Need to troubleshoot
Need to troubleshoot
(OP)
Hi all,
This is the scenario
We have Ice boxes(Ice King) which have ICE in them which our guys use for cooling thier water and gatorade. They have compressors inside them.
These Ice boxes are connected through GFCI's. Now, we had problems with these Ice boxes, they would trip and all the ice would melt. When the vendor came, he said that all the call out he had was a trip because of the GFCI's and advised to remove them.
These problems usually happent after a storm or lightning. These boxes are grounded properly.
What could be the possible reasons for the GFCI's to trip. Are they supposed to trip during lighting or storm. Isnt it the ground wire which has to discharge the lighting voltage through it to ground. Why the GFCI operates.
Any inputs and suggestions are welcomed.
Thanks in advance.
gokul
This is the scenario
We have Ice boxes(Ice King) which have ICE in them which our guys use for cooling thier water and gatorade. They have compressors inside them.
These Ice boxes are connected through GFCI's. Now, we had problems with these Ice boxes, they would trip and all the ice would melt. When the vendor came, he said that all the call out he had was a trip because of the GFCI's and advised to remove them.
These problems usually happent after a storm or lightning. These boxes are grounded properly.
What could be the possible reasons for the GFCI's to trip. Are they supposed to trip during lighting or storm. Isnt it the ground wire which has to discharge the lighting voltage through it to ground. Why the GFCI operates.
Any inputs and suggestions are welcomed.
Thanks in advance.
gokul





RE: Need to troubleshoot
2) Lightning could easily trip a GFI with outdoor loads.
I'd get someone who understands this to actually measure the leakage current from your individual coolers. If it's close to the GFI rating, (5mA I believe), you could see about re-distributing the coolers.
Example: Coolers are found to leak about 2.2mA. Two are plugged into one outlet.
2.2mA x 2 = 4.4mA.
Add wet ground, wet boxes, high humidity, and perhaps some lightning induced currents and "pop".
Solution: Put in separate GFI outlets for use by each cooler.
Keith Cress
kcress - http://www.flaminsystems.com
RE: Need to troubleshoot
About every 4 or 5 years I replace the gasketed door covers and the duplex outlets because it's easier to replace the outlet than it is to clean it and the GFI's don't trip for a year or two until the cheapo gaskets decay and rot.
Dan
RE: Need to troubleshoot
If you do provide them, you need to use Equipment GFCI breakers which are less sensitive, tripping at 30ma vs. 4-6ma at which the personnel GFCI breakers or outlets trip, for the reasons Keith mentioned above.
Remember 30ma devices are not intended to and will not protect human beings.
Rafiq Bulsara
http://www.srengineersct.com
RE: Need to troubleshoot
Yet that is precisely the purpose they are used for in Europe, with 10mA types being reserved for areas of increased risk such as very wet environments. Possibly the higher voltage over here plays a part in the selection of current: the leakage currents through cable capacitance and filter capacitances are roughly double those at 120V.
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If we learn from our mistakes I'm getting a great education!
RE: Need to troubleshoot
Gunnar Englund
www.gke.org
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100 % recycled posting: Electrons, ideas, finger-tips have been used over and over again...
RE: Need to troubleshoot
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If we learn from our mistakes I'm getting a great education!
RE: Need to troubleshoot
RE: Need to troubleshoot
Also the effect of a shock varies as to which sensitive organ sees the current.
Rafiq Bulsara
http://www.srengineersct.com