GFCI Question

CastAway · Dec 12, 2015

With nothing plugged into it, my GFCI outlet will not reset. Breaker in the box outside is reset and on, yet no power to the outlets on that circuit.

What am I missing?

BlueDevil · Dec 13, 2015

A couple of thoughts:

1. Could there still be some water/moisture in the outlet? If so the GFCI might keep tripping thereby preventing the reset.

2. Did you try flipping the outside breaker back and forth multiple times just to make sure it 'catches'

3. Does your outside breaker also have a reset button in addition to the flip switch? If so you might have to hit that reset button before you flip the switch.

Edit: If nothing is plugged into the GFCI unless there is moisture in the outlet itself #1 is probably not the case. It sounds like the GFCI outlet is not getting power fed to it. Without power the reset won't flip.

saltyfilmfolks · Dec 13, 2015

Salt is also conductive. Wet or dry.

cee · Dec 13, 2015

If you got salt spray on the GFCI then that is what is tripping it. You can try removing it and rinsing it in fresh water and sometimes that will clear them. Better option is to just replace it.

redfishbluefish · Dec 13, 2015

Is this a new installation of the GFCI? If so, could you have reversed the hot (black) and neutral (white) wires on the outlet? If not clearly labeled, black goes to brass screws, while white goes to silver screws......or white to long outlet slot, black to short outlet slot.

CastAway · Dec 13, 2015

This really helps.

Water never touched the GFCI outlet itself. It only touched a plug on the interior of the cabinet.

Because all the other outlets on the circuit are dead, this explains why the GFCI won't reset.

So, I figure the breaker is faulty because if there were truly a short the breaker would not appear to set. It is not a GFCI type.

If I got the breaker to set, and the other outlet went live, and the GFCI still wouldn't set, then I'd think I had the pokes reversed. I surely tested the outlet after I installed it, I think.

Does all this sound reasonable?

BlueDevil · Dec 13, 2015

If all the other outlets on that breaker are also dead it does look like the issue is with the breaker.

CastAway · Dec 13, 2015

Off to Home Depot. [emoji53]

Reefing Madness · Dec 13, 2015

Outlets do go bad, they only have a certain life span on them.

ShoreReefer · Dec 13, 2015

Definitely an issue with the breaker or the home run if the circuit is dead.

CastAway · Dec 13, 2015

It's the "or home run" part that scares me. I mean the GFCI did exactly what it was supposed to do, so I hope, really hope, there was no short. In my ignorance, the breaker wound not even click into the on position if there were a short.

When I work up the nerve to power the panel down, pull the face and replace the single pole tandem breaker, then I'll know.....

Ugh!

ShoreReefer · Dec 14, 2015

Good luck! Replacing a breaker can get a bit overwhelming. I've replaced quite a few with the power still on but still get a bit nervous each time lol

CastAway · Dec 19, 2015

Replaced the breaker, but it turned out to be the GFCI. Everything on the circuit was on the load side of the outlet. Took hours to remove equip, clean, access the outlet then replace all the equip. Would have built differently from the beginning had I realized what a bear it would be.