Unanticipated And Unforeseen Electrical Problems

[Dan789]

Just became aware of a problem that I experienced earlier in my grow that gave me a reset regarding our reliance on electricity and how to stay safe and maintain our grows.
So about a month from the end of my last grow I experienced a couple of unanticipated GFI trips, which at the time I assumed to be from some older timers (two years old). I reset the GFI circuit breaker several times over the course of a few days, then split up my lighting load between two available circuits. I bought two new timers and had no further problems. That is until I moved my clone tent and noticed the condition of the receptacle I’ve included a picture from.
I have test equipment (meggar, meg ohm meter) to determine the cause and found that the reason the GFI had tripped was the over current occurring because of an internal fault in the receptacle itself. No fault was found anywhere else.
This has caused me to add an important if overlooked step in our grows, checking equipment afterwards so we’re ready for the next season. It should include some visual inspection of all the extension cords and receptacles we’re plugging in all our equipment, as even that will uncover many problems and without the aid of more specialized elelctrical test equipment. It should also include as a minimum a test tripping of all GFI receptacles/and or circuit breakers we’re relying on. You can do that with an inexpensive circuit tester that has a GFI test button. Stay safe, test and examine your electrical cords and equipment at least once a year.

 

[G gnome]

Just became aware of a problem that I experienced earlier in my grow that gave me a reset regarding our reliance on electricity and how to stay safe and maintain our grows.
So about a month from the end of my last grow I experienced a couple of unanticipated GFI trips, which at the time I assumed to be from some older timers (two years old). I reset the GFI circuit breaker several times over the course of a few days, then split up my lighting load between two available circuits. I bought two new timers and had no further problems. That is until I moved my clone tent and noticed the condition of the receptacle I’ve included a picture from.
I have test equipment (meggar, meg ohm meter) to determine the cause and found that the reason the GFI had tripped was the over current occurring because of an internal fault in the receptacle itself. No fault was found anywhere else.
This has caused me to add an important if overlooked step in our grows, checking equipment afterwards so we’re ready for the next season. It should include some visual inspection of all the extension cords and receptacles we’re plugging in all our equipment, as even that will uncover many problems and without the aid of more specialized elelctrical test equipment. It should also include as a minimum a test tripping of all GFI receptacles/and or circuit breakers we’re relying on. You can do that with an inexpensive circuit tester that has a GFI test button. Stay safe, test and examine your electrical cords and equipment at least once a year.

Well, if ur gfi is repeatedly trippin ya dont wanna jjst keep resetting it. Looks like u were pullin too much juice from that 1 receptacle.
That outlet is only rated for 15A

 

[sixstring]

Wow this should never happen on a gfi protected line,is the GFI on this circuit 20amp and the actual circuit is 15amp? Not impressed with the condition of that wire either,the corrosion could have caused the initial problem.if a GFI or breaker trips once,no biggie,probably over loaded the line or had power co issues.if it trips a second time you have serious issues

 

[MirrorZen]

Need a to watch thy amperage, and never exceed 75% of an outlets rating. Just stating the elephant.

Edit: but yes, safety first.

 

[Dan789]

The receptacle was internally shorted, it only had one 40 watt or less oscillating fan on it. If it had been overloaded where the c/b didn’t trip the silver screw would have been heated and discolored also. The wirenut with the melted portion on it was on the ground wire.
Regarding a tripping c/b no matter what type, IE regular or GFI jots do occur (just one of those things), by the time I had reset it for the third time, the shorting had melted enough inside the recept to clear and allow the breaker to reset. The caveat is, these were heavy duty, not the $.59 cent variety and about eight years old. The second compounding was that I had hidden this receptacle behind a tent, which preventing me from noticing that there was a problem. (Think about all the receptacles that you haven’t looked at in a few months/years?).

Big PS, I’m an retired Electrical contractor with many years experience, so this wasn’t some work done by someone who wasn’t qualified nor in a hurry to get it done, if a situation like this could happen to me, it can/will happen to anyone when you least expect it.

 

[Freshone]

Ive seen similar before in homes,Were the side screws used for wiring or was the lazy way taken and the push in for the wires used?Ive see them come loose and arc many time when the push in were used and thats not under heavy load either.

 

[Dan789]

Here’s a little follow up, these two pics are, left side newly purchased Leviton receptacle, right side is also Leviton purchased a few years back, which was the same variety that faulted. Notice the new one has much more space between where the conductors terminate (yes under screws) and the frame which is tied to the grounding path.
Those back stab style receptacles mentioned, are what’s used most often in most new home, older home construction, and i certainly agree they shouldn’t be used at all.

 

[madgrower]

Here’s a little follow up, these two pics are, left side newly purchased Leviton receptacle, right side is also Leviton purchased a few years back, which was the same variety that faulted. Notice the new one has much more space between where the conductors terminate (yes under screws) and the frame which is tied to the grounding path.
Those back stab style receptacles mentioned, are what’s used most often in most new home, older home construction, and i certainly agree they shouldn’t be used at all.

Very useful information .most people don't even think about what's unseen

 

[Dan789]

Yes, all the shit unseen inside the walls @madgrower. I’m beginning to rethink replacing the GFI c/bs I have in my grow area with arc-fault/GFI circuit breakers. They would have tripped and not been able to be reset until the problem was remedied. They would also detect nails or screw penetrations (hot to neutral faults) of the non metallic sheathed cable (romex) that’s commonly used inside the walls of our homes. Those style problems if that occurs can burn & heat up inside the wall until the house burns down without tripping a regular or GFI breaker/receptacle.

 

[madgrower]

Yes, all the shit unseen inside the walls @madgrower. I’m beginning to rethink replacing the GFI c/bs I have in my grow area with arc-fault/GFI circuit breakers. They would have tripped and not been able to be reset until the problem was remedied. They would also detect nails or screw penetrations (hot to neutral faults) of the non metallic sheathed cable (romex) that’s commonly used inside the walls of our homes. Those style problems if that occurs can burn & heat up inside the wall until the house burns down without tripping a regular or GFI breaker/receptacle.

That's what I did .I couldn't dasy chain them because they must have detected a fault so they are all on separate breakers now

 

[Dan789]

If that occurs in the future on other circuits, you can break the circuit in half and see if it resets (to help locate the fault), a fault can also come from something that’s plugged in. Ultimately your individual arc fault GFI c/b’s gives the best protection, and is easiest to troubleshoot.
Ideal makes a circuit analyzer that can also help determine other problems, but it’s a couple hundred bucks and hard to justify for the few times it would be necessary. I’ve got a whole bag full of meters and such legacy’d from when I was working and now for JIC.

 

[madgrower]

Best thing that I did Imo is that I got a 240 volt timer with a 30 amp breaker and have 4 lights hooked to that there's a 110 plug hooked to it too for fans