[TJeffC]

We have a circuit that feeds an outdoor fountain/decorative pool. The pool has a submersible line voltage pump/fountain and line voltage light in the pool. There are no shared neutrals on the circuit.

The circuit has an outdoor plastic in-ground box and each circuit to pump and light have their own faceless GFIs which are installed inside gasketed outdoor metal boxes within the plastic in-ground box.

After a tough winter, upon opening the area for the season both GFIs were found to be likely internally corroded and not working. I replaced both with Leviton Spec Grade facess GFIs and all was fine ...

... for a few weeks. Now, neither GFI is testable or resettable. In other words, they appear to be fried internally, again, after only a month in service. They haven't been exposed to water/weather during that time.

They were properly wired by an electrician and when I replaced them I did so in exactly the same manner.

Ideas? What would cause them to fail so quickly? I know that there can be problems with motor loads on a GFI but code requires their use here and they worked all last season with no problems.

Below grade conduits terminating in the box have had water in them but I've removed it. Still not working.

Thanks in advance for any replies.


Jeff

 

[TJeffC]

It's possible but the nature of that would likely be miniscule leakage between leads in water-filled conduit I think. In any case if it were just a ground fault you'd be able to 'reset' the GFIs I think and then they would trip again (possibly right away). I heard a 'frying' sound inside the GFI housing (I thought). Right now, when you push the reset button there's no 'click' - the way that they act when there's no power to them (but test meter both sides indicates 119V).

 

[TJeffC]

That's our next move, probably. Didn't want to do that because a few items in the house on the same circuit don't want to be tripped off by a touchy breaker.