Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Info on GFCI - - -blown?

Rarely ask a question here, but now two in two days. Just tried to plug in in a good working tool and the GFCI outlet went "pop"" - no power. Will not re-set. Circuit breaker blown as well - will not reset All of this stuff is new. The tool works - does not blow other outlets.

Do these home type 15A or 20A GFCI units tend to suddenly fail on their own - just blow/quit. Any way to test it as wired - especially since the breaker will not re-set - or how to test if I remove it?

Or, does it sound like simply replace?

Thanks for any help.

If your breaker won't reset I'd say your GFCI is fugged (if it popped when you plugged your tool in I'd certainly think its the GFCI or loose wiring at the GFCI). Take it out, disconnect the wires from it and try your breaker. If it resets you'll know the GFCI is causing the problem.

ETA: I should have said this when I first replied but I figured it shouldn't need to be said however there are a lot of people who know absolutely nothing about house wiring. When you disconnect the GFCI either tape the wires or put a wire nut on them, make sure they aren't touching anything or each other before you reset your breaker..

I think the quality control on GFCI’s sucks. In the last year, I’ve had 2 that didn’t work out of the box and another that died within 2 months of install.

Yes, if it won't reset, not much to do but to
buy another.

They do indeed go bad and there is nothing to fix, just replace.

Just because a tool works in a standard outlet does not mean it will necesarily work in a GFCI. Are we talking about GFCI receptacle connected to a 15 amp circuit breaker? Some times when you plug things in things go wrong. Remove the device and see if something is wrong try to reset the breaker.

Safe bet is to just replace the GFCI.

This is the best advice if you can do it. Most likely the GFCI but that confirms. In some cases all the GFCI are wired on the same breaker and an outdoor GFCI that gets wet can hold out all of them. Coincidental but might be worth the check.

Yes they can quit in their own requiring replacement.

FYI a GFCI breaker can also be used instead of a receptacle.

Also, they do make a gfci tester that plugs into the receptacle.

Is this in a damp location? They make a GFI outlet now that's weather tight. I had one that was giving me problems with a stock tank heater. I put in a weather tight one and now it's working fine.

Engineered obsolescence

I’m assuming you know the obvious but...you have to flip the blown circuit breaker to the off position before you can flip it back on if it has been tripped. Are you saying that you do that and the circuit breaker instantly trips again?

CCCC,

had our shop wired this past summer. Within a month or so was hanging overhead LED light fixtures. Upon turning them on/plugging them in the GFCI would pop. Tried the lights on another circuit, no issues there. Called out the electrician that wired the place, sure as scheidt, the brand new outlet on that circuit was bad. He said it happens. Would not surprise me if it is your issue.

Good luck with it.

I put them in when remodeling the house we live in now, last year. All work, but they are always tripping, for very little or no reason. I suspect quality is the issue, as with many other things I buy regularly. Seriously considering putting in regular outlets and forgetting about it. Whole damn country never had these until a couple decades ago at most, we got along ok. Don't use the hair dryer in the tub, or your circular saw in the rain, and you will live to a ripe old age. Maybe. Either way, it probably won’t be electric outlets that get you. The only time you really need them is when selling the house.

Thanks everyone - and good questions/comments. Dry location, the tool does not blow other breakers/GFCIs on other circuits, no other GFCI on this circuit, did the usual reset sequence and it will not. Already removed and put nuts on the ends of open wires. All good.

Good to know that even a new GFCI will blow due to its own poor design/construction (actually bad news with regard to quality control). Asked about it here because this event surprised me. Next GFCI that quits on its own will now not be a surprise.

Thanks all. Next trip to town/hardware store should solve this.

Any chance these things are made in China? Is there a "made in USA" alternative?

I would replace the GFCI, but before I threw the old one in the trash I would wire a plug to it and plug it in and do the test over. If it tests out okay save it for another project down the road maybe, but if it pops you know you have a bad GFCI.

This will also help give you confidence when you replace the original with new.

Yes... Chinese GFCI...just replace it..

Master Electrician...42 years

Ace hardware says "not Chinee" - but I'm going to look into that.

How much surge from the tool? That’s a problem with freezer starts plugged into a GFI.