In a recent N. Georgia thunderstorm we experienced a lightning strike that was somewhere very closeby. I’m finishing out(new construction)the interior of a cabin, where we have seven 20 amp GFI’s made by Leviton. Three of them will not reset. They do have hot feed to their line side but will not reset to pass feed to the loads. Is it not uncommon to have GFI’s fry themselves in various situations? The lightning also surged the phone line and burntup a DSL modem and 1 phone. It also sent some kind of huge surge thru a romex feed stubbed out to feed an upstairs ceiling fan, which isn’t installed yet and that breaker was off…………it burnt the wood paneling near the end of that feed. So as for the GFI’s, should I contact Leviton about this?
Thanks, Amax
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It is almost certain that if lightning did other damage to the electrical and communication systems that it damaged the GFCIs also. They are quite sensitive in order to trip with a small enough fault and quickly enough that the protect people from harm. Just replace them.
I would also replace the breaker that is on the circuit that was burned. Come to think about it, I'm conservative enough that despite my reluctance to part with money, I would replace them all if it happened to me.
Is there a whole house surge suppressor on the main panel? It is wise to have one. They are not expensive. $50 or so.
No, there is no hard-wired surge protection panel integrated with our
Cutler-Hammer 200 amp panel. I am researching these now on the Leviton
web site. But it looks to me they need to be installed during, or with, the main panel installation. Thanks...........
The Panel Guard from Intermatic can be installed anytime.
If the GFCI's feed any downstream loads it is possible that insulation was damaged and there is a true fault current that is causing not reset. However, that most likely means that the GFCI is also blown.
But with the damage that you described it is very possible that you have internal wiring damage.
You should get an electrican to MEG the wiring.
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A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.