GFCI outlet not tripping when under load.

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12-29-14, 12:34 PM

amf2011

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GFCI outlet not tripping when under load.

I have been looking for an answer, and can't seem to find any info.

-I have a house built in 1988 with no GFCI's.
-The bathroom outlets are part of a branch circuit.
-I found the bathroom outlets are at the end of this branched circuit.
-Almost every time my wife uses the dryer, the outside breaker trips (15 amps).
-I decided to install 15 amp GFCI on each outlet of the bathroom to avoid going outside and resetting the breaker.
-The outlets are properly wired, grounded, and tested.
-The GFCI still wont trip.

What am I missing here?

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12-29-14, 12:51 PM

pcboss

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GFI's don't trip from overloads. GFI's trip from the returning current being different than the outgoing current.

Breakers trip from overloads or short circuits.

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12-29-14, 01:20 PM

amf2011

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I did not know that.

Can I just put the bathroom outlets on a 20 amp dedicated breaker to help with the problem, or is it more trouble than its worth?

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12-29-14, 01:24 PM

pcboss

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The breaker can only be installed if all the wiring is #12.

To make the circuit dedicated you would need new cables run.

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12-29-14, 01:24 PM

ray2047

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20 amp dedicated circuit is current code. That would be the best way to do it.

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12-29-14, 02:06 PM

amf2011

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-pcboss

your telling me stuff i don't want to hear..haha...can't I just install a 15 amp dedicated breaker and use the same cable?

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12-29-14, 02:21 PM

pcboss

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From the vintage of your house I suspect that you have one circuit that serves the bathroom, outside and the garage or basement.

Tell us what you are trying to do. It sounds like too much is being used on the circuit and you want to install a new circuit.

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12-29-14, 02:35 PM

amf2011

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This particular original circuit runs through:

-Guest bathroom lights/fan/1-outlet
-Master bathroom outlet
-One bedrooms light/3-outlets
-Dining room light/2-outlets
-Hallway light
-Outside garage light
-And finally an outlet for the patio.

It seems like when my wife is using the blow dryer in one bathroom, and some of the other lights/outlets are in use, the outside breaker keeps tripping. Its a nuisance at 10-11 pm at night.

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12-29-14, 02:45 PM

pcboss

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Without going into the archive of the NEC it seems like the circuit did not even meet the codes when your house was built.

The solution is to install a new 20 amp circuit for the receptacles.

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12-29-14, 02:55 PM

amf2011

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I thought so...my kitchen lights dim every time the microwave is used.

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12-29-14, 04:02 PM

ray2047

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Quote:

my kitchen lights dim every time the microwave is used.

The kitchen should have two 20 amp dedicated GFCI protected receptacle circuits under current code. The lights can not be on those circuits. If the microwave is a combo microwave/vent hood over the stove it should be on a dedicated circuit under current code.

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12-29-14, 07:08 PM

CasualJoe

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Quote:

can't I just install a 15 amp dedicated breaker and use the same cable?

That's obviously what you already have. You really need a 20 amp circuit.

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12-29-14, 09:27 PM

Brian Kramer

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Find a lower wattage hair dryer. It may take an extra 2 minutes, but the power will stay on.

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01-02-15, 02:32 PM

devin

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My condolences. That is similar to how my house was wired luckily I had to replace the floor, and scope creep enabled me to run dedicated circuits to my bathroom.

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