Jump to content
Light-O-Rama Forums

Need input please


Terry Hurrle

Recommended Posts

I have one unit that was working fine in the office and when I hooked it up out side to get the show ready it keeps kicking the gfci no matter what circuit I hook it to. I have not tried just a regular non-gfci connection because I don't want to chance harming the unit if such would happen. Can any one give me some assistance with this problem.
Thanks
Terry

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Do you have it hook up to lights yet? Are you tripping the GFIC with just the controller?

If you have lights hooked up:
Unplug all your lights.
Turn on the controller with all channels on.
Then start plugging each channel in one at a time until the GFIC trips.
This should point you in the direction of which line has the issue.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have one snowman that trips my every year, so that controller I don't hook up to a GFIC.

I don't walk around that one when the show is playing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If it is set up as dual inlet, and you are plugging into two circuits, make sure your neutrals are not jumpered together, and that you identify the separation between the left neutrals and right neutrals. Make sure the right neutral inlet, and all the right dongles are going to the right side of that separation. Same with the left side...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Scott I will do that.

KLB not configured that way. always worked until today. it could be one set of lights or one of my elements that is causing it. I will check tomorrow and if that dont fix it will be back here trying to get answers.
Terry

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Terry Hurrle wrote:

I have not tried just a regular non-gfci connection because I don't want to chance harming the unit if such would happen.

GFCI outlets don't protect equipment - they protect humans (and other animals).

A tripping GFCI means current is leaking to ground (that's what "Ground Fault" means). In Christmas decorations, this usually means the current is leaking from a lamp socket because it's touching damp ground.

I assume this only happens when the channel(s) are turned on. (If not, the problem is in the controller itself.) To diagnose the problem, turn each channel on one at a time until you find the one that is leaking. Sometimes, it only happens when two leaking channels are on at the same time.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Steven wrote:

Terry Hurrle wrote:
I have not tried just a regular non-gfci connection because I don't want to chance harming the unit if such would happen.

GFCI outlets don't protect equipment - they protect humans (and other animals).

A tripping GFCI means current is leaking to ground (that's what "Ground Fault" means). In Christmas decorations, this usually means the current is leaking from a lamp socket because it's touching damp ground.

I assume this only happens when the channel(s) are turned on. (If not, the problem is in the controller itself.) To diagnose the problem, turn each channel on one at a time until you find the one that is leaking. Sometimes, it only happens when two leaking channels are on at the same time.

3 of 4 units trip the gfci with no lights on them and not connected to the computer. Grounds and hot wire are wired correctly. One unit seems to be fine. I don't where to look to see if a unit is the problem. They don't trip a gfci that is in the garage if I connect to it.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Scott T wrote:


If you have lights hooked up:
Unplug all your lights.
Turn on the controller with all channels on.
Then start plugging each channel in one at a time until the GFIC trips.
This should point you in the direction of which line has the issue.



Steven wrote:
  To diagnose the problem, turn each channel on one at a time until you find the one that is leaking.  Sometimes, it only happens when two leaking channels are on at the same time.


Ok, Steve's direction is probably safer then standing outside plugging a line in that is questionably leaking current.


.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

IT trips the minute the controller is connected with no lights plugged in. This is the problem. I cant even keep it on long enough to test lights to see if that is a problem. Three controllers do this one does not. THis only happens on the out side gfci not the one in the garage. Totally puzzling.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thats really hard to say - if it happens on SOME controllers, but not all - I am tempted to blame the controller.

But you also say it happens on SOME gfci outlets, and not others - then its a bad gfci.

IF ALL controllers work OK on a standard outlet (with no load) but some of those controllers trip the GFCI with no load - I'm really leaning towards bad gfci. I just cant explain why at least 1 controller seems to work fine on that same GFCI.

I'd probably try changing the GFCI next.

How old is your house and your electric wiring. What controllers are you using ?

also curious if you put and outlet tester on 1 regular outlet, 1 "good / inside GFCI, and the "outside GFCI" - what lights do you see ? how do they compare, do they all test good ?

I thought I recall a thread talking about differences in grounding between PC kits and showtime kits - difference in metal enclosure and also the high power / low power HS.

Come to think of it, with the PC kit and a low power HS, there is nowhere to connect a ground lead to the HS. (well you could take a crimp on "o" connector, and throw it on the head of a bolt, but I have never seen anyone do it, or express a need to do it)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Terry,

to confirm-

1. Only one gfci trips- no other controllers trip the other GFCI.

IT trips the minute the controller is connected with no lights plugged in. This is the problem. I cant even keep it on long enough to test lights to see if that is a problem. Three controllers do this one does not. THis only happens on the out side gfci not the one in the garage. Totally puzzling.



2. 3 out of 4 controllers trips that one GFCI- however those controllers do not trip any other GFCI.

3 of 4 units trip the gfci with no lights on them and not connected to the computer. Grounds and hot wire are wired correctly. One unit seems to be fine. I don't where to look to see if a unit is the problem. They don't trip a gfci that is in the garage if I connect to it.


Is your GFCI a circuit breaker, or GFCI outlet? Any case, it looks like you have thru a process of elimination isolated the problem to the GFCI. Sounds like the GFCI could be going bad. I use a GFCI tester (pretty cheap from lowes or HD) to test my GFCI's, and it might be useful for you to have around. I would replace the GFCI. Just my two cents, hope it helps.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

house is ten years old. Gfci's are on their second year but they may not be high end. I will try the tester and try new gfci to see if that works. They are receptacles not breakers. I will just keep working on it and try to find the solution. I was leaning toward the gfci outlet being bad.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Terry,

After reading through the post's, I too believe you probably have a marginal to bad GFCI. Does your GFCI have a "TEST" button on it ? Wouldn't take that long to swap it out. I bought some of these GFCI outlets on Ebay and they seem to work OK, couldn't beat the price either. Lowes had them but much more expensive. I think Leviton is pretty good quality.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230543754759

Good Luck......................

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks to all that posted replies. I have looked at how the cords are wired a dozen times on this controller. Again tonight I looked and found that the neutrals were indeed switched. Swapped them and it worked fine with all lights turned on. It was a simple thing but I will be darned if I could see it when I was totally frustrated. a say away from it and it was easy to see. I think maybe it is time to crawl under that rock.
Terry

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Terry,

Congrats on finding the problem. We all make mistakes once in awhile so don't feel you have to crawl under a rock. Dust yourself off and go shopping for more lights.........Merry Christmas !!!!!!!!!!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.
×
×
  • Create New...