New GFCI Breaker for Pump Tripping on Startup

[jbird0215]

Hello, I had all breakers upgraded to GFCI recently and the one for the pump trips on startup almost every time. It never happens any other time. I never had an issue prior to having the breaker replaced. Thinking it was a bad breaker, the guy came out and replaced with another breaker with the same result. The motor is 4 years old if I am reading the serial # correctly.

Any ideas on what may be the cause? Obviously don’t want to replace the motor if it’s a simpler fix.

 

[JamesW]

Take a look at the wiring in the back.

Where is the bond wire?

How comfortable are you working with electricity?

 

[jbird0215]

@JamesW I’m away from home but will take a look when I get back later this week. Thanks for replying. Is there something specific I should be looking for with respect to the bond wire? I’ll probably take a pic of it all.

Definitely not a master electrician but I did manage to disconnect 3 pumps from the wiring that were no longer needed a while back.

Take a look at the wiring in the back.

Where is the bond wire?

How comfortable are you working with electricity?

 

[bmj0928]

Definitely not a master electrician but I did manage to disconnect 3 pumps from the wiring that were no longer needed a while back.

 

[jbird0215]

Yep, probably demonstrated my level of skill with that post. I know how to flip a breaker and detach unnecessary wiring but that’s probably the extent of it.

 

[JamesW]

It looks like the bond wire was not connected to the pump.

Is the bond wire somewhere nearby?

Check the wiring for any obvious damage or problems.

Turn off the power and and check the continuity from ground to the power wires.

Disconnect the power wires from the pump and check for continuity from the L1 and L2 terminals to the ground terminal.

 

[bmj0928]

Yep, probably demonstrated my level of skill with that post. I know how to flip a breaker and detach unnecessary wiring but that’s probably the extent of it.

I was wondering if the bond was disconnected during this?

 

[jbird0215]

Gotcha. I’ll check the bonding wire first then go from there. Will be a few days but I’ll get back to you. Thanks

It looks like the bond wire was not connected to the pump.

Is the bond wire somewhere nearby?

Check the wiring for any obvious damage or problems.

Turn off the power and and check the continuity from ground to the power wires.

Disconnect the power wires from the pump and check for continuity from the L1 and L2 terminals to the ground terminal.

 

[jbird0215]

@JamesW finally got around to further troubleshooting this and tool some photos.

Looked at the bonding wire and it seems fine.

Peaked inside the wiring at the panel. One of the white wires looks a little discolored. Pump breaker is at the top left.

Also opened the back of pump and snapped a photo.

Ordered a multimeter to check continuity but don’t know where to begin. I could probably figure it out via a YouTube video.

What steps would you take next? Many thanks!

It looks like the bond wire was not connected to the pump.

Is the bond wire somewhere nearby?

Check the wiring for any obvious damage or problems.

Turn off the power and and check the continuity from ground to the power wires.

Disconnect the power wires from the pump and check for continuity from the L1 and L2 terminals to the ground terminal.

 

[JamesW]

In the first picture, the bond lug screw is down and in the second picture, the bond lug screw is up.

The bond wire was not connected in the first picture.

Who connected the bond wire?

In this picture, the black wire terminal looks like it was arcing, which might be tripping the arc fault breaker.

 

[JamesW]

Do you have 240 volts available?

If yes, why are you using 120 volts?

 

[JamesW]

Turn off the breakers and check for continuity from the power terminals to the ground screw.

 

[jbird0215]

Those pics of the pump were taken months apart. The bond wire was disconnected several months ago and I reconnected it.

In the first picture, the bond lug screw is down and in the second picture, the bond lug screw is up.

The bond wire was not connected in the first picture.

Who connected the bond wire?

In this picture, the black wire terminal looks like it was arcing, which might be tripping the arc fault breaker.

 

[jbird0215]

I don’t think I have 240v available without an upgrade but could be wrong.

Do you have 240 volts available?

If yes, why are you using 120 volts?

 

[JamesW]

Can you show the entire automation box?

Do you have 2 black wires coming in from the main panel?

If yes, do you measure 240 volts line to line?

 

[jbird0215]

Will do when I get back home. The 4 yo is demanding we go golfing.

Can you show the entire automation box?

Do you have 2 black wires coming in from the main panel?

If yes, do you measure 240 volts line to line?

 

[jbird0215]

@JamesW not sure if this gives you what you need to see to determine if I have 240v. I’ll have to read up on testing continuity using multimeter. Never used one before.

Can you show the entire automation box?

Do you have 2 black wires coming in from the main panel?

If yes, do you measure 240 volts line to line?

 

[Orion7319]

The hot is going though what looks to be a relay in the controller. Wonder if something is going on with that? Some of those GFCI breakers are sensitive to electrical noise. Supposedly Siemens branded GFCI’s aren’t as susceptible to that.

 

[Orion7319]

Oops

 

[jbird0215]

Mojito sounding good right about now. The GFCI replaced a regular 15 amp breaker and I think that’s the right amperage for my motor but don’t know for sure. It’s just super weird that I upgrade a breaker to GFCI and it trips on startup when it never happened prior.

Just looking at the photos and not really able to use my brain much right now (just had a few mojito‘s sitting by the pool just now) Would there be a reason his GFCI circuit breaker that is running his pool pump be rated for 15 amps?