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Thread: Warm GFIs
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02-23-2009, 07:12 PM #1
Warm GFIs
I was hanging out with my electrician on one of our projects and they were using an IR camera. Anyway they let me play with it and I noticed the GFI receptacles that I was shooting were 75 and 80 degrees. Isnt that warm for a receptacle? I asked the foreman who said it was normal??
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02-23-2009, 07:53 PM #2
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02-23-2009, 07:56 PM #3
Re: Warm GFIs
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02-23-2009, 08:05 PM #4
Re: Warm GFIs
Ah, what about reverse neutral situation. Would that have an affect? Just a thought but I am thinkink no unless like you say it has juice being drawn through it to another location. Who knows, night light, charger, or like you say, loose connection.
Or it is through it to a receptacle being used that should not be hooked into that GFCI circuit like a den outlet or something.
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02-23-2009, 08:11 PM #5
Re: Warm GFIs
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02-23-2009, 08:15 PM #6
Re: Warm GFIs
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02-23-2009, 11:34 PM #7
Re: Warm GFIs
I always use my hand or IR thermometer to check the breakers. The GFCI and AFCI are warmer than room temperature. I think it is normal when the current pass through and generate heat.
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02-23-2009, 11:37 PM #8
Re: Warm GFIs
the place was empty and the interior temp was around 60 degrees. the other receptacles were very cool, interior temp compaired to GFI's. Oh yea, there were no loads imposed. this is a vacant building. Is it something with how it was wired? Im facinated with this situation...and the IR camera. that thing was cool.
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02-24-2009, 12:53 AM #9
Re: Warm GFIs
They will always show more heat then a standard out let. they just run that way... You will find a lot of things with an IR Camera that look hot or look like they are overheating but they are not overheating at all.
Now when you see something like these photos then you have a problem.
loose connections. you can see the wire overheating inside the wall and extending up into the inaccessible attic area.
Best
Ron
Santa Rosa Home & Business Thermal Inspections
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02-24-2009, 03:18 AM #10
Re: Warm GFIs
Nice thread.
In my past experiences we often found that the breaker didn't match the outlet rating. (i.e. 20-amp GFCI outlet connected to a 30-amp breaker).
or, we found the common practice of a run having a mixture of 15 & 20-amp outlets. (NOTE: In these instances the outlets were used as the connection point, vice using the common "pig-tail" feed connection method)
or, the GFCI was faulty or in the worse case scenario not UL approved.
or, 14 gauge wire was used to feed the 20-amp GFCI.
All of these along with those suggested above (i.e. loose wiring, etc.) could be the source of the warm cover.
In any case, it should be tended immediately.
Just my opinion.
John B.
Last edited by J Bowman; 02-24-2009 at 03:35 AM.
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