Since there's allot of electricians here I figured I would pose this question:Yes I know what a GFI is and am very familiar with their operation. I just bought a really small pressure washer to keep on the coach for washing beach salt off after windy days, and it has a GFI installed on the cord. The difference between this one and other cord-end GFI's is that this one comes out with two wires, not 3. Meaning I think that the common ground return stops here doesn't it? So if there is a case (pump) to earth path, how do it know, the GFI ties neutral and ground at the cord end, not at the main box where electrical and earth grounds are bonded. So what good is this one wired as it is? Am I missing the obvious?The reason I ask is that for whatever reason I am getting trips on the cord end GFI when on the genset (not at home) and I'm about ready to remove it.

Its there probably because some politician got a lot of money to pass a law that requires it. Or because somebody did something stupid and got a shock.

Because the washer is connected to the water line, which is grounded. Therefore a potential shock.

It simply detects the difference between neutral and hot to trip. It can't detect a neutral to ground fault. So designed to provide protection for a 2 wire setup. Probably your gen sine wave is marginal in some aspect from it's detection causing it to trip.

CA Traveler wrote:It simply detects the difference between neutral and hot to trip. It can't detect a neutral to ground fault. So designed to provide protection for a 2 wire setup. Probably your gen sine wave is marginal in some aspect from it's detection causing it to trip.Bingo, A GFCI detects the imbalance between the Neutral and Hot and that indicates a SHORT to ground, so it trips the circuit. Doug

Since there is no 3rd wire, there is no ground in the circuit at all. As noted above, GFCI is difference between hot and neutral current flow.

Why a GFI HERE ? | Good Sam Community

19 Replies

jwoods61us
Explorer
Nov 27, 2016
Bumpyroad wrote:
jwoods61us wrote:
tvman44 wrote:
It is called CYA, the manufacturers lawyers want to eliminate any chance of a law suit.

Did it ever enter anyone's mind that a safety device is installed because it is the safe thing to do, and not because some person or company is paranoid about a lawsuit?

No
bumpy

:R
YC_1
Nomad
Nov 27, 2016
Have you tried more than one outlet?

You could have an electrically "noisy" power.

These GFI's can be really sensitive, which is a good thing.

Imagine using a corded electric lawn mower and running over the cord. Damp grass, etc. You could become the return path for the power so the GFI could help prevent making lawn bacon.
sonora
Explorer
Nov 27, 2016
Bumpyroad wrote:
jwoods61us wrote:
tvman44 wrote:
It is called CYA, the manufacturers lawyers want to eliminate any chance of a law suit.

Did it ever enter anyone's mind that a safety device is installed because it is the safe thing to do, and not because some person or company is paranoid about a lawsuit?

No
bumpy

:B
Bumpyroad
Explorer
Nov 27, 2016
jwoods61us wrote:
tvman44 wrote:
It is called CYA, the manufacturers lawyers want to eliminate any chance of a law suit.

Did it ever enter anyone's mind that a safety device is installed because it is the safe thing to do, and not because some person or company is paranoid about a lawsuit?

No
bumpy
SCVJeff
Explorer
Nov 27, 2016
Thanks. . With all my electronic background, a GFI I don't deal with often. I always knew the comparison was between hot and neutral looking for losses to 'ground', never thinking that it can function on its own. Duh..

So something is still goofy with the GFI tripping on generator.
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Nov 27, 2016
Made in China or Italy for a WORLD MARKET. Wanna guess how many millions of 3rd world receptacles have no earth ground? Someone gets electrocuted outside of Lawyerland people go to prison. Distributors are acutely aware of their risk. They could not find a buyer in their right mind that would represent an unprotected electrical water hoser appliance. Mercado del Sur stopped handling the Karcher for exactly that reason. Sometimes things are not wbat they appear to be on the surface.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Nov 27, 2016
GFCIs came about ---as majority of safety devices/features--because someone managed to injury/maim/kill themselves or others.......usually by doing something that was not safe to begin with.
Then afterwards a investigation occurred and then recommendations were made/written/required to answer "How could this have been prevented?"

As for the generator.....
Neutral-Ground Bonded Plug
DrewE
Explorer II
Nov 27, 2016
As was mentioned, a GFCI does not need a safety ground to operate, since it detects and trips off of a current imbalance (on the theory that any current not returning via the neutral line is faulting to ground somehow).

A GFCI is one way of installing a three prong outlet on a circuit in an old building that lacks safety ground wiring while still meeting code requirements. One does need to label things specially...but putting on a sticker or placard is often far simpler than running a safety ground wire.
darsben1
Explorer
Nov 27, 2016
For those of you who think it is not necessary, please feel free to cut the GFI off and wire in your own plug without the GFI.
Bet no one does it.
beemerphile1
Explorer
Nov 27, 2016
The GFCI is fully functional without a ground.

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Why a GFI HERE ?

19 Replies

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