GFCI - Tripping Downstream Only

[C317414]

Hello,

I have an outdoor outlet downstream from an indoor GFCI outlet. A transformer for low voltage landscape lights is plugged-in outdoors and a reading light is plugged-in directly to the GFCI indoors. This has worked fine for years.

Recently, the GFCI has been randomly tripping the downstream outlet only. In other words, the GFCI outlet still works, but the downstream outlet does not. Also, the GFCI does not show that it tripped. If I trip and reset the GFCI, the downstream load will work fine. I used an outlet tester to manually trip the GFCI outlet and the downstream outlet. The GFCI tripped both times, and showed that it was tripped.

I'm leaning toward replacing the GFCI outlet to see if it is defective, but I welcome feedback from any professional electricians.

 

[bigb56]

If the GFCI cuts downstream power but still delivers power at it's face either something is wrong with that GFCI, or it is an older GFCI wired backwards, or there is a loose connection and it's not really tripping. When you trip and reset it the movement may cause the loose connection to temporarily make contact again. When a GFCI trips, it should stop delivering power at the face.

When you replace the new GFCI make sure you understand LINE and LOAD and don't mix them up.

 

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[Fitter30]

Hello,

I have an outdoor outlet downstream from an indoor GFCI outlet. A transformer for low voltage landscape lights is plugged-in outdoors and a reading light is plugged-in directly to the GFCI indoors. This has worked fine for years.

Recently, the GFCI has been randomly tripping the downstream outlet only. In other words, the GFCI outlet still works, but the downstream outlet does not. Also, the GFCI does not show that it tripped. If I trip and reset the GFCI, the downstream load will work fine. I used an outlet tester to manually trip the GFCI outlet and the downstream outlet. The GFCI tripped both times, and showed that it was tripped.

I'm leaning toward replacing the GFCI outlet to see if it is defective, but I welcome feedback from any professional electricians.

Change it. GF trips should kill the complete receptical and downstream.

 

[Reach4]

If the GFCI cuts downstream power but still delivers power at it's face either something is wrong with that GFCI, or it is an older GFCI wired backwards, or

... Wired backwards... makes good sense.

I think you are saying that newer units have somehow addressed that possibility.

 

[bigb56]

... Wired backwards... makes good sense.

I think you are saying that newer units have somehow addressed that possibility.

Yes, GFCI's manufactured after Jan 1, 2003 have mis-wire protection, if you mix up line & load they will not set and will not deliver power. Then in June of 2015 new GFCIs were required to be self testing. Once they fail the self test they lock out and won't deliver power anymore and must be replaced.

Both of these improvements remedied very common issues with GFCIs.

 

[C317414]

Thanks for the comments. I pulled the GFCI and found that it was wired correctly. Line and load were not wired backwards. I replaced the GFCI with a new one, and it appears to be working fine. I'll wait a few days to make sure it is not tripping at random anymore.

 

[Afjes]

A transformer for low voltage landscape lights is plugged-in outdoors and a reading light is plugged-in directly to the GFCI indoors.

If it does trip again what I would do to narrow down the reasons for a trip is to remove the "reading light" for a few days and see if it trips again. Sometimes inexpensive devices such as these "reading lights", night lights etc do tend to trip GFCIs. I had a call once. Home owner had 3 bathrooms tied together on the same circuit and did not know it. Lights were on diff circuits. The GFCI in a bathroom on the first floor kept tripping randomly. Reset it and would trip again a day or two later. Long story short after checking around I found that 2 other bathrooms were on the same GFCI upstairs but were down stream of this GFCI. They had a cheap night light plugged in on the circuit. I pulled it and was able to reset the GFCI downstairs. That was the problem as the home owner called me a week later and said no more trips.