GFCI still tripping

[fredinstl]

thanks for your responses. I installed a new GFCI, and it was still tripping. I then tried again to plug it into the other plug I tried before, and I

realized it actually wasn't a GFCI (I couldn't see it as it was behind a 2 -> 6 plug adaptor :-( Being in the kitchen, I just assumed it was GFCI, but it wasn't). So now I know my espresso machine is at fault. I opened the expresso machine, tied all connectors I could find, tried it again, and it made the GFCI tripped. Next thing I tried: changed the cord. I had one at home, so simple enough. One thing I wasn't sure about is that it had blue, brown and yellow-green cables (the espresso is made in Italy), but the cord I had

was the typical black, white and ground. I connected in: black/brown, white/blue and yellow-green/ground (found that info on the internet) When plugged in, it doesnt' trip anymore. However, if I activate the pump, it trips again. Any idea before I take it to repair. I probably should do that, but I bought it used on ebay, not exactly for cheap, and sent it to repair about 5 months ago (they cleaned everything), so my 10 years old machine already cost me more than a new one :-( I would hate to fork another $100 on it...

thanks in advance. Fred

PS: I am reposting, as, for some reason, my msg didn't show up as new.

In my kitchen, my espresso machine is making the GFCI trip. When > plugging something else (such as toaster), it doesn't trip. > Also, plugging the espresso machine to another GFCI in my kitchen, it > doesnt' trip neither. > So is it due to the espresso machine or shall I just change the GFCI ? > thanks. > Fred.

[maradcliff]

What, is that the color code they use in Italy? I thought black, white and green was used worldwide ????

You bought it on Ebay. That explains everything..... Ebay, the place to buy someone elses broken junk. About the only things I have ever bought on Ebay that were usable, was books and a few pet supplies. Every electrical thing I have ever gotten from Ebay was junk. Like the computer (CPU only) I bought on Ebay that was listed as in "like new condition, and ready to use". It came with a defective floppy drive, broken front panel on the case, and no speaker. Plus it was listed to have 128 megs of ram, but only had 64. I replaced the floppy, glued the cracked front, and added a speaker from an old computer. and a week later smoke started coming out of it. Some coil type of thing on the motherboard fried. I was able to salvage the 10 gig harddrive a working but slow CD drive and that one 64 meg memory stick, and tossed the rest of it in the garbage. This mistake cost me $87. Then there was the reciprocatiing saw that literally fell apart after 5 minutes of use. The steel frame around the motor, inside the plastic housing was broken where the blade assembly attached to the motor. It just vibrated itself apart. That mistake cost me $45.

Aside from out of print books, I dont buy anything from Ebay anymore.

Mark

[AutoTracer]

Your expresso machine must have a metal body else it would not need a grounded cord. Using a multimeter with the unit unplugged check the resistance between the black and ground and the white and ground, they should both be open. Check the resistance between the chassis and ground, it should be shorted. Thats a basic test and if it failed, I would expect the GFCI to trip always (except if ground is open in which case it would never trip).

You say it is only tripping when the motor starts. This implies the motor is putting current down the green wire while running. Is it possible the green and white wires are swapped for the motor only.

What did you do? if you reconnected any wires, you may have created the second fault at that time while eliminating an original short in the old cord. Swapping black for white or white for ground could be a cause of this.

Does the machine also trip regular breakers when the motor starts, if so it is not a GFCI condition but an overcurrent protection trip

[Harry Everhart]

Dear Mark -

I have purchased and sold 170 different items on ebay in the last six years. Among those I have bought are a $30,000 Coachmen Motor Home, a $24,000 Miata Sports, and a $1100 Honda 80 Scooter. I have sold several Mac Computers, Cell phones, cameras, tools, and anything else surplus I was not using.

I purchased lots of furniture at deeply discounted prices.

I like eBay because I can get rid of things that are just collecting dust around the house because I didn't really need them in the first place or I have duplicates. It is like being able to spend my money a second time. It also gets rid of some of the clutter that builds up in a household.

I have an absolutely perfect 100% ebay rating. EVERY person that I have dealt with has been perfect ladies and gentlemen. I have done everything possible to make my buyers happy. I value my ebay rating.

On eBay - one must be very cautious. One must ask lots of questions and check people's references. eBay has a lot to do with people's attitudes. If you project a negative attitude - you often get back negative attitude.

I am sure some folks have had bad deals on eBay like you claim. But your generalization that almost everything on eBay is bad is just not right.

If you are unhappy eBay or had bad experiences - you are in a very small minority. Often times people that do poorly on eBay use aliases when they post on newsgroups. You have chosen to not use eBay anymore because of bad deals. You should realize that a bad deal has two partners. :-)

eBay does not need stupid me to defend it - but when you attack eBay buyers and sellers generally you are attacking me. And I do not deserve that. :-)

Harry

[maradcliff]

What, is that the color code they use in Italy? I thought black, white and green was used worldwide ????

You bought it on Ebay. That explains everything..... Ebay, the place to buy someone elses broken junk. About the only things I have ever bought on Ebay that were usable, was books and a few pet supplies. Every electrical thing I have ever gotten from Ebay was junk. Like the computer (CPU only) I bought on Ebay that was listed as in "like new condition, and ready to use". It came with a defective floppy drive, broken front panel on the case, and no speaker. Plus it was listed to have 128 megs of ram, but only had 64. I replaced the floppy, glued the cracked front, and added a speaker from an old computer. and a week later smoke started coming out of it. Some coil type of thing on the motherboard fried. I was able to salvage the 10 gig harddrive a working but slow CD drive and that one 64 meg memory stick, and tossed the rest of it in the garbage. This mistake cost me $87. Then there was the reciprocatiing saw that literally fell apart after 5 minutes of use. The steel frame around the motor, inside the plastic housing was broken where the blade assembly attached to the motor. It just vibrated itself apart. That mistake cost me $45.

Aside from out of print books, I dont buy anything from Ebay anymore.

Mark

[Ralph Mowery]

I don't remember what the colors are but where I work (large plant that makes polyester material) we got in some replacement cords about 6 feet long with molder male plugs that had some odd colors. I don't know where they came from but at the price we paid they should have been first quality. Had to take an ohmmeter to tell which wire connected to which pin so we could make them "American".

[fredinstl]

thanks for your answers. I will go buy a multimeter, although I am not what I should do to correct if I find it doesn't do what you explained below.

What are the risks of using a non-GFCI outlet (not grounded as I live in an old house) ? My in-laws are visiting soon, and I'd like to be able to offer them decent coffee.

thanks. Fred

AutoTracer wrote:

repair

kitchen, it

[The Real Tom]

The reason for using GFCI's is to prevent leakage of small currents from applicances to grounds. Usually this 'leakage' is through a person. Therefore GFCI's are installed.

Just a sec, your normal breaker does not protect from electricution. Example, a 20a breaker does provide ground fault protection(to protect the conductors), but at 20amps. You can cook a person at 1 amp and never reach the trip setpoint of the breaker, therfore gfci protection is required in places where a person can be electricuted(to protect personnel).

So, IMHO, I would not use a receptale for plug in appliances in my kitchen.

Now as for no ground. We don't have to go there since I would have gfci's installed. ;)

tom

[Beeper]