I recently had an outdoor GFCI receptacle installed, but it causes my electric tools to run slow (hedge clippers, etc.).
Do I need to increase the amps rating, if so to what?
Electrical – Why would a GFCI receptacle causes the electric tools to run slow
electrical
Related Solutions
There are GFCI outlets that have indicator LEDs on them, like this one:
If you put this in the living space, then connect the sump receptacle (a normal, non-GFCI receptacle) to the "load" side of this outlet, it will also be protected. If it trips, the light will be out and you'll know it.
To make it more obvious, you could plug a nightlight into this outlet.
Even better, plug in an "emergency rechargeable flashlight": the kind that plug into the wall, but turn on automatically when you unplug them or the power goes out.
This would more readily draw attention: if the light is on, there is a problem.
Look for a ground fault
- Disconnect the wires feeding the new receptacle, at both ends.
- Set your multimeter (you do have a multimeter, right?) to the lowest resistance setting, or the continuity setting if it has it.
- Touch one probe to the green/bare grounding conductor, and the other to each of the other wires in turn.
- repeat this process for every combination of wires (G-> B, G -> W, W -> B).
With the wiring disconnected, you should not get a reading on the multimeter. If you do, it means you have a short-circuit between that set of wires. Repeat this process on the new receptacle, touching one probe to the green ground terminal and the other to each the brass and silver terminals. Again, no combination should give a reading.
Your circuit is too long?
It may be possible that the circuit is just too long, and the resistance in the conductors themselves are causing the imbalance. Try connecting the new receptacle to the previous receptacle temporarily, using short pigtails (CAUTION: Working on energized circuits is dangerous.). Turn on the power, and try to set the GFCI. Make sure nobody is near the exposed receptacles, and don't touch, or get near them while the power is on.
If the GFCI holds, there is a fault in the wiring to the new receptacle or the circuit may simply be too long.
Warning: I haven't done any calculations, research, or testing on this theory, so it could be completely false. It's just a thought, but it's fairly easy for you to test.
According to the documentation for the Two-Pole QO®/QOB Circuit Breaker and Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter
NOTE: To minimize nuisance tripping:...
- Do not connect circuit breaker to more than 250 ft. (76 m) of load conductor for the total one-way run
Is the power on?
GFCI receptacles can only be reset when the power is on. So if you're trying to reset it with the power off, you won't have any luck.
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Best Answer
It sounds as though the voltage at the appliance is reduced when the motor is running. This happens when the wire length exceeds the maximum limit for the expected current. Said another way, the voltage drop on the line between the breaker and the GFCI is too great for that amount of current. This suggests the wire size is too small (e.g., 12 ga vs 10 ga). If a light load (100W bulb, radio, etc.) is plugged in, does it work as expected?