PennSilverTaco's "Perfect 5-Lug Regular Cab" Build, Aspergers, and General BS MegaThread!

OH good God.

Getting good information for this issue is like trying to get milk from an Oak tree.

If the device isn't plugged into the circuit, then it doesn't count.

No wonder everyone is spinning trying to help solve your problem.

 

There should only be one GFCI per circuit.

Edit: Beat by pretty much everyone.

 

GFIC breakers or GFIC outlets?

 

Just talked to my dad; The house has three GFCI circuits...

One does the basement and outdoor outlets, one does the garage, and one does all three bathrooms; The internet, cable, treadmill, and Christmas lights are the only items sharing the same circuit. My dad says the basement is very poorly wired (not unsafe or dangerous in anyway, just your typical tract home fustercluck). The air compressor and iPod charging station/speaker in the garage have no affect on the breaker popping. What I would like to figure out is why the internet, cable, and Christmas lights went out las night without the treadmill being in use...

 

You can run more than 1 gfci on a circuit. However it’s important how it’s wired.

 

Ok......lets everyone stop for a few minutes. Lets see if the OP can clear up a few questions to help form a base.

OP.
How do you identify a circuit? One outlet? One power cord? One GFCI?
How do you determine what device is operating on an outlet or circuit?
Could you find the Electric Panel in the house?
Could you identify a circuit in the Panel?
Can you reset a circuit breaker in the Panel?

 

X2

 

OK, now we are getting somewhere. If this information is 100% accurate (and you should own some basic electrical testing equipment, every homeowner should. Outlet tester, live wire tester, Kill-A-Watt are among those. Stop by HD, Lowes, or wherever and pick up at least the live wire tester at the bare minimum before you touch anything else.)

Now, eliminate talking about anything going forward that isn't on the one circuit you are having problems with going forward.

Go home, verify this information is accurate. That's the next step.

 

In this case, one GFCI.

If it is plugged into one of the GFCI sockets, then it is operating on a circuit and not an individual outlet; Every room has two to four outlets and those all operate on the circuit for that specific room.

Yes. There two, both in the basement. The main one is located in the far corner of the basement, and the smaller one is located on the other side near the sump pump. There is also a separate deal for the internet cable, which itself has a breaker switch but is tied into the basement/outside GFCI.

Yes, of course I can; I've known how to reset breakers since before I was old enough to drive.

 

Exactly, they will operate independent of each other and not take out the entire circuit.

 

It sounds like my house was not as badly wired as I thought it was, but the basement is definitely a shitshow...

 

Some nomenclature to clear up.
There are breakers in the panel, There are GFCI breakers in the panel, then there are GFCI outlets on the walls. Be clear on which one is tripping.

 

GFCI

 

Ok. Thanks. Your answers clear a few things. Please focus only on the problem area.

OP> The GFCI with the Xmas lights is it located in the Panel or is it an outlet?

Stick with me guys.....I think I can lead us out of this with a few questions.

 

What'd I do wrong?

 

is it GFCI outlet on wall or GFCI breaker in the panel that is tripping? Those are 2 different things.

 

Outlet; Not the outlet that the Christmas lights are plugged into. The main outlet for this circuit controls all of the GFI outlets in the basement and the two located outside, and the internet and cable are plugged into the "main" outlet; Only the "main" outlet has a reset button, and this is what we have to press to get everything working again.

 

On the wall next to the breaker, but separate from breaker.