Posted by MarkB_MI on November 08, 2014 at 08:38:36 from (70.194.8.29):
In Reply to: GFCI dilemma resolved posted by George Marsh on November 06, 2014 at 15:23:22:
OK George, I found a GFCI receptacle in my electrical junk drawer and decided to waste an hour of my time this morning testing out your theories. I ended up moving into the house because all the outlets in my shop are protected by a GFCI breaker, which I kept tripping. Here are the results.
#1. Does a GFCI trip when you short neutral to ground on the protected circuit? You betcha! But as everybody has said, that's expected behavior. A GFCI that can't detect a fault on the neutral is no GFCI at all. No points awarded.
#2. Does a GFCI receptacle draw over 2 watts with no load on it? My Kill-a-Watt can't measure less than 10 milliamps (and I'd be suspicious of that), but it did seem to lock in on a power factor of around 0.3. My Fluke DMM reported a current draw of 7 milliamps. So that means the GFCI draws 120 x .007 x .3 = .25 watts. That's really nothing. Even if the Power Factor is unity, it would still be less than a watt per GFCI. Point to me.
#3. Is there significant voltage between neutral and ground? According to my DMM, there's 30 millivolts between ground and neutral in my shop. Note that my shop is 125 feet from the meter, with separate neutral and ground the entire distance. So your mileage may vary. Point to me.
#4. Is the voltage differential between neutral and ground responsible for the GFCI tripping when there's a ground fault on neutral? (This is the test I suggested you do.) I shorted the GFCI's source neutral to ground, thereby reducing the voltage between the two to zero. The GFCI would still trip. So B&D and I were wrong: Although the difference may be significant, it's not what trips the GFCI. My personal opinion is this behavior is BY DESIGN. (You seem to think it's a design fault.) At any rate, POINT TO GEORGE!
We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]
Today's Featured Article - Tuning-Up Your Tractor: Plugs & Compression Testing - by Curtis Von Fange. The engine seems to run rough. In the exhaust you can hear an occasion 'poofing' sound like somethings not firing on all cylinders. Under loaded conditions the tractor seems to lack power and it belches black smoke out of the exhaust. For some reason it just doesn't want to start up without cranking and cranking the starter. All these conditions can be signals that your unit is in need of a tune up. Ok, so what is involved in a tune up? You say, swap plugs and file the points....now tha
... [Read Article]
Latest Ad:
1964 I-H 140 tractor with cultivators and sidedresser. Starts and runs good. Asking 2650. CALL RON AT 502-319-1952
[More Ads]
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy
TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.