GFCI and timers

[reddy1]

i'm getting new circuits and plugs installed. the electrician said that they have to be gfci in the basement. they sound safer to use but would a timer going on or off trip one of these. need to know before he gets the parts. any experiences? also if i have fans controlled by a thermostat and they start up will they trip the gfci?

 

[KillerQueen]

I haven't had a problem with mine.

 

[Guest]

You are absolutely ok. For maximum protection have a 20amp GFCI breaker installed at the main panel or sub panel as opposed to the 15amp rated receptacle type.

Ty-Stik

 

[ft100]

i really need help, i have two seperate 20 amp gfci and when i plug my light in it trips the gfci every time. is there any explanation or way to go around this? somebody help, big snag in getting everything done here

 

[ItsGrowTime]

i really need help, i have two seperate 20 amp gfci and when i plug my light in it trips the gfci every time. is there any explanation or way to go around this? somebody help, big snag in getting everything done here

I had a similar occurance with a new digital ballast. It's one of two things. Check to make sure you have hooked the ballast cord up to the socket correctly. White wire to silver screw, black wire to bronze screw, green wire grounded to the reflector with a bolt, nut and washer. If it's wired properly, then the ballast is bad (shorting out) and needs to be replaced.

 

[ft100]

im pretty sure the ballast cord is hooked in right (wired properly), when i plug it in to a regular wall unit running an extension cord it works fine. but i had gfci outlets installed for this purpose and im kinda pissed i cant keep my cords in the same room. i will look at how it is hooked up to make sure, but it came hooked up so i wouldnt think they would hook it up wrong. any other reasons this would be messed up. they are elux ballasts just so the brand is known. need help to keep it organized . any more tips out there. thanks itsgrowtime and keep the hints coming peace and smoke.

 

[payn4school]

My 600 elux digi is unusable with my 240 light timer relay thing. Just found out when I move the elux from my apart to grow. sucks ass cant find who makes it and worms gay doesnt carry them any more so I guess im sol... let me know if you find contact info will ya?

 

[Bumble Buddy]

ft100, are the GFCI receptacles both on the same electrical run? A single GFCI device will protect all the "downstream" outlets connected from its load terminals (I've read up to 4 additional outlets). I also read that there should only be one GFCI protection device on each electrical run, though I'm not sure what the ramifications of having more than one GFCI on a run is, that could possibly be causing the tripping? Also, you might want to check that the polaritiy is hooked up correctly on all of the outlets. Lastly, if the electrical run is 12 gauge wire/20 A the GFCI should be rated for 20A.

 

[ft100]

bumble i thank you for your tips but i have no clue what any of that means, i wish i did cause i would fix it, cant have anyone come over to fix cause of the situation, screw elux i guess, just a shame losing 400 bucks to pay an electrician and not get any outlets to use for it, it is rated for 20 amps i know that already, there are two gfcis on one run though, he told me they were seperate 20 amp runs, but it all is connected it looks like unlesss they can get two runs into one of those metal wire coverings

 

[G33k Speak]

GFCI is required near wet areas now days- kitchens and bathrooms usually.

I wouldn't do wiring for a grow without it.

A GFCI outlet is what I'd use, when I tried the gfci breakers, they tripped if you looked at them sternly.

Electricity and water a verrry deadly combination



(it sounds like the ballast in having problems- that's why the gfi trips!- if other appliances in the gfi outlet work OK- like a vacuum or AC, then I'd say it's the ballast)

 

[pineappaloupe]

GFCI breaks are expensive, but they are 100% worth it. I had some major ballast issues with me dual 600 sun system ballasts... I swear if it weren't for GFCI I might have major problems. when a ballast start to malfunction and tries to draw more power than it needs... the GFCI make sure nothing crazy happens.
I would never ever put my ballast lines on a circuit breaker that is not GFCI. They detect a surge and just shut it down. The extra cost is wort to peace of mind.

 

[PharmaCan]

Take your ballast to another location that has a gfci circuit, plug it in and see if it works. That should tell you if the problem is the ballast or the new circuit.

PC

 

[growshopfrank]

Ballasts tends to trip GFCI, but they are great for everything else in the room, just not ballasts.

 

[ft100]

so it probably is not my elux brand, just most ballasts. still pisses me off, but i can run both my 600s still even though it is a little ghetto and run all my fans etc and mother veg area off what i had put in. so i guess im ok but now i have to figure out wtf is going on in my room to kill my plants

 

[PharmaCan]

so it probably is not my elux brand, just most ballasts. still pisses me off, but i can run both my 600s still even though it is a little ghetto and run all my fans etc and mother veg area off what i had put in. so i guess im ok but now i have to figure out wtf is going on in my room to kill my plants

Why don't you just replace one of the GFI receptacles with a standard receptacle - then you could use the new receptacle to power your ballasts.

PC

 

[ft100]

point me in the right direction to do it and ill read and learn and get it done