Hello all!
We recently closed on a house build in the late 1940s. We started renovations by tearing out the kitchen cabinets and walls. We're down to studs basically.
I'm doing some rewiring work, and decided to replace one outlet in the kitchen with a GFCI. I have the hot and neutral from the circuit breaker hooked up to "LINE", along with the ground hooked up to its appropriate spot. When I flip the breaker back on to activate the line, the outlet is active with no problems. The "LOAD" of the GFCI is hooked up to four items:
1) another outlet 2) kitchen light/vent hood 3) kitchen ceiling fan/light fixture 4) dining room ceiling fan/light fixtureI think the wiring scheme is something like this:
GFCI--------->Outlet------->Kitchen light/vent hood | | \\|/ Kitchen light fixture/fan-------->Den light fixture/fan
The circuit in the breaker panel to which it is hooked up to is 20A, while I believe the GFCI is 15A.
So here's the problem: When I wire everything up and flip the breaker on the GFCI becomes active. If, however, I flip on the kitchen light fixture/fan or the den light fixture/fan the GFCI trips off immediately. If I don't turn on the kitchen light/fan fixture or den light/fan fixture the GFCI works just fine, and the downstream outlet functions without a problem along with the vent/hood.
So why is this tripping occuring when I turn on either fan?
My guesses:
1) The wiring in the house is as old as dirt. The electrical wires are the cloth-like sheathed wires, and the sheathing is essentially crumbling apart as I work with it. Perhaps there is a ground-fault occuring where the wire is either worn or crumbling. Replace the wires on the load end leading to the fans and problem is solved.2) I need a 20A GFCI
The ceiling fixtures were wired right in with the outlet before replacing it with a GFCI, so they worked without a problem before replacing the outlet with a GFCI.
My concern is that if there is a ground fault, I need to remedy the situation immediately, and not hook it right up to the active line again.
Any guesses? Should ceiling fans not be hooked up to the load end of a GFCI? Are they drawing too many amps? Is the wiring likely the cause?
Thanks for your help!
--BQS