Trust your GFCI

HFG · 08-26-2005, 07:03 PM

I put in a couple breakers and outlets chained to a GFCI. Plugged in all my stuff on the 75 and it would blow in 5 -10 minutes. After a while I narrowed it down to a 300w heater.

So I plug it in with an extension to an old GFCI. Works fine. After a few days (today) I smell smoke. Took me a few hours to pin point the source (by this time its visible trail of smoke. The titanium heater plugs into the thermostat. When I pulled the connection apart it was so hot it burst into flame. Glad I was home.

Next time, I will trust my GFCI!

the_colonel · 08-27-2005, 04:41 AM

A lesson well learned!

Loverotties · 08-27-2005, 07:23 PM

They do there job.If your not shure they sell G.F.C.I. testers!

HFG · 08-28-2005, 01:30 AM

I have one. I checked the old circuits in the house. They all break when you hit the break button. The new ones are obviously better than the old ones, or at least more sensitive. But the all do the job of GFCI. Unfortunately, that is not a panacea.

I don't know much about electricity. But I do know it likes salt, so we need to be extra careful about just wiping off the water that gets on a plug. Conducting = HeAt!