GFCI Circuit Breakers
#1
06-22-03, 04:57 PM
GFCI Circuit Breakers
have 3 GFCI Circuit Breakers. None of them trip on testing them. Do you think they are all defective or is it a problem with the main wiring.
The house is 12 years old.
What is the average life of a GFCI Breaker?
Thanks
The house is 12 years old.
What is the average life of a GFCI Breaker?
Thanks
#2
06-22-03, 07:11 PM
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12yrs old it is possible they are all defective. Circuit breakers are supposed to be exercised on a regular basis and if they are not there is the possibility that they are stuck. However I would make sure this is the case b-4 I did anything drastic as they are expensive to replace. So can you describe exactly how you tested them and exactly how they are wired and we can go from there.
#3
06-22-03, 08:01 PM
Thanks for the reply.. I moved into this house less than a year ago. The house is 15 years old. I finally got around to testing the breakers, trying to trip them with the test button on the breaker itself. None of them trip. I found it strange that they should all not trip. I know they are expensive, but it might be worth buying one, because all the bathroom plugs apparently work off of one breaker. I was holding off in case somebody suggested that it could be a wiring problem. I am able to change the breaker myself. Do you think I should call an electrician instead?
I did not realize that these breakers can get stuck if not used. Is there any way to " unstick them" without replacing?
Thanks
I did not realize that these breakers can get stuck if not used. Is there any way to " unstick them" without replacing?
Thanks
#4
06-22-03, 08:12 PM
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There is still a possibility that they are wired wrong but you will need to describe exactly how they are wired in the panel.
If it does turn out to be defective then NO they cannot be repaired. they must be replaced.
If you are comfortable working in a panel or have done so in the past then it can be done now as well. Just do them one at a time and hook them up exactly as they were (provided we determine that the were wired correctly to begin with)
If it does turn out to be defective then NO they cannot be repaired. they must be replaced.
If you are comfortable working in a panel or have done so in the past then it can be done now as well. Just do them one at a time and hook them up exactly as they were (provided we determine that the were wired correctly to begin with)
#5
06-23-03, 08:08 AM
I haven't opened the panel yet, but I am thinking, with the cost of a new breaker being around 65-70 dollars, I may just replace the plugs with individual GFIC's,which I can do myself. What do you think. There is only about 6 locations needed. Or should I call an electrician to be on the SAFE side?
ps. How should the breaker be wired up in the panel? Is there a way to test the breaker with a meter, if I pulled it out?
ps. How should the breaker be wired up in the panel? Is there a way to test the breaker with a meter, if I pulled it out?
#7
06-26-03, 03:29 PM
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I doubt it if the Gfci part is defective then how is the rest of it? I really do not know the answer to that question. My personal opinion however is to replace them with regular breakers (if you are going to install Gfci receptacles instead.)
#9
06-28-03, 09:30 PM
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First, tell us what brand/type of panel is it: SquareD, GE, siemens, murray, cutler-hammer, bryant, westinghouse, etc.
GFCI breakers range from $32 to $70 for a 1-pole 15 or 20 amp breaker such as you would need. Personally I strong;y recommed replaceing the breakers-their reliability has been jeopardized. I think there could also be a problem with the grounding of the service, or bonding of it somewhere. It could also be that the GFCI breakers were never wired properly to begin with, and you don't know having recently moved ont othe house. If you feel comfortable doing so, take the cover off of the panel, and LOOK inside. On each GFCI breaker, there shopuld be the black wire coming from the cable fed from the breaker just as the regular breakers, AND the white wire from the cable being fed. There will be a white pigtail wire coming out of the GFCI breaker going to the neutral buss. If this is the case, the GFCI breakers are non-functional, and in need of replacement assuming there is not a grounding issue.
Personally, I prefer GFCI breakers to feed bathrooms because there is no risk of the moisture in the bathroom damaging the GFCI mechanism over the years. Another way to test the GFCI's is to buy a GFCI receptacle tester at the hardware store (lowes, homedepot, etc.) it will have three lights and a TEST button.
Also, what do the other two GFCI breakers serve? the kitchen?
gj
GFCI breakers range from $32 to $70 for a 1-pole 15 or 20 amp breaker such as you would need. Personally I strong;y recommed replaceing the breakers-their reliability has been jeopardized. I think there could also be a problem with the grounding of the service, or bonding of it somewhere. It could also be that the GFCI breakers were never wired properly to begin with, and you don't know having recently moved ont othe house. If you feel comfortable doing so, take the cover off of the panel, and LOOK inside. On each GFCI breaker, there shopuld be the black wire coming from the cable fed from the breaker just as the regular breakers, AND the white wire from the cable being fed. There will be a white pigtail wire coming out of the GFCI breaker going to the neutral buss. If this is the case, the GFCI breakers are non-functional, and in need of replacement assuming there is not a grounding issue.
Personally, I prefer GFCI breakers to feed bathrooms because there is no risk of the moisture in the bathroom damaging the GFCI mechanism over the years. Another way to test the GFCI's is to buy a GFCI receptacle tester at the hardware store (lowes, homedepot, etc.) it will have three lights and a TEST button.
Also, what do the other two GFCI breakers serve? the kitchen?
gj
#10
06-29-03, 03:48 PM
Panel is Commander Electric. They are the Bolt-On Circuit breakers. Also used for CEB or Sylvania and Cutler-Hammer.
One breaker feeds outdoor plugs, second is bathroom plugs and third says it feeds bathtub whirlpool.
I haven't checked how they are wired, But I think I would be safer now calling in an electrician to make sure they were wired up right in the first place. The basement has been finished sinced the house was built, before we moved in. Who knows if they ever worked.
Home Depot price for GFCI breaker of this type is $ 65 Canadian.
Come to think of it, I don't recall ever seeing the pigtail wire coming out from the breaker, but I may be mistaken. I am going to open the panel again and check.
Thanks for your help
Sid
One breaker feeds outdoor plugs, second is bathroom plugs and third says it feeds bathtub whirlpool.
I haven't checked how they are wired, But I think I would be safer now calling in an electrician to make sure they were wired up right in the first place. The basement has been finished sinced the house was built, before we moved in. Who knows if they ever worked.
Home Depot price for GFCI breaker of this type is $ 65 Canadian.
Come to think of it, I don't recall ever seeing the pigtail wire coming out from the breaker, but I may be mistaken. I am going to open the panel again and check.
Thanks for your help
Sid
#13
07-06-03, 02:00 PM
Thanks. That's what I plan to do....funny thing... One of the labels on one of the breakers says it was for all outside plugs......I found the main outside plug at the patio door that was on a totally separate circuit unprotected by GFCI. I have since installed a GFCI plug on that outlet... This house is really messed up. The electrician should be shot. I wish I had bought this house from new so I could charge the electrician for not knowing what he was doing.
For the GFCI breakers that may not be working. Will they still function as a normal circuit breaker or is it dangerous to leave them in?
For the GFCI breakers that may not be working. Will they still function as a normal circuit breaker or is it dangerous to leave them in?
#14
07-06-03, 02:24 PM
Hi Sid,
I don't know about the old breakers working or not. A standard one is pretty cheap. It may not matter, since the GFCI will almost always trip first. For that reason, it's a good idea to put a label on the panel indicating where you've put the GFCI receptacle for each circuit. It's amazing how quickly you can forget.
tc
I don't know about the old breakers working or not. A standard one is pretty cheap. It may not matter, since the GFCI will almost always trip first. For that reason, it's a good idea to put a label on the panel indicating where you've put the GFCI receptacle for each circuit. It's amazing how quickly you can forget.
tc
