Curiousity is killing this cat. In our bathroom, we have a groundfault double outlet at the basin, that's used for a night-lite, hair dryer, curling iron, electric shaver, etc.. No problem with poliarity. I wanted to change nite lites with one that has a short cord as opposed to the one we now have that has ridgid prongs attached to the lite/switch . My new one works in every outlet, both standard and groundfault , in the house, EXCEPT the one in the bathroom. I can't help but think that there is something screwy with the bath outlet. On the other hand, I think there's something screwy with the fixture. All house wiring is original and three years old. I wonder what one of you Master Electricians have to say about this. I'm stumped!!!

 

Could be the prongs on the plug are not making contact in that particular receptacle. If the receptacle is used frequently it will eventually wear out. If the nightlight works everywhere else then it is the plug in the bath that may be the culprate. But thats just a guess trying to kill the currosity.

 

Does the new night light have an ordinary plug on the cord?
Double check everything, before disasebling the GFCI in the bathroom, good light bulb, works elsewhere etc, and the GFCI trips AND resets properly. It should be tested monthly anyways.
My guess is the GFCI has wornout contacts or the plug on the new light has non-standard size prongs, or both.
gj
BTW, a new GFCI receptacle costs ~$10.00

 

I'm constantly amazed that few most of the answers to GFCI problems in this forum do not address the distinct possibility that the problem may actually be a *ground fault*!! Minor leakage of current to ground, less than would be required for a device to fail or spark or shock or catch on fire, can be detected by a GFCI. And when it trips it's not always a defective GFCI receptacle but actually a good one that's doing its job. If everything else you plug into that receptacle works without tripping the GFCI function, then I'd hose that fixture and get another one, it probably leaks current to ground.

My $0.02.

Juice

 

I guess that I must have misread the question because I don't Rember seing anything that said the GFCI was tripping only that the different nightlight did not work. maybe we should all reread the origional question so that we all understand the problem at hand. Otherwise we might accidently make assumptions based on misinformation and this forum is to find answers not assumptions.

 

I want to say thank you to you 3 guyz that responded. We've had company the past three days so I couldn't get back on this. I did, Sparky, change the fixture plug and the new lite still works everywhere except the bath. I never was a "parts changer", but that's what I'm going to do......change the GFCI, even though it has never once tripped the circuit. That's the only thing that's left. Thanks again.