UV Sterilizer tripping GFCI

[burningmime]

Theatrus is right, but for more detailed info checkout post #1 here: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/electrical-safety-gfci-afci-ground-probes.215701/

Here is the relevant part about why using a ground probe without a GFCI is dangerous:

I'm still not sure I understand why the ground probe needs to be plugged into GFCI. It's the actual electrical equipment that needs to be plugged into GFCI, not the ground probe, right?

 

[theatrus]

I'm still not sure I understand why the ground probe needs to be plugged into GFCI. It's the actual electrical equipment that needs to be plugged into GFCI, not the ground probe, right?

The ground probe if it exists should be attached to an earth point. It does not need to be attached to the GFCI outlet or that circuit's earth wire.

 

[mrlavalamp]

I just want to point out that in many home situations finding a reliable grounding point BESIDES the ground wire in your circuit can be a little tricky.

So plugging the probe into the surge protector or power strip you run your equipment on (assuming it is a quality device) is the easiest way to achieve that. Cheap power strips are dangerous in their own regard but that is another conversation entirely (and covered in that thread i linked)

 

[piranhaman00]

Bump, was thinking about this again as I set up any pentair UV at new house, everyone have them plugged into non gfci?

 

[highest_tides]

My grounding probe is plugged into the gfci that runs my system and my uv into a non gfci outlet

 

[piranhaman00]

My grounding probe is plugged into the gfci that runs my system and my uv into a non gfci outlet

But here is the uv is causing the leakage the system will shut down without the uv turning off

 

[Jeeperz]

Here's a thought that might be helpful. The transformer causing high frequency tripping the GFCI. I've had digital 600 watt and 1000 watt hps ballasts, especially Galaxy/lumitek, wreck havoc with GFCI, either they trip right away or work for awhile then self destruct never to work again. They emit a super high frequency that you can hear vs regular core/coil ballasts. Have also had bulbs cause the same issues. Move the ballast/hood as far away as possible and they would no longer trip, not always feasible with extension cords that I won't run more than 1 light on, so not a good solution. Just a thought that may help, if I made that confusing enough