Stream 6060 tripping GFCI

[clsanchez77]

The past two days I have been busy troubleshooting my GFCI outlet tripping. I have two, one for lighitng and one for equipment. I have three Tunze Stream 6060's connected to the equipment GFCI via a DC8 unit. I have finally narrowed the event down to the Stream 6060's and possibly to the specific unit.

What would be causing this?

Chris

[clsanchez77]

I just ran the suspected stream isolated and it tripped the GFCI after running approx. 5 minutes.

I have run the whole system minus this one stream for 30 minutes without issue.

Please advise.

Chris

[rvitko]

It is hard to say, GFCI's do not work with all appliances and motors and ballasts tend to be poor GFCI candidates. A GFCI works by measuring any difference between the hot and the neutral leads, if a difference is detected it shuts off. Motors and ballasts because of the way they work, generally have slight differences on start up, the ballast charges up as does an electromagnetic coil and this creates a delay before the hot and neutral leads equalize. It does not necessarily mean there is any fault with the appliance. You are welcome to send the pump in and I will test it thoroughly for any stray voltage, current to ground and watt draw.

[clsanchez77]

Thanks, I am a little behind on my cleaning schedule. What I am going to do is pickup some vinegar tonight after work and run all three streams in a 4:1 water-vinegar solution tonight for a few hours. I will do this off GFCI and then after cleaning run them on GFCI individually to see if there is still any issues.

If I still have problems, I may just have to send that one in.

Thanks

[clsanchez77]

Interesting results. I plugged the stream into a non-GFCI outlet in a bucket of RO/DI-vinegar and the unit turns on and off. On for about 5 minutes and off for about the same.

I suspect it was this on/off activity that must have been tripping the GFCI. What would cause these events?

Chris

[rvitko]

It is overheating for some reason, send it in.

[clsanchez77]

Iwill get a box today, what address?

[rvitko]

Tunze USA
305 Victor St
Austin TX 78753

Please include your address/ phone and a brief description of the problem in the box. I get at least 50 emails and 4 repairs a day and I just cannot remember everything and a note is a huge help so I know what I am looking for.

[clsanchez77]

Sent today, UPS#: 1Z60V0730311310960. Estimated delivery is two days I believe. I printed this form and included it in the package for convienence.

Chris

[clsanchez77]

I got the Tunze back, works like new. What happened?

Chris

[rvitko]

It was bad, it was drawing 45W and overheating, turning itself off, it would have eventually shut down. This can have many causes from defect to being run dry or run seized or with a broken drive unit.

[clsanchez77]

Well thanks for a great product (seriosly, no sarcasm ;)) It sounds like the thermal shutdown prevented a disaster. Not many powerheads have that feature and is why I wont use Rio's/Sieo's (not to name any brands or point fingers).

Chris