Lifespan of a GFCI
My GFCI to the hot tub just started tripping. I can individually select different components on the tub to cause the tub to trip. I drained the hot tub and just refilled it (for a different reason). When the tub came on, it immediately tripped. The only things that run when it starts up is a recirc pump and the heater. I disconnected the recirc pump, and the GFCI will not trip. I turned on the other two pumps, good. I turned on the air blower and it trips. I opened the box up and everything looks good. I recently replaced the mother board on the tub, so I know that’s in good working order.
So, I suspect the GFCI, however that’s a very pricey item (240V – 60 AMP). The GFCI (and hot tub) is about 5 1/2 yrs old.
Any ideas or other suggestions that I could try to determine the source of the problem?
Thanks,
You could put a 4 watt incandescent bulb in series with the grounding conductor of each of the suspect components; if it lights there is a short to ground.
If no short, put one (or several) 4 watt incandescent bulb(s) in series with a milliammeter in series with the grounding conductor (the bulb(s) acts as a constant current source and hopefully prevents blowing the meter’ internal fuse if a short to ground suddenly appears).
Measure the current and compare it to the trip current specification of the GF device.
For minimum GF protection, >4 mA should trip in <10 seconds.
There are discrete sources of leakage (good or bad motors, bad refrigerators) and distributed sources of leakage (moist degraded wire insulation and inter-conductor cable capacitance), and resistive or reactive leakage.
