GFCI Question

RobertCDF

Hey guys when I am working on someones house I am usually plugged in outside and that is usually tied to a gfci in the bathroom or kitchen or garage. Problem is sometimes I trip these and dont have access to the house. So my question is if I switched out the outside outlet for a gfci outlet would that one trip before the one inside?

I also trip breakers on occasian and would love if I could set up a box that MY breakers would trip first. I know I can do that with a 15 amp if I am plugged into a 20 amp... But who puts 20 amps outside anyway? (besides smart people) Any suggestions to make this work would be great as well.

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Robert Shaw
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mdshunk

No sure-fire cure for either event.

Just make sure you have interior access, is my only suggestion.

Either that, or run off your generator.

Celtic

Portable GFI cord-set perhaps?

For the tripping issue...good luck ...genny or SOL.

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highlife77

I changed out a couple of my ext. cords with gfi to avoid this prob...so far so good.....good luck.

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mdshunk

If your portable GFCI trips before the one inside the house, you're just getting lucky. It's a crap shoot which one will trip first. There's nothing peculiar about the technology that would necessarily cause the one closest to the load to trip first.

Magnettica

Right, the GFCI trips when it detects a difference of current from the hot through the neutral. If you've got 2 amps going in and something less going out well then the GFCI senses this and trips out. This could happen anywhere in the circuit where there are multiple GFCI devices.

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RobertCDF

Bummer... How about these boxes I have heard of that you can alligator clip onto the AC or hot tub boxes.... Anyone want to give me some ideas about building one of these?

I do have the generator for backups.... But that can really get annoying after a bit.

I use the no access needed as a selling point. People are usually uneasy about contractors so I tell them that I dont want access.

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Robert Shaw
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Mike Finley

Have you though about a set up that would let you plug into the dryer outlet?

reveivl

It requires access, at least once, but I have a small breaker panel that plugs into the dryer/stove outlet, and gives me one thirty amp (for the comp.), two twentys and a gfci.

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Magnettica

I wouldn't tap off the A/C disconnect simply because I am an electrician and I know that it's not safe to do what you have suggested. Someone could get seriously injured if they don't know what they're doing. Besides, not everyone has central air conditioning so then what do you do? I understand that generators are loud, require maintenance, and don't forget to bring fuel either, but in all honesty that seems to me to be the best way to go.

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RobertCDF

What do you do when they want to use the dryer?

You know most of these problems could be solved if you dang electrians would just put a 20 amp outlet outside!

Or if there was 2 differant outlets then I could plug the trailer with the compressor to 1 and then work off the other and not have to wory about the compressor trying to kick on while I am using the table saw or the worm drive.

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thom

Actually, on all my houses I go one better. All convenience receptacles are 20A AND the panel is an exterior combination panel. I got tired of going back and not being able to get to the panel, piles of crap in front of it, shelves in front of it, etc. Three years ago when Square D recalled all the previous years AFCI breakers I was able to change them out without scheduling with the owner. Just went to each site, swapped the breakers, and moved on.

reveivl

They get to use the dryer after I'm gone and before I get there, never had a problem yet, but I don't advertise that I don't need access to the house, so this might not work for you.

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From where does knowledge come? If you need to know what is in a box, you could ask someone (not reliable), you could pray, (not useful), you can consult with the scripture (not helpful) or you could open the box (science)

mickeyco

I've used outdoor lighting that was controlled by motion and/or photo voltaic (power on all the time) to hard wire to for temporarily use (length of job) with my own breaker. You can get breakers in just about any size 13, 14, 17, 18 amp, whatever you need to prevent the breaker inside from tripping first. If the problem is happening mostly when your compressor comes on you might consider putting together something that won't allow the compressor to come on when you're using the other tools.

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canuck88

+1 - I do the same.

RobertWilber

A realistic alternative is to get a small 120/120 transformer.
Set it up for the primary to plug into the GFI receptacle. Then you can bite the secondary and the GFI won't trip.
Just set up a GFI receptacle off the secondary so you are protected while working. You can even add a breaker on the secondary so you don't trip the inside unit with an overload.
I can hardly wait for practical fuel cells.

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