GFCI breaks need troubleshooting tips (solved)

[Brewvy]

I have my panel completely wired, the GFCI pops when I power up. I'm trying to troubleshoot so I removed all wiring from main contactor except what is in the photo. GFCI still breaks. If I remove the neutral from contactor it doesn't break. Are the 2 hot leads interchangeable? The only wired hooks up are the two hots on left side, on the right side they lead 2 the volt  meter, one neutral, and the 2 leads to the main power switch. Could my contactor be bad?

 

[JONNYROTTEN]

I had to move the white wire in the spa panel from the way way it came out of the box otherwise I would trip the breaker. I wont add any advice but its something to consider. Might not even be your panel giving you issues....let someone smarter than me chime in before moving any wires.

 

[Brewvy]

Thanks Johnny, do you have a pic of spa panel, were you tripping the main breaker or spa panel GFCI? How did you reconfigure White wire? Any little bit helps!

 

[JONNYROTTEN]

Thanks Johnny, do you have a pic of spa panel, were you tripping the main breaker or spa panel GFCI? How did you reconfigure White wire? Any little bit helps!

Just the spa panel would trip not the main.

I have a 3 wire setup not 4.
Power into spa panel...2 wires on main lugs
Power out of spa panel...small breaker lugs

White wire coming out of breaker going to ground bar with the other 2 grounds.

Again this is how mine is setup without issue but I'm not an electrician

 

[Brewvy]

Ok , got it finally! I didn't realize the neutral running into control panel needs to be wired directly to GFCI breaker , not to the neutral bar. Thanks for chiming in!

 

[Brewvy]

Simple explanation I found that saved me.

Not sure, but you may have wired the GFCI incorrectly. A common mistake I see is taking the neutral from the neutral bus bar to the outlet. Make sure it's coming directly off of the breaker to the outlet. The pigtail still goes to the neutral bus. (I'm sure you know this, but for anyone reading)

View attachment 74713

This is mine.

FWI, I'm using a three wire dryer outlet so I'm tying the neutral and ground in the GFCI panel.

Something to check anyway. Hope it helps.


EDIT:

Looking back, you said it was working fine so I assume you were testing your kettle with water when it tripped. Could be a small leak getting to your element connection.

 

[doug293cz]

Ok , got it finally! I didn't realize the neutral running into control panel needs to be wired directly to GFCI breaker , not to the neutral bar. Thanks for chiming in!

Yep, that'll cause a trip every time. At least you know your GFCI breaker works.

Brew on