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There's a few small parts inside a GFCI and also a small coil of cable. Electricity in an AC circuit can be considered to vibrate in the cables, this produces unnoticeable harmonics (vibrations
/noise). However when a coil (cable
wrapped around and around) has AC Current flowing through it these harmonics are increased and become noticeable (can
be heard).
The noise coming out of your device is not a safety issue, it is not indicative of a fault with your electricity, however it is annoying.
I shall now give a couple of reasons why it may be unavoidable.
Resonance depends on many things... Materials the board and GFCI are mounted to being one. the overall measurements and position of the GFCI in relation to the materials around it being another. It might be that the board itself is spreading the sound wave.
It may even be the tiniest spec of dust inside the GFCI itself, or that the GFCI's
mounting bracket is a tiny bit loose.
You may find you can slide The GFCI to one side or another, space permitting, inside your board (you
may have to remove a black plate from the front panel), and by just moving it to one side it may stop the noise all together.
A rather unorthodox method of stopping this noise (due
to dust and other internal causes), is to give the GFCI a sharp rap on the front with a solid Item not a heavy item example:
Don't use a hammer, also try not to hit the switches). something like a spoon or the handle of a screw driver should do the trick.
(Source: Qualified electrician)
Otherwise, your looking at maybe calling out an electrician to see if he can find where the sound is specifically coming from, and to put a piece of dampening material into your board.
If in doubt, get an electrician out.
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
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Do you need a gfci outlet if you have a gfci breaker?
Not if the GFCI breaker is supplying the circuit you are wanting to put the GFCI receptacle into.
Can a circuit with a GFCI be shared at the box?
Your question is a bit vague, but let's try a two part answer. If you have a GFCI breaker in an electric panel you should only have one connection at the breaker, but the breaker will protect all devices on the circuit. If you are talking about a GFCI outlet, they are equipped to extend the GFCI protection to other non-GFCI outlets by using the proper "output" connection on the GFCI.
Is a ground fault indicator outlet installed at the breaker box?
There are tow places to put a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter. There is a GFCI breaker which would be installed in a breaker box and a GFCI outlet that can be installed anywhere. Most GFCI outlets allow you to connect regular outlets to the GFCI and those outlets will also be protected.
Are gfci plugs required in a bathroom?
Deoends on code you are governed by. In USA, a GFCI outlet or a circuit controlled by a GFCI circuit breaker would be required.
Why and when would you use a GFCI breaker within a older home with a groun?
You need a GFCI outlet at any location that is within 6' of a water source. You also need a GFCI outlet in a room with a concrete floor, any garage, and any location outside the home or under the home in the crawl space. A GFCI outlet protects you from electrical shock near water or moisture. You can protect more than one outlet with 1 GFCI outlet. Connect the incoming power to the LINE side of the GFCI outlet and all the other outlets getting power from that outlet to the LOAD side of the GFCI outlet. That way they will all be protected by 1 GFCI. A GFCI breaker is used to protect an entire circuit and not just individual receptacles. It is often cheaper to use GFCI receptacles than a breaker, especially if "piggy-backed" such as described above. It is also more convenient to reset a GFCI receptacle than to reset a breaker. But your question is "why." From this I suspect you may be misunderstanding the difference between a breaker and GFCI protection. To keep things simple let me say that a GFCI does not work on the same principles as a standard breaker. It provides a much safer protection than a standard breaker. Even with a ground you need GFCI protection as listed above.
Do you need a gfci outlet if you have a gfci breaker?
Not if the GFCI breaker is supplying the circuit you are wanting to put the GFCI receptacle into.
A GFCI device in a breaker is intended to?
A GFCI device in a breaker is intended to trip the breaker open when a ground fault is sensed in the circuit that the breaker is protecting.
Does anyone make a 100 amp GFCI breaker?
Not that I know of. The largest GFCI breaker I have seen is a 60 amp.
Can a circuit with a GFCI be shared at the box?
Your question is a bit vague, but let's try a two part answer. If you have a GFCI breaker in an electric panel you should only have one connection at the breaker, but the breaker will protect all devices on the circuit. If you are talking about a GFCI outlet, they are equipped to extend the GFCI protection to other non-GFCI outlets by using the proper "output" connection on the GFCI.
Are gfci receptacles required in kitchens?
No, you could use a GFCI circuit breaker instead.
Is a ground fault indicator outlet installed at the breaker box?
There are tow places to put a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter. There is a GFCI breaker which would be installed in a breaker box and a GFCI outlet that can be installed anywhere. Most GFCI outlets allow you to connect regular outlets to the GFCI and those outlets will also be protected.
Are gfci plugs required in a bathroom?
Deoends on code you are governed by. In USA, a GFCI outlet or a circuit controlled by a GFCI circuit breaker would be required.
Why and when would you use a GFCI breaker within a older home with a groun?
You need a GFCI outlet at any location that is within 6' of a water source. You also need a GFCI outlet in a room with a concrete floor, any garage, and any location outside the home or under the home in the crawl space. A GFCI outlet protects you from electrical shock near water or moisture. You can protect more than one outlet with 1 GFCI outlet. Connect the incoming power to the LINE side of the GFCI outlet and all the other outlets getting power from that outlet to the LOAD side of the GFCI outlet. That way they will all be protected by 1 GFCI. A GFCI breaker is used to protect an entire circuit and not just individual receptacles. It is often cheaper to use GFCI receptacles than a breaker, especially if "piggy-backed" such as described above. It is also more convenient to reset a GFCI receptacle than to reset a breaker. But your question is "why." From this I suspect you may be misunderstanding the difference between a breaker and GFCI protection. To keep things simple let me say that a GFCI does not work on the same principles as a standard breaker. It provides a much safer protection than a standard breaker. Even with a ground you need GFCI protection as listed above.
If your wall receptacle has tripped but not at the circuit breaker how can this problem be repaired?
If it's a GFCI receptacle and the button is not resetting then change the GFCI outlet.
If the test switch is bad on a gfci will the breaker still work?
If the test switch is faulty then there is no convenient way to determine if the GFCI is functioning, and technically, if the test switch is faulty, then as it is a part of the GFCI, the GFCI is faulty and should be replaced.
Does the neutral wire have a charge in a gfci circuit breaker?
No. Not if the GFCI is wired correctly. The neutral wire should always be cold, or at ground potential.
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.
