GFCI outlet keeps tripping

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07-22-19, 08:13 AM

Charlie2

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GFCI outlet keeps tripping

I have an outdoor GFCI outlet with self testing and it keeps tripping. I tried pressing the reset button several times but as soon as I pressed, it trips again. Any suggestion what might have gone wrong?

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07-22-19, 08:33 AM

joed

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Water or bugs inside the receptacle or another receptacle on LOAD side of it.

07-22-19, 11:09 AM

Charlie2

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This outdoor receptacle is also connected to an outdoor post lamp. Could anything on the lamp side cause the receptacle to trip as well?

07-22-19, 11:30 AM

joed

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Certainly could especially if there is buried cable to the lamp. Damaged underground cable is a good possibility.

07-23-19, 07:34 AM

Charlie2

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Is there an easy way to test if the underground wire is bad or not? I do not want to dig up the wire if I can test it in another way.

07-23-19, 07:41 AM

joed

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Disconnect it from the GFCI and see if the GFCI will reset. If it resets then the problem is on the wire.
Then disconnect the cable at the pole. If the GFCI resets then the problem is in the pole or fixture. If the GFCI won't reset then the problem is likely the cable.

Also with the cable disconnected at both ends you can test for resistance between the wires. There should be no reading on any combination of pairs tested. h-n, h-g,n-g.