Ground fault breaker trips with no load or receptacles
#1
07-16-15, 08:44 AM
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: usa
Posts: 2
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes
on
0 Posts
Ground fault breaker trips with no load or receptacles
I have a dock line going from my main panel in my home to a sub panel at my dock. It is a #14-2 with a ground. The line is fed with a 30 amp breaker (not a ground fault). Code requires me to have a ground fault breaker in the sub panel. I have installed a 30 amp ground fault breaker. When I snap the breaker on and press reset it immediately fails. This occurring with no load attached at all. When I install a breaker in the sub panel that is not a ground fault breaker it works fine. Any suggestions? Mark
#2
07-16-15, 08:50 AM
Your post is hard to follow.
You can't feed 14-2 with a 30 amp breaker. It needs to be 10-2 or did you mean something else.
It is a #14-2 with a ground. The line is fed with a 30 amp breaker
#3
07-16-15, 09:21 AM
Member
So this sub panel is 120 volt only? As stated 14/2 can't be fed by a 30 amp breaker even though that it is not related to the GFCI problem, has it ever worked?
Geo
Geo
#4
07-16-15, 11:47 AM
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: usa
Posts: 2
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes
on
0 Posts
I sorry for the oversight. Maybe need to change to a 15 amp ground fault breaker to go along with the 14-2 with ground wiring. Still concerned why the ground fault breaker with no load is tripping as soon as you hook up the neutral to the GFI.
#6
07-16-15, 11:59 AM
I am still confused why you have a subpanel. If all you want is 14-2 on a 15 amp breaker why do you want a subpanel. As to your question did you use NM-b (Romex) to run this line? If so that is wrong and my be the cause. Since it is likely your subpanel is 240 how did you connect the 14-2 to it?
Last edited by ray2047; 07-16-15 at 12:19 PM.
#7
07-17-15, 04:34 PM
Member
Still concerned why the ground fault breaker with no load is tripping as soon as you hook up the neutral to the GFI.
#8
07-17-15, 05:44 PM
Considering your lack of knowledge about electrical wiring and the fact this power feeds a dock where safety is most important there is no room for error. I'd suggest you call a professional.
#9
07-17-15, 09:03 PM
Group Moderator
It's good you are installing a GFI breaker as life safety is involved here with the proximity to water.
Since you've said you have a subpanel at the dock... I'd imagine you have the ground and white connected in it. That is a big problem and will cause the GFI to trip.
Since you've said you have a subpanel at the dock... I'd imagine you have the ground and white connected in it. That is a big problem and will cause the GFI to trip.
#10
07-17-15, 11:21 PM
If you want to do this correctly you need to run 10-3 UF-b not NM-b to the subpanel.
If #10 is smaller than the minimum size for your sub panel's "hot" lugs you will need to add pigtails of a larger size to the black and red.
Use a non GFCI breaker at the main panel and a GFCI breaker at the subpanel. Cheaper usually and you don't have to go all the way to the house to reset a tripped breaker.
- At the sub panel you need to isolate the neutral bar (remove the bonding screw or strap).
- Buy and install a ground bar.
- The black and red of the 10-3 go to the "hot" lugs.
- The white to the neutral bar.
- The bare ground to the ground bar.
- You need at least one 8'x½" ground rod at the subpanel connected by #6 wire to the ground bar of the sub panel.
If #10 is smaller than the minimum size for your sub panel's "hot" lugs you will need to add pigtails of a larger size to the black and red.
Use a non GFCI breaker at the main panel and a GFCI breaker at the subpanel. Cheaper usually and you don't have to go all the way to the house to reset a tripped breaker.
