button, but it trips again. So my only solution is to switch it off at the fuse box, which turns off all the lights in the bathroom.
It’s a newish model and a pretty good one too.
Any thoughts, solutions? Is it in danger of becoming a fire hazard?
Thanks
Replies
Well you can just leave it tripped when it does this rather than turning off the breaker.
Now you need to determine if the problem is in the GFCI or something downstream.
Does it feed anything else?
If so disconnect them and see if the problem returns. If it does then you have a bad GFCI.
If not then the problem is either in the down stream wiring or what it feeds.
Start by checking all of the wires in each box. Specially look for any nicks in the insulation, specially in the back where the extra lenght get folded up.
William the Geezer, the sequel to Billy the Kid - Shoe
It shouldn't be making noise once it's tripped. It's hard to tell from your description, but it sounds like that's what's happening. If so, my best guess is that it's an older unit that's wired backwards. (Newer units won't reset if wired backwards.)
You should definitely check it out, since making noise while tripped indicates some sort of failure within the unit (if not wired backwards).
I'll vote with DanH.
Once a GFCI has tripped for whatever reason, it should not be making any noise, at least until it is reset.
Methinks you have a faulty GFCI. I would replace it with a new one and see if your problem returns -- I 'spect it will not.
Jim