I only mentioned the Arc Fault because it is currently part of the electrical systems today. I'm not claiming to know it all as you seemed to be inferring. And I already stated as such. Just trying to share some info that might help the OP. Hopefully he gets his problematic GFCI straightened out.
Then clearly it is wired wrong or malfunctioning, but more likely that the plug on your shop vac only has 2 prongs and missing a ground I bet. Without a ground the vac is dangerous and can shock and kill you without tripping your GFCI or the breaker in your panel.
Yep, only two-pronged plug. Which seems like a waste as most appliances are two-pronged and not grounded. My drill, shop vac, angle grinder, battery tender are all not grounded.
I haven't replaced anything yet but I did notice that when I plugged my off shop light into the outlet, it would make a noise and like a relay that was quickly cycling. When I turned it on, two GFCI outlets tripped in quick succession. I think the guy wired two GFCI outlets in series because resetting the one I had it plugged into didn't turn it back on until I reset the second one. Once I get some time, I'll determine for sure and install a standard outlet if they are in series.
Yes if it shuts more than one off it is In series, dumb and expensive, like you said, you only need one to protect many.
OK, I finally worked on it again and found the breaker trips even when I have it pulled out of the panel. I switched another breaker in that wasn't having issues and the air compressor ran just fine. Going to get a new breaker tomorrow and put it back in to see the GFCI outlets still act stupid or if that one breaker was most of my problems.
Wow, more than a year ago but time for an update. Replaced the breaker and all was good on that front but the GFCIs kept tripping. I finally got around to replacing the 2 most troublesome ones and they have stopped tripping and now my cold drinks stay cold in the garage fridge. Interestingly enough, I found that the two I replaced had not-very-tight black wires. I suspect this might have been a part of my issue. Is that possible? There are still 3 more that trip less often but still trip from time to time. I'm going to pull them loose and see if the wires aren't tight and see what happens.
Yes. Loose connections (always use the screws), and GFI outlets used outside often fail from bugs, wasps, spiders, house geckos and moisture creating current paths and degrading the GFI function.
I was going to say be careful when altering something in your home's electrical system in such a manner that it doesn't meet code on the date of the modification. This also includes the electrician. When we lived in Cape Coral (FL) we wanted a passthrough from the kitchen to the dining room. I opened the wall and framed the passthrough, but there was wiring in the opening. I knew enough electrical that the wire would have to be cut and the feed wire reconnected in an electrical box. You are not supposed to bury a box, so that meant a complete rewiring of that feed so that there would be no mid-circuit connection. The electrician came out and because he was too lazy to go all the way back to the electrical panel, he simply buried the box. After he left, I taped his business card to the box and we put up the sheetrock.
You violated the code because you knowingly buried it behind Sheetrock, and you knew better. You buried the jbox not him. House burns down you are an accomplice wouldn’t you think? The simple solution is the jbox installs just like an outlet jbox with a blank cover.
I currently have this issue with an outlet that is 50ft away from the house at the base of a tree. I didn't use it often and I was having to replace it every few months when the ants would build a nest in the box and fry the GFCI. I even bought a new all-plastic box with no opening other than the conduit and put a new water-tight cover over it. Last time I looked at it, it was black inside the frosted cover from all the ants inside. I gave up and let them have it. I'd turn the breaker off but it also powers another outlet in the ceiling of the front porch where I hook up lights. No corrosion. Except for the nicks from the hold down clamp, they look like new copper. They just weren't tight. I touched them with the screwdriver and they had no resistance. The white and bare copper wire were all tighter.
I did that the second and third times I replaced it. I even put a WD-40 straw nozzle on the RAID and sprayed it down the conduit because I couldn't see any other way for them to get in. The box was sealed tight. I may take one of my old GFCI outlets and pop it in there to see what happens. Might even pour some Terro down the conduit before I stuff it full of silicone sealer.
