Block heater tripping GCFI
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Block heater tripping GCFI
I have searched and read but not seeing my situation. Block heater started tripping outlet that it had used all last winter with no problem. Replaced cord. Still tripped. Replaced element (it was so corroded it had a hole in it) Thanksgiving 2020 and it worked great until about 2 weeks ago and is now tripping it again. Had cord checked and it amped at 15.8. Took home plugged it in and it worked for a week.
I've tried new extension cords. I have tried different GCFI outlets. Cord looks good, encased in a plastic sleeve.
Why is it tripping? What am I missing?
Thank you in advance!!
2003 F350 Super Duty SRW Crew Cab
I've tried new extension cords. I have tried different GCFI outlets. Cord looks good, encased in a plastic sleeve.
Why is it tripping? What am I missing?
Thank you in advance!!
2003 F350 Super Duty SRW Crew Cab
Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 6,259
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From: IL
If you're tripping the breaker on the socket, and you've plugged into other sockets and it's tripping them also, then there is a short in either the new cord or the heater element. If you say your cord is good, then I'd have to suspect it's the element that has shorted...Just because they're fairly new doesn't mean they're good.
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That's what I was afraid of. Is there a way to test the element?
The outlet its normally plugged into is a 20 amp but sometimes I plug into the barn outlet and that's a 15 amp but the whole barn was professionally rewired onto it's own meter, just over a year ago, so I know it's not an outlet issue.
Guess I'm draining and replacing again
The outlet its normally plugged into is a 20 amp but sometimes I plug into the barn outlet and that's a 15 amp but the whole barn was professionally rewired onto it's own meter, just over a year ago, so I know it's not an outlet issue.
Guess I'm draining and replacing again
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Thank you!
Here try these maybe they'll help you out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7C9DyikzOZY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qO_WHk1_JW0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7C9DyikzOZY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qO_WHk1_JW0
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2020
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From: Fort Mill SC
A GFCI will trip when the common and ground make contact with each other, that being said the block heater is drawing a lot of quick on amps and it is more than likely that the extension cord you are using is not the right amp rating for it, those orange cords are usually 14g if your lucky but most of them are 16g, to top it off they are stranded, stranded wire doesn't carry amps well.
It's not a good idea to plug something like a heater/fridge or anything that comes on hard and fast into a GFCI, they will get fooled and trip just to be safe, if you are lucky and its the first in the series you can tie into the line side and just add a non GFCI receptacle next to it, do not tie into the LOAD side as that will then also be protected by the GFCI.
It's not a good idea to plug something like a heater/fridge or anything that comes on hard and fast into a GFCI, they will get fooled and trip just to be safe, if you are lucky and its the first in the series you can tie into the line side and just add a non GFCI receptacle next to it, do not tie into the LOAD side as that will then also be protected by the GFCI.
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I don't own a low amp cord. They are either 12 or 14, outdoor rated cords. I have other items that need a quality cord. And I have tried 3 cords. It's not the cords or the outlets. I only have GCFI outlets and each is on it's own breaker.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2020
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From: Fort Mill SC
do you have GFCI breakers or receptacles?
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I have four GFCI outlets each on it's own circuit/breaker, there are no outlets run off of them.. Two are 20 amp and two are 15 amp. One (20) is the only outlet on a 200 amp service (normal one truck is plugged into) and the three (two 15 [one also powers the LED lights], one 20 [powers the trough heater, wash machine, and 4-gallon water heater) in the barn and they are also on a 200 amp service.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 396
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From: Fort Mill SC
I have four GFCI outlets each on it's own circuit/breaker, there are no outlets run off of them.. Two are 20 amp and two are 15 amp. One (20) is the only outlet on a 200 amp service (normal one truck is plugged into) and the three (two 15 [one also powers the LED lights], one 20 [powers the trough heater, wash machine, and 4-gallon water heater) in the barn and they are also on a 200 amp service.
