Breaker tripping

[Bob Bradley]

My stbd side light/receptacle breaker trips when the genny is running, but not on the dockside power. I do notice that the lights are a little brighter when on the genny and that my ac alarm clock runs a little fast. I had the same symptoms in my last Hatt, but without the breaker popping. What's your best guess, genny running too fast or faulty breaker?

 

[Bob Bradley]

This just started happening by the way.

 

[Pascal]

What voltage and frequency do you have? Clocks running fast is always a frequency issue. Not sure why it would trip the breaker

 

[Captain Ralph]

Original styled panel breaker or later GFI breaker?

 

[Bob Bradley]

It has the red test button on it, so I guess it's a GFI.
I can't put up pics from my phone.

 

[Captain Ralph]

It has the red test button on it, so I guess it's a GFI.
I can't put up pics from my phone.

Uh Oh
Any new appliances? Lights, fans, anything big or small?
Also, when still plugged into the dock?

 

[Bob Bradley]

Nothing new. Only happens when on the genny. Virtually no draw in it. Just an alarm clock and a couple of lights

 

[Captain Ralph]

Not trying to be a smart asp, just trying to be helpful.
This was working correctly recently, new issue?
Are you still plugged into the dock when you go gen-set and the GFI trips?
This is when you rotate switch or just flip breakers?
Please offer a step by step routine that makes this GFI breaker trip.
Have you unplugged everything and it still trips?
What else stops working when the GFI does trip?
Any (ANY) recent electrical work or new appliances (ANY) since before this GFI issue started accruing?

Theory is, any ground fault and these GFI outlets trip.
Could be just noise on the green line.
GFI outlets them selves can go bad and nuisance trip.

 

[jim rosenthal]

Sounds like the governor on the genset is letting it run too fast.

 

[jmooney]

Once these GFI breakers start popping , they need to be replaced . Unfortunately, they are no longer available. They are made by Paxman . Use a regular breaker and pu a GFI outlet in the circuit. I heard that Hatteras bought the rights to produce them but decided not to. I have never been able to contact Paxman directly.

 

[bostonhatteras]

Once these GFI breakers start popping , they need to be replaced . Unfortunately, they are no longer available. They are made by Paxman . Use a regular breaker and pu a GFI outlet in the circuit. I heard that Hatteras bought the rights to produce them but decided not to. I have never been able to contact Paxman directly.

I just took a look on ebay for airpax breakers. Probably a couple hundred various sizes and types available, some new some used.

 

[Bob Bradley]

Thanks guys

 

[Captain Ralph]

Once these GFI breakers start popping , they need to be replaced . Unfortunately, they are no longer available. They are made by Paxman . Use a regular breaker and pu a GFI outlet in the circuit. I heard that Hatteras bought the rights to produce them but decided not to. I have never been able to contact Paxman directly.

Oh sheet, an OLD panel GFI breaker.
Oh the white hairs..
Don't try to shop PaxMan or AirPax breakers on e-bay (unless from me). Usually your picking up others issues, been there.
Sadly, I have no good GFI panel breakers in my shop.
JM is on a good plan, go to local GFI outlets.

If we are not on point, then please go back to post #8

 

[Sandiego]

If clocks are running fast it probably means your genset frequency is faster than 60Hz. Put a good frequency meter on it to check.

 

[cww]

This issue sounds like the generator to me if your clocks are off that means the genset isn't putting out the correct amount of hertz (not sure what it's supposed to be for 240v but it's usually 60hz for 120). I would get a hz meter off amazon and plug it in and see how far off it is. It doesn't have to be very far off to start causing all sorts of electrical problems you wouldn't realize are related. I went through this with the gas westerb!tch on my searay, until my buddy who's an electrician pointed out the only thing all my problems had in common was the generator at which point it clicked in my head. The fact that it *only* trips when on generator power not on dockside with the same load pretty much rules the breaker out for me.

 

[Captain Ralph]

Htz will make a older clock run fast, but ya think a GFI breaker would trip over it??

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Htz will make a older clock run fast, but ya think a GFI breaker would trip over it??

Yes, GFCI are designed for 60hz. High hertz can cause a GFCI to trip.

Fix the generator output and the problem is likely to go away. Don't bother replacing the GFCI until the generator is giving the proper output.

 

[Briankinley2004]

I have the same issue and it seems restricted to the newer and smaller back up generator. No issues ever on dock power and don’t recall on the oh no 15 kw. I will check the hertz

 

[Captain Ralph]

I have the same issue and it seems restricted to the newer and smaller back up generator. No issues ever on dock power and don’t recall on the oh no 15 kw. I will check the hertz

Another thought; Some hatts with transformers have a faux ground to shore power.
On the gen-set ground and neutral are tied. You may have some ground fault current from something.

Please re-read post #6 & 8.