Tripped my GFI ...

[Masoch]

Hi folks,

I tripped my GFI this afternoon during a water change, my toddler grabbed the syphon hose from me. Not much water spilled -- maybe a half gallon to a gallon. Two hours later, I still can't reset the GFI.

Is there any chance that the GFI just got wet and it's not allowing me to reset it just yet, or should I replace it?

Replacing it is going to be a PITA, FWIW, it's behind the tank stand and will require an awful lot of cussin' and a very small screw driver to get in there.

TIA!

[jurnaza]

Originally posted by Masoch
Hi folks,

I tripped my GFI this afternoon during a water change, my toddler grabbed the syphon hose from me. Not much water spilled -- maybe a half gallon to a gallon. Two hours later, I still can't reset the GFI.

Is there any chance that the GFI just got wet and it's not allowing me to reset it just yet, or should I replace it?

Replacing it is going to be a PITA, FWIW, it's behind the tank stand and will require an awful lot of cussin' and a very small screw driver to get in there.

TIA!

Did you check the breaker as well?

[Masoch]

Yup. Everything on the circuit that is before the GFI is fine. It's just the GFI and everything that's wired after that's out.

I'm thinking the GFI itself is toast because even it's light is out.

[jurnaza]

Originally posted by Masoch
Yup. Everything on the circuit that is before the GFI is fine. It's just the GFI and everything that's wired after that's out.

I'm thinking the GFI itself is toast because even it's light is out.

I feel your pain in replacing that GFCI, you might want to replace the outlet with a regular outlet and then use this unit as your GFCI --> http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_...ne.asp?CartId= . Much easier to replace in tight spaces like yours if it ever goes again.

Jeff

[LunarCubes]

Before you go through the trouble of replacing it, unplug everything thats plugged into the GFCI as well as everything plugged into the outlets downstream and then try to reset it.

[Zoom]

Originally posted by jurnaza
I feel your pain in replacing that GFCI, you might want to replace the outlet with a regular outlet and then use this unit as your GFCI --> http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_...ne.asp?CartId= . Much easier to replace in tight spaces like yours if it ever goes again.

Jeff

Lowe's have them for $9.95.

[jay24k]

Sometimes they just die. It seems that all 3 in my house have died in the last year. I just replace them and 0 issues.

[Masoch]

Thanks folks.

The sucker's dead, so it's off to Rona in the morning. Looking at what's still going on that circuit, it looks like I can save myself some grief by wiring the GFI earlier in the circuit so I can reach it easily and replacing my current GFI with a regular plug.

[Masoch]

I replaced my GFI. It's funny ... for all the times I've seen reefers complain about having to wire them in, it still didn't take more than 15 or 20 minutes with not one but two small children dangling off me like Christmas ornaments.

Oh, and this one's black, so it blends in with the ancient wood panelling in the house much better than the blinding white one did

[owsi]

Smart move, salt water and the dried residue are excellent conductors and corrosive, might have saved you and your Toddlers life and home.