Spa panel keeps tripping...why?

[erikrocks]

So, I finally finished my P-J electric conversion. I have a spa panel coming out of my 30a breaker in my main and the 4-prong outlet to my control box coming right out of my spa panel. I can switch the 30a from the main and the 50a spa panel breakers on, but as soon as I turn anything on in my control box (PID or pump), the spa panel trips. I've gone back into my control box three times now and re-soldered, re-tightened, and re-thought the set up, but I can't pinpoint what's tripping the spa panel.

Any thoughts?

 

[P-J]

The OUTBOUND neutral (load neutral) in the spa panel must be connected to the GFCI breaker. You have it connected to the spa panel INPUT neutral.

 

[P-J]

Follow up: As soon as ANY 120V load is presented with the wiring as it is, the GFCI will trip.

Please let me know. I'll stay on line..

 

[erikrocks]

Son of a bitch!

Funny, my father in law--who IS an electrician--wired the spa panel. He's gonna get **** from me about this one!

Thanks again, PJ. All systems are GO and I'm ready to brew!

 

[P-J]

Absolutely GREAT. I'm very glad that I saw your thread when I did.

(Just goes to show you that sometimes 'electricians' don't know what they spout.)

Be sure to give him some feedback. This way you can gloat as well.

 

[kgalle]

Will you post a photo of the correctly wired panel?

Thanks

 

[ryclo]

the gfi has a neutral in and a neutral out. Bottom connects to the curly cord going to the neutral bus, the top is where you land the neutral going to your outlet.

FYI, if you used it with a PURE 220V load, it wouldnt trip wired like this. Using 110V leg causes it to put some of the current back thru the neutral which trips it because its not going thru the gfi.

 

[aubiecat]

Will you post a photo of the correctly wired panel?

Thanks

The neutral line is colored yellow to show up on the white background of the webpage.

 

[kgalle]

OK. So we are double tapping the neutral lug on the breaker. There goes my confusion! Thanks.

 

[P-J]

OK. So we are double tapping the neutral lug on the breaker. There goes my confusion! Thanks.

That is not 'quite' correct. The GFCI breaker has a curly wire that is the neutral input. The wire lug just above it is the CFCI neutral output terminal. There is load balance/measuring circuitry within the GFCI breaker between those 2 connections.

Hope this helps.

P_J

 

[kgalle]

That is not 'quite' correct. The GFCI breaker has a curly wire that is the neutral input. The wire lug just above it is the CFCI neutral output terminal. There is load balance/measuring circuitry within the GFCI breaker between those 2 connections.

Hope this helps.

P_J

This helps. Once I lay eyes on this breaker it will make more sense.

 

[Bobby_M]

Yes, necro thread here but I wanted to bump it one time. I just moved my spa panel to it's third incarnation and even though I wired it correctly the first two times, this time I did exactly what the OP did and put the load neutral onto the neutral buss. TRIP, TRIP, TRIP....I've even told people that there is a load lug when asked how it's wired as recent as 6 months ago. Once you think you know something, you stop paying attention. The damn thing was driving me crazy and finding this thread made me feel stupid and happy at the same time.