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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Garland, TX
    Posts
    652

    Default some models of ideal suretest require...

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    badair http://www.adairinspection.com Garland, TX 75042
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  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Lake Barrington, IL
    Posts
    1,367

    Default Re: some models of ideal suretest require...

    Nice info Barry. But you still need to consider (and I'll guess that you already know) that AFCI and GFCI manufacturer's do not recognize any test other than the one provided by their own devices. A few weeks ago a GFCI receptacle tripped when its test button was used but did not trip with my Ideal tester - I did not report on it because the Ideal test was technically invalid. Because of this I really don't see much need for such after-market testers.

    Eric Barker, ACI
    Lake Barrington, IL

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Charlotte NC
    Posts
    2,304

    Default Re: some models of ideal suretest require...

    Quote Originally Posted by Eric Barker View Post
    Nice info Barry. But you still need to consider (and I'll guess that you already know) that AFCI and GFCI manufacturer's do not recognize any test other than the one provided by their own devices. A few weeks ago a GFCI receptacle tripped when its test button was used but did not trip with my Ideal tester - I did not report on it because the Ideal test was technically invalid. Because of this I really don't see much need for such after-market testers.
    Without such testers, how would you verify GFCI protection of downstream receptacles? I guess you could trip the inbuilt and go back and chech each receptacle, but thats a lot of extra running up and down stairs and around the exterior.

    The beatings will continue until morale has improved. mgt.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Fletcher, NC
    Posts
    28,042

    Default Re: some models of ideal SureTest require...

    Quote Originally Posted by Eric Barker View Post
    Nice info Barry. But you still need to consider (and I'll guess that you already know) that AFCI and GFCI manufacturer's do not recognize any test other than the one provided by their own devices. A few weeks ago a GFCI receptacle tripped when its test button was used but did not trip with my Ideal tester - I did not report on it because the Ideal test was technically invalid. Because of this I really don't see much need for such after-market testers.
    Eric,

    Sounds to me like you either had: a) no ground at the receptacle you were testing; or b) the GFCI was not protecting that receptacle.

    Did you did *that* receptacle to see if it had power with the GFCI 'on' and then did not have power with the GFCI 'tripped'? If not, the receptacle probably simply was not protected, and if it was 'supposed to be GFCI protected', then you *missed* reporting a receptacle which was not GFCI protected. On the other hand, if that receptacle was GFCI protected and you verified that it did not have power with the GFCI tripped by the GFCIs test button, then probably what your SureTest was telling you was that the receptacle you were testing 'did not have a proper ground', in which case you *missed* reporting a receptacle with a bad or no ground.

    It is a mistake to immediately jump as ignoring equipment which is telling you that *something is not right*, you need to take the time to figure out what your equipment is telling you.

    It is *not* uncommon to find a receptacle which is supposed to be GFCI protected by which does not trip the GFCI *you think* is protecting it - the GFCI simply 'may not be protecting the receptacle' and there is nothing wrong with your test equipment.

    If one does not understand their equipment, such as operating an infrared camera, we all say they should not be using it - and that applies to all test equipment that one uses.

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Snowbird (this means I'm retired and migrate between locations), FL/MI
    Posts
    4,086

    Default Re: some models of ideal suretest require...

    Insufficient, "floating", or no equipment ground would display same symptoms Eric described, when using a tester (such as replaced using fiber wasters previously self-grounding to metal box) on GF "test" using other than integral test button for the device affording protection.


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