Electrical question

[BriansBrain]

Just remember this:

If there is a short in your system that is enough to hurt you, the grounding probe will direct that current to ground (instead of you) and the GFCI will trip. This is the design.

If you have a piece of equipment randomly causing the GFCI to trip, such as @Brew12 mentioned, the probe won't prevent this from happening and you'll still have the tripping issue.

For your piece of mind and the safety of your tank, diagnosis should continue to figure out why the GFCI is tripping.

Is it possible for you to run an extension cord to your return pump and put that on a separate GFCI circuit? If so, and it tripped that GFCI, then problem identified. You could do that for your UV too.

I’ll still install the probe for the sake of it being like $15. I’m debating on moving the skimmer pump to another outlet, (picture) since the GFCI did trip the first time when I powered it on about 2 weeks ago, or the sterilizer because they have a history of tripping GFCI. however that outlet is on the same circuit as the refrigerator but I’d assume it’ll trip the outlet first

 

[BriansBrain]

Just to correct this, the outlet does not need to be on. The ground prong is hardwired and does not turn on and off so for safety reasons I would leave the outlet "off".


Exactly. What the ground probe will do is help determine if you have a failed piece of equipment or if the trip is due to a harmonic issue.
As an example, let's say you have a failing heater. In order for it to trip you would need to have both the heater turned on and heating, and a path to ground. These may not always occur at the same time making the cause of the GFCI trip hard to detect.
I should also have asked if you have titanium heaters with a 3 prong plug. If you have one of those it "should" be acting like a ground probe.

I have 2 brs titanium heaters (200w and 300w) plugged into an inkbird then plugged into the Neptune EB

 

[BriansBrain]

Just to correct this, the outlet does not need to be on. The ground prong is hardwired and does not turn on and off so for safety reasons I would leave the outlet "off".


Exactly. What the ground probe will do is help determine if you have a failed piece of equipment or if the trip is due to a harmonic issue.
As an example, let's say you have a failing heater. In order for it to trip you would need to have both the heater turned on and heating, and a path to ground. These may not always occur at the same time making the cause of the GFCI trip hard to detect.
I should also have asked if you have titanium heaters with a 3 prong plug. If you have one of those it "should" be acting like a ground probe.

Also, all of my equipment plugs have 3 prongs except the skimmer and small Sicce 3 for the UV. They do not have a grounding prong

 

[Brew12]

Also, all of my equipment plugs have 3 prongs except the skimmer and small Sicce 3 for the UV. They do not have a grounding prong

You should be good with those heaters. I run titanium heaters with a ground probe, also, mostly because I already had it.
I suspect you have an occasional ground in your UV. As you point out, they are notorious for tripping GFCI's, mostly due to salt water creeping into the electronics area.

 

[zalick]

I’ll still install the probe for the sake of it being like $15. I’m debating on moving the skimmer pump to another outlet, (picture) since the GFCI did trip the first time when I powered it on about 2 weeks ago, or the sterilizer because they have a history of tripping GFCI. however that outlet is on the same circuit as the refrigerator but I’d assume it’ll trip the outlet first

Also, they do make GFCI designated as "WR" for weather resistant. I have no idea if this is a gimmick or actually serves a purpose. You might want to put one in since yours is definitely in a high humidity location.

I personally use the ones that beep when tripped.

 

[rwreef]

I would get a receptacle enclosure cover for that outlet. It is in a high moisture area. Best would be to relocate if possible.

 

[BriansBrain]

@zalick @Brew12 what do you guys think about the 8 year old AC skimmer pump that does not have a third ground prong and since that is what tripped the outlet the first time when I turned it on? The new models do have a third prong

 

[rwreef]

@zalick @Brew12 what do you guys think about the 8 year old AC skimmer pump that does not have a third ground prong and since that is what tripped the outlet the first time when I turned it on? The new models do have a third prong

It is for sure suspect without a ground connection in a wet environment.

 

[BriansBrain]

It is for sure suspect without a ground connection in a wet environment.

Did not mean to not tag you lol you guys have been very helpful and thanks again for your time

 

[rwreef]

Lol no worries! Just to clarify...I mean the ac pump without a ground connection in a wet environment is unsafe.

 

[BriansBrain]

Lol no worries! Just to clarify...I mean the ac pump without a ground connection in a wet environment is unsafe.

It’s not the most organized of cabinets, but all of my electrical is in a separate cabinet next to the tank

 

[Brew12]

@zalick @Brew12 what do you guys think about the 8 year old AC skimmer pump that does not have a third ground prong and since that is what tripped the outlet the first time when I turned it on? The new models do have a third prong

The 3rd prong is only required if the pump doesn't use a double insulation system. As long as the ground prong wasn't broken off and didn't have one by design, it should be fine imo.

 

[Sabina]

I have a video talking about false trips GFCI and grounding probes

 

[vetteguy53081]

Thanks everyone for your helpful advice and input. I’ll start by putting a grounding probe in. Hopefully it will solve my issue!

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[BriansBrain]

I’ve added a grounding probe and plugged the UV sterilizer to a different outlet not on the same circuit as the tank. Since my last posts I haven’t had an issue. Knock on wood. But the UV hasn’t tripped the GFCI it’s currently on either

 

[BriansBrain]

If anyone was interested, I found the cause of the ghost trips on the GFCI. It was my Pentair UV ballast. I have been in contact with them. I’ve sent the old ballast to them and they are sending me a new one that is supposedly not supposed to trip. It has been and will still continue to be ran on its own outlet