An electrician installed an outlet on a circuit inside my garage that is connected to an exterior spotlight. The spotlight has a sensor that automatically turns it on at dusk and off at dawn. There is an interior switch between the outlet and the light that controls the light only. The switch has to be on for the spotlight to respond to the sensor. I was told it would be a good idea replace the regular outlet with a GFI outlet before the Holidays since I connect the Christmas lights there. Everything was fine until I removed the Christmas lights. Now when I turn on the interior switch (it was off to allow the Christmas lights to be worked with a timer plugged into the outlet) to allow the spotlight to work with the light sensor, the GFI outlet goes off! Possibly of note: prior to putting in the GFI outlet there were no problems and the washer/dryer are on the same circuit. Is it possible the circuit is overloaded? The outdoor spotlight is 10 years old. Could replacing it with a modern light that requires less power make a difference?
What could be causing the new GFCI receptacle to keep tripping
gfci
Related Topic
- Electrical – What could be causing AFCI breaker and GFCI receptacle nuisance tripping
- What could be causing the GFCI outlet to trip
- Electrical – Why is this light fixture tripping the GFCI
- Electrical – New GFCI in garage is tripping when driveway lights are turned on
- Switch – GFCI receptacle and 3-way switches
- Electrical – GFCI receptacle works partially when switch is turned off; not at all when on
- Electrical – Why is GFCI Receptacle Tripping From Downstream Fluorescent LIght on Switch
Best Answer
The washer and dryer are on the same circuit? It must be a gas dryer?
I'd think that you would want to see about splitting this out on its own circuit if you can. The drum motors in the washer or dryer could be the culprit. GFCI only requires a 0.005A difference in current between the hot and neutral legs to trip.
Your GFCI outlet might be defective or over-sensitive.
There could be a small/intermittent short to ground in your outdoor spotlight fixture? Maybe the lamp itself is defective and causing enough fluctuation to trip the GFCI.
Do you have a moisture problem in the outdoor spotlight, perhaps?