thanks for the answers. I will go buy a multimeter, although I am not sure what I should do to correct if I find it doesn't do what Autotracer explained below.
What are the risks of using a non-GFCI outlet (not grounded as I live in an old house) for a few weeks ? My in-laws are visiting soon, and I'd like to be able to offer them decent coffee.
thanks. Fred
PS- I am repost> 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.
> >" I opened the expresso machine, tied all connectors I could find, tried
> > it again, and it made the GFCI tripped"
> 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
> > 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.