RESET Button Vanished on GFI

The problem is why did it blow out of the GFI? The GFI will no longer work. I did try to reset it using a screwdriver inside the hole, but no luck.

Has anyone else ever had this happen? My only thought is that lightning zapped the line...

This is really weird.

Mark

____________________________________________________________ So, whatever happened, just go buy a new recepticle and be done with it. Why do you need help with this?

I dont need HELP. I know how to replace it, and plan to buy a new one today. I am just wondering if anyone knows WHY the button would blow off the thing. Maybe this happened to someone else????? Otherwise it was just a defect, but it still seems rather odd. If it just fell off, it would be beneath the outlet, and it isn't, and considering I can not reset the thing, (using a tool), it appears that an electrical incident occurred. This happened when the outlet was NOT in use. This outlet is also directly beneath my breaker box (3 feet away) so I suspect a lightning surge as a possibility.

Mark

Hello,

Untill you get a better answer, maybe this just means: re-set buttons work. Since you donot know what caused it, just put in a new one for now, and if it happens again, do some testing of your system. Youare right. There is a lot of power being exhibited, unless it just finally wore out etc.

It wasn't lightning. It would do more than trip a GFI. For example, it might blow out your light bulbs. It was just a manufacturing error that was going to pop out one of these days when the GFI tripped. As for why the GFI tripped, I have no idea. Sometimes they just trip because they want to.

snipped-for-privacy@UNLISTED.com wrote:

Somebody whacked it, or there was a manufacturing defect.

Very weird. I guess the GFCI wanted to make sure it was off line. Suicide? Well sounds like time for a professional to install a new one, becareful.

later,

tom @

I've not seen that with a GFCI, but I have seen it a lot with other things. These little bits of plastic move as fast as fleas. They just seem to disappear, and may never be seen again.

GFIs are very selfish, and often do whatever they want.

Isn't the more likely answer just that there was a mechanical defect (or old age) that led to the button popping off. Also, there are springs in these buttons, so maybe it popped off with some force and rolled out of sight. Lightening (without any other evidence of such a hit) would be one of the last things I would suspect.

What do you expect from a $10 device...

That's one of several ways that a GFCI tells you than it's DEAD, DEAD, DEAD.

Replace it!

replying to maradcliff, Pam wrote: Did you ever figure this out? Mine just did the Dane thing right in front of me. I used a toaster about half an hour earlier and when I reached to unplug it and put it away, the reset button randomly popped out, bounced off my thumb and landed inside the toaster. I?d really like to know what caused it.

Same thing happened to my neighbor. The button is gone and just a hole is left. We tried to reset using a screw driver and it buzzed, so I'm thinking replacement as well. Glad to see that you posted this so we know we are not the only ones who have seen this. :)

I'm thinking replacement as well. Glad to see that you posted this so we know we are not the only ones who have seen this. :)

He's sticking a screwdriver in a circuit breaker. And I thought I was stupid.

What brand is it? SqD, C/H and Siemens only have a test button. You reset it by turning the breaker all the way off and back on.

Micky is right, never stick a metal anything into live electrical equipment.

Hi Mark, Wanted to let you know that this same thing happened to me just the other day! Fortunately, I happened to be in the same room when it happened. I heard something hit the ceiling, and said, "what in the world was that?!" I found an R, started looking around, and realized it came from my GFCI. A day later I found a small spring, which I'm not positive if that goes with the button or not. I just assume that it must, because there's nothing else around that it could go to. Still doesn't answer your question completely. Nor does it mine. What causes that to happen?

On Tue, 29 Jun 2021 18:31:17 +0000, Marcus07 posted for all of us to digest...

spring, which I'm not positive if that goes with the button or not. I just assume that it must, because there's nothing else around that it could go to. Still doesn't answer your question completely. Nor does it mine. What causes that to happen?

Crappy design by the low buck artists.

This (mechanical defect) is probably correct. I had my spring pop out while pulling out a wire chord. I do have the spring, but not sure how to fix it. I may end up spending on a new switch.

On Wed, 1 Sep 2021 22:31:15 +0000, har posted for all of us to digest...

They are known to do that. Just replace the GFCI.