Hot Ground Reverse after GFCI Test
#1
08-29-16, 02:27 PM
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Hot Ground Reverse after GFCI Test
So I am testing my GFCI circuit and noticed that when I do a test of the outlet (i.e. push button on the front), I got from a normal indication on my 3 LED tester to a Hot/Ground reversed indication. I recognize that a hot/ground reversal is usually a loose neutral somewhere but I checked the outlets and the electrical panel and everything looks fine. There is only the GFCI outlets and 2 load outlets down stream from the GFCI. Any ideas what might be causing my problem?
#2
08-29-16, 03:07 PM
Are the line and load sides of the GFCI receptacle wired to the correct cables? After pressing the TEST button, there should be no power at all after the receptacle. A faulty GFCI receptactle could also be the problem here.
#3
08-29-16, 03:37 PM
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That's what I thought too. Everything was wired correctly I think. So a bad gfci is possible then? I was hoping for that or I was out of options.
#4
08-29-16, 03:51 PM
Everything was wired correctly I think.
#5
09-02-16, 06:30 PM
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So I verified that I wired it correctly (which made me feel a little less crazy). But I checked everything and it all looks fine. Could a bad gfci result in this tester reading as was mentioned?
#6
09-02-16, 06:38 PM
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So my theory, and this is a theory at best, is that the relay that opens the natural is opening on a test of the gfci, but the hot is not opening. I guess it's possible right? Maybe the hot welded close at some point? I don't know enough about the internals of a gfci outlet.
#7
09-02-16, 07:38 PM
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Maybe the hot welded close at some point?
You said you verified that you had the hot supply line and it's associated neutral on the line side ?
Very easy to get backwards (line and load swapped) and that will cause strange readings.
A GFI receptacle should not show ANY voltage when tripped. If it does and it's wired correctly... it's defective and needs to be replaced.
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09-03-16, 04:50 AM
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