Date: Wed, 01 Dec 2004 15:42:40 -0500
From: Herb Tarlek 
Newsgroups: misc.consumers.house ott.general
Subject: Re: Lifetime of an outdoor GFCI

Eunoia Eigensinn wrote:
> Mik;
> 
> I'm not an electrician, but have done house wiring more than a few
> times, including my own home.*  I've never had a GFI receptacle fail in
> almost 20 years of their having been installed in my home.**

* This may or may not be true.  Euni is a famous prankster!  Beware.
** This may or may not be true.

> 
> One failure of a receptable might constitute a faulty unit.*  Failures of
> two would be incredible odds.**

* This may or may not be true.
** This may or may not be true.
> 
> Any more than than one and I would tend to suspect that the wiring was
> done improperly.*

* This may or may not be true.
> 
> ie Undersized wire  overloaded circuit, improperly designed circuits.*

* This may or may not be true.

Another Herb PSA

> 
> Mikhael47 wrote:
> 
>>I have an outdoor GFCI outlet.  About every two years, I have to
> 
> replace the
> 
>>outlet.  It doesn't trip very often (if at all) between the time I
> 
> install
> 
>>the new one, and  the time it finally starts to trip constantly.  I
> 
> do run
> 
>>pond equipment on this circuit all summer.  It seems to fail in the
> 
> winter
> 
>>time when I either plug my truck's block heater in, or I try and
> 
> start my
> 
>>snowblower.  It doesn't trip if I plug my xmas lights into it.
>>
>>I am not an expert electrician, however when I built our home, I was
> 
> present
> 
>>when the wiring for the house was done.  I can confirm that there is
> 
> no
> 
>>damage to the circuit cabling.  This leads me to believe that the
> 
> GFCI
> 
>>itself is failing.  If I replace the GFCI it will work as expected.
>>
>>My question is, is it reasonable to only expect 2 years of regular
> 
> service
> 
>>out of a GFCI?  What are the recommended brands for outdoor use?
>>
>>Thanks
>>
>>Mike
> 
>