new light trips GFCI

I just got my new light today. Catalina Aquariums 48" 8x54w. I bought this cause it has moonlights and I liked the size. It ran about $420. Plugged it in and it tripped the GFCI. Jim at CA said they check them there on a GFCI and said to check it on another cause the GFCI's can be touchy. This might be true as I was running a light Coralife Aqualite that also would trip the GFCI. I will check it with my dad's which is fine with his IceCap Retro. The CA guy said they switched to the Advance ballasts over the Workhorse because of the same GFCI problem.

This light will be mounted in a canopy and will not use the scarry little plastic legs that came with. My question.. if it trips the other GFCI unit I test it with should I just return it, or is it ok to run the lights on a regular grounded circuit without a GFCI?

 

The reason you use the GFI is to ensure that there is not a short circuit if water gets onto the wires or into the outlet. You can run it off a regular outlet, just have a drip loop and be careful about it.

 

A follow up from me.... I went out this morning and got 2 gfci's to test. 1 was a $15 one outlet that you just plug in to the outlet, same kind that worked on my dad's IceCap retro. I also got a heavy duty construction 2 outlet box that has a 6' cord at $35. The cheaper single outlet tripped on the lights. But, thankfully the 2 outlet box worked fine. So something to think about.. GFCI's are not all made the same.

 

GFCI's can have different trip-rates...rated in milliseconds I believe...if the draw is to high too fast they trip. My new ATI T5 fixture trips mine, though my icecap ballasts on VHO's (with more watts) did not...something about how much-how fast.

 

Wrong call. I am a master electrican so I know about this. A gfi outlet should be in the Lighting circuit. If it trips then there is a neutral to ground short in your fixture.GFCI is not an over current device. That would be your breaker/ fuse. A gfci is designed to trip at fault current. To test a gfci you take a tester and (not digital) check from ground to the neutral side of outlet, if it trips outlet it is wroking properly. So if it holds with one outlet and not the next I would test outlet.All equipment, lights, pumps, heaters,ect. SHOULD BE ON GFCI. Water and electric do not mix.

 

good call
But if gfi is trippin then you have a problem. Don't try to bypass!!!!! Maybe send back fixture and get new one.

 

If you have a coninuty tester I can guide you thru this. You would have to open fixture.Let me know if you want help.

 

Is there any way to test my new GFCI without special electrician's equip? Any way to create a ground fault so I can know if it trips?

actually i think i have a non digital meter tester.. can you elaborate on where to put the probes on ground and nuetral?

EDIT - FYI I tested the new GFCI - and it faulted when I connected the ground to small plug but not ground to large.. is this right?

EDIT 2 - I tested neutral to ground fault - my meter would not trip it but when I put straight probes from ground to neutral creating a fault - it tripped.

 

Very well said. +K to you on this.

 

I forgot to add, I also have a 260W CF Catalina lighting fixture. The moonlights died after one month of use, then the cooling fans a couple weeks later. They sent me replacement LEDs, but I had to repair it myself. When you get replacement bulbs, I would go with a brand name bulb, they last much longer than CA lights. Come to think of it, I may put them up for sale. I have like 6 bulbs left, 65W ones.
Anyhow, keep an eye on the fixture and don't wait to let them know if you come across any problems.