If you are plugged in to a home run with no load, and its a GFCI, there are a few possibilities, the wiring was installed in the load side not the LINE side and the recep has no clue what to do, it's confused, the extension cord is not suitable (you have said it is a heavy duty cord so this cant be it)...
Let me stop, are you getting the GFI tripping or the breaker, if it is the breaker that's considered a hard trip and we are barking up the wrong tree, would you prefer to call me and save on going back and forth?
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They are GFCI and it's the outlet(s) that are tripping, not the breakers.
They are all correctly wired. Between myself, my cousin (electrical Journeyman) and the licensed electrician one of us would have noticed and I would have had problems a long time ago.
Never had an issue until the original element went bad. Replaced it and all was fine until 2 weeks ago. I am leaning towards the element having a problem since the cord amped at 15.8.
I can hear my cousin rolling his eyes from miles away. He told me to not buy a diesel! LOL
They are all correctly wired. Between myself, my cousin (electrical Journeyman) and the licensed electrician one of us would have noticed and I would have had problems a long time ago.
Never had an issue until the original element went bad. Replaced it and all was fine until 2 weeks ago. I am leaning towards the element having a problem since the cord amped at 15.8.
I can hear my cousin rolling his eyes from miles away. He told me to not buy a diesel! LOL
Are you sure they are GFCI not AFCI, the AFCI looks identical and will trip if you look at it wrong.
If you are plugged in to a home run with no load, and its a GFCI, there are a few possibilities, the wiring was installed in the load side not the LINE side and the recep has no clue what to do, it's confused, the extension cord is not suitable (you have said it is a heavy duty cord so this cant be it)...
Let me stop, are you getting the GFI tripping or the breaker, if it is the breaker that's considered a hard trip and we are barking up the wrong tree, would you prefer to call me and save on going back and forth?
If you are plugged in to a home run with no load, and its a GFCI, there are a few possibilities, the wiring was installed in the load side not the LINE side and the recep has no clue what to do, it's confused, the extension cord is not suitable (you have said it is a heavy duty cord so this cant be it)...
Let me stop, are you getting the GFI tripping or the breaker, if it is the breaker that's considered a hard trip and we are barking up the wrong tree, would you prefer to call me and save on going back and forth?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,394
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From: Southern KS
If you don't have a GFCI breaker then just replace the outlet with a standard 20AMP outlet, assuming you have a 20AMP breaker.
GFCI's trip when they sense a minute voltage difference between hot and neutral, and I mean extremely small differences. Many things can trigger this and I went thru this with a refrigerator in the garage last year. Resistive heating, like the fridge defroster, is a potential trigger for GFCI circuits.
If you are not in a really wet, or potentially wet environment just swap out the wall receptacle and your problem will go away. The breaker will do it's job if there is a real problem. I am not saying GFCI's are all bad, and they may disclose an issue before it becomes a major one, but they do struggle to provide power to resistive heating without bogus triggers.
GFCI's trip when they sense a minute voltage difference between hot and neutral, and I mean extremely small differences. Many things can trigger this and I went thru this with a refrigerator in the garage last year. Resistive heating, like the fridge defroster, is a potential trigger for GFCI circuits.
If you are not in a really wet, or potentially wet environment just swap out the wall receptacle and your problem will go away. The breaker will do it's job if there is a real problem. I am not saying GFCI's are all bad, and they may disclose an issue before it becomes a major one, but they do struggle to provide power to resistive heating without bogus triggers.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 396
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From: Fort Mill SC
It's all good, the GFCI doesn't like the element, it's nothing more than the same style as what is in an electric oven or electric smoker, thinking back I remember when I had an electric smoker I had the same problem, pull the receptacle and put in a regular one as long as it will be; protected from the elements, ie rain/snow etc, not less than 3' off the floor and not next to a sink, I would suggest getting a single style receptacle rated for 20 amps. If your situation doesnt meet the standards then you can always put a waterproof cover over it.
If you are worried about someone else not knowing what it's for you can always wire in a switch and mark it as dangerous.
If you are worried about someone else not knowing what it's for you can always wire in a switch and mark it as dangerous.