Should Outdoor GFCIs Trip on Nearby Lightning Strikes?

[MossRoad]

Maybe you actually have a problem?

 

[workinonit]

I run all GFI breakers for the required GFI circuits and I don't use them if code doesn't require them. I've never had lightening issues on my breakers. Sometimes inductive loads will cause them to trip the GFI.

 

[5030]

I don't usually recommend surge protectors as there a lot of them out there to be had but, I use Tripp-Lite Isobar units myself. They have excellent clamping and fast clamping times plus they reset automatically, and they won't bust your wallet either. This computer is plugged into one as are all our appliances.

 

[woody]

Receptacles mounted outdoors in gray w/p boxes with In-Use covers. The one that tripped most recently is under an awning and about 6' above ground, so even further removed from moisture.

Okay, so all of mine are inside with a regular plug down stream and outside and I have never had that to happen not saying that's the problem just comparing.
another thought is there more than one actual GFCI plug on that circuit?

 

[grsthegreat]

I worked on a house that had lightning strike on pole mounted transformer feeding house. There were 5 gfci recepticles that actually were nearly blown Out of the wall. Also, the above ground telephone junction box had disappeared…..vanashed in a puff of smoke. His car was hooked up to a battery charger and all cars electronics were fried. His well pump smoked out and his backup generator was destroyed. Dont recall what else, but about $60k in damage.
its hard to say weather a surge suppressor would help stop the tremendous energy of the strike.

 

[ponytug]

May be one of those stupid questions most people should know, but ....

On occasion, one or more of my outdoor GFCIs will trip out if lightning if close enough to be quick and loud, but not really nearby enough to be damaging. Almost like it's from the sound alone, but that wouldn't make sense. I have about 5 or 6 and it's usually only one that does it and not always the same one. None of the indoor ones trip.

I know they age, but it doesn't seem to matter if it's one of the newer ones or not.

I also have a couple that seem to trip on power blinks when power goes down for only a few seconds, then restores.

They're all wired properly and test normal with those plug in testers.

GFCI are designed to trip on very very small amounts of current (~6mA) A nearby strike can raise the local ground potential by more than enough to cause a small surge of current back from your ground/neutral and trigger a trip.

What Causes GFCI Outlets to Keep Tripping? | Fluke

This issue of "Solid Ground" talks about ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs), why they are necessary, and how to troubleshoot GFCI-protected circuits.

www.fluke.com

It is always possible that you have a neutral/ground issue, either on your pole mounted transformer or in your main panel/panel ground, but it wouldn't be my first thought.

If you don't have one, a whole house surge suppressor might help somewhat.

All the best,

Peter

 

[MossRoad]

A while ago I redid our bathroom. I thought it would be nice to replace the outlets and switches with white VS the ivory that they were. I shut off the power, removed the GFCI, put in the new one, restored power, and the new GFCI would not reset. I figured I did something wrong, but no luck. So I bought a GFCI tester at a big box, and it showed some issues. I corrected those issues, and it would reset. But it would trip as soon as you’d turn anything else on that circuit on. After much back tracing, I found a very loose connection in a junction box in the basement, and a burnt connection on a porcelain light fixture on the basement ceiling.

So my advice to you is to purchase a GFCI tester and make sure everything is copacetic.

Bunch of different types and features. Anywhere from $10 to $40. I got the cheap one. Worked fine for my purposes. I also used it to figure out some GFCI wiring in the kitchen by the sinks.

Klein Tools GFCI Receptacle Tester RT210

Klein Tools Receptacle Testers are designed to detect the most common wiring problems in standard and ground fault circuit interrupter GFCI receptacles. A convenient chart on the tester helps determine

www.homedepot.com

 

[Jstpssng]

I've lost 3 land line phones to lightening strikes in the last few years. As near as I can tell it's coming in the phone line. I also had an old surge protector which had slots for the phone lines but that got burned up, and I can't find another for the phone line. Yet my router, which is plugged in to the same line, has never had a problem. I tightened the clamp for the ground wire down, hopefully that will help.

 

[ponytug]

I've lost 3 land line phones to lightening strikes in the last few years. As near as I can tell it's coming in the phone line. I also had an old surge protector which had slots for the phone lines but that got burned up, and I can't find another for the phone line. Yet my router, which is plugged in to the same line, has never had a problem. I tightened the clamp for the ground wire down, hopefully that will help.

Sorry to hear it. Some homes in New England are wired up with coils that short to ground that are removed to "improve" the signal. You might ask your telco to have a look at your network/phone connection block on your house.

There are phone line surge protectors out there for sale;

https://www.amazon.com/Tripp-Lite-Network-Protector-DTEL2/dp/B0000512ZX

Robot or human?

PTEL2 - ProtectNet standalone surge protector for analog/DSL phone - 2 lines 4 wires | Schneider Electric Nigeria

Schneider Electric Nigeria. PTEL2 - ProtectNet standalone surge protector for analog/DSL phone - 2 lines 4 wires.

www.apc.com

plus of course the power strip versions;
https://www.amazon.com/Belkin-BE112...r/dp/B000J2EN4S/ref=sr_1_4?crid=1AI296LWU7H58 (my go to)

All the best,

Peter

 

[mikester]

GFCI are designed to trip on very very small amounts of current (~6mA) A nearby strike can raise the local ground potential by more than enough to cause a small surge of current back from your ground/neutral and trigger a trip.

What Causes GFCI Outlets to Keep Tripping? | Fluke

This issue of "Solid Ground" talks about ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs), why they are necessary, and how to troubleshoot GFCI-protected circuits.

www.fluke.com

It is always possible that you have a neutral/ground issue, either on your pole mounted transformer or in your main panel/panel ground, but it wouldn't be my first thought.

If you don't have one, a whole house surge suppressor might help somewhat.

All the best,

Peter

Good post.

Out of curiosity how old is your wiring? Do you have any aluminum wires in the building?