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Why does the GFCI plug trip when the bathroom exhaust fan is turned on?
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
The electrical code exists to protect against three things...
1. shock
2. fire
3. idiots
The purpose of a Ground Fault Current/Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) is to detect when there is an imbalance between the power going through the hot and neutral terminals. If one has more power going through it, that means that the power that was supposed to be going through the other is actually going through something else (ground fault or maybe even a person).
If this happens when the fan is turned ON, it means that you have a ground fault (the ground is getting power instead of the fan). This happens whenever a powered wire touches anything that's grounded Check your GFCI receptacle and the fan's electrical wiring to make sure there is no way the white and black wires can touch anything metal other than their terminals.
If this happens when the fan is turned OFF, the fan is probably still turning and, being attached to a motor, becomes a small generator. This EMF (Electro Magnetic Feedback) is probably the culprit causing the GFCI to trip. You'll need to ask an electrician about this scenario and they'll tell you the best solution depending on the problem.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
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What amp do you need for a hairdryer plug?
A standard 115 rated bathroom circuit is enough power. You are supposed to have a GFCI on the line, either attached to your blow dryuer plug or as a receptacle.
Where are GFCI required by the electrical code?
GFCI (or Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) should always be installed anywhere there is a possibility of the "plug-in" getting damp or wet, such as the Kitchen or Bathroom, also it doesn't hurt to use a GFCI in rooms used by children as they trip much faster on a fault than circuit breakers (if the kid sticks something in the plug in)
What happens when you plug a GFCI protected extension cord into an outlet that is GFCI protected?
In a word NO, that will not cause either GFCI to trip. The correct term is GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter)
Do you need a gfi plug for a spa if it is being plugged into a gfi circuit?
If your spa is connected with a GFCI circuit breaker you will not need the GFCI receptacle.
Why does GFCI plug trip when exhaust fan is turned on?
That probably indicates a fault in the exhaust fan; either a motor winding has failed, or the fan is wired improperly. Just to amplify - The Ground Fault Current/Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) detects current flowing to ground that should instead be flowing in the fan. This means somewhere in the fan the Hot wire has an unintended path to ground and is a shock hazard. You should check the wiring to the fan (with power off) and make sure there are no bare wires that could be causing your problem and if you don't see anything obvious you should replace the fan.
What amp do you need for a hairdryer plug?
A standard 115 rated bathroom circuit is enough power. You are supposed to have a GFCI on the line, either attached to your blow dryuer plug or as a receptacle.
Where are GFCI required by the electrical code?
GFCI (or Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) should always be installed anywhere there is a possibility of the "plug-in" getting damp or wet, such as the Kitchen or Bathroom, also it doesn't hurt to use a GFCI in rooms used by children as they trip much faster on a fault than circuit breakers (if the kid sticks something in the plug in)
Can you use a GFCI plug into a GFCI outlet?
Yes you can. Lots of blow dryers have GFCI protection built in.
What happens when you plug a GFCI protected extension cord into an outlet that is GFCI protected?
In a word NO, that will not cause either GFCI to trip. The correct term is GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter)
Do you need a gfi plug for a spa if it is being plugged into a gfi circuit?
If your spa is connected with a GFCI circuit breaker you will not need the GFCI receptacle.
Why does GFCI plug trip when exhaust fan is turned on?
That probably indicates a fault in the exhaust fan; either a motor winding has failed, or the fan is wired improperly. Just to amplify - The Ground Fault Current/Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) detects current flowing to ground that should instead be flowing in the fan. This means somewhere in the fan the Hot wire has an unintended path to ground and is a shock hazard. You should check the wiring to the fan (with power off) and make sure there are no bare wires that could be causing your problem and if you don't see anything obvious you should replace the fan.
If I have 20 amp GFCI receptacle and would like to add another receptacle to the GFCI Does the new plug also need to be 20 amps?
Yes.
Are there any electrical code issues with bathroom or kitchen light fixtures that have multiple plug receptacles with built-in GFI capabilities?
If the fixture has a built-in GFCI, there are no issues other than NO electrical fixtures in a bath or shower unless they are made for that purpose.
Can you change a 2 prong plug with a three prong plug if you use a GFCI breaker?
NO - it is not safe to do that. A GFCI breaker is only a secondary safety device and your primary safety still depends on the earth wire in a 3-pin supply.
What is the wiring and gfci for a bathtab jacuzzi?
Connect incoming power to the line side of GFCI outlet and plug Jacuzzi into the outlet. Must be on a dedicated circuit. If it has a pump and heater then each one must be on dedicated GFCI protected circuit.
How do you wire dual switch-plug gfci which has extra wires?
there should be 5 wires, hot and switched hot for the switch and hot, neutral and ground for the gfci receptacle.
Should a tankless hot water heater be pluged into a gfci plug?
Yes it should .
