Beating the GFI in the with Mini Trees

[Trip]

After taking a nice long break in the offseason, I am finally back in the mood to get ready for 09. I solved my problem with some plastic ground christmas light holders used to do the ground paths my wife found at wally world I believe. I will get some pics tomorrow for you guys. I was able to just attach the plastic holders to the metal bottom of the cage and keep the metal from touching the ground. It worked well and the GFCI didn't trip in the rain.

[ErnieHorning]

Virtus, I would expect that you getting a false ground fault because of a bad connection. Do you have another outlet or a way to connect power close to the input to your garage?

My guess is that because of the higher current needed for the treadmill, that a weak connection may cause a capacitive effect that causes a false current difference between Hot and Neutral.

It could also be extra long wires going to your garage. I’ve see air compressors pop GFCI’s when no fault actually exists.

[IdunBenhad]

Hi:
Not having experience (yet) with computer controlled lighting, I have read this thread with interest, as I was going to use tomato cages for the mini trees. My only advantage is that I winter in Yuma, AZ and it rarely rains there and is VERY dry. However, when it decides to rain, it is usually a deluge, with 1"-2" at a time not uncommon.

Anyway, it seems to me that the GFCI tripping problem may be due to induction. IF the insulation on the light strings is not broken and touching the metal framework, then maybe the answer is induction caused by the coiled light strings. Don't know that there is a solution, except try wrapping one string clockwise on the frame, the second string counter-clockwise, etc. The reversal of direction of wrapping my tend to cancel the induction to the frame.

The suggestion in another post to use heat-shrink is a good one. Maybe one could use some old pieces of water hose, but it would have to sealed at both ends to prevent ground contact and water entrance.

There is another new thread dealing with metal-less minitrees. His ideas are very good and may be the answer for those having to deal with rain and snow.

Idun

[joeengler]

I have 11 of these mini trees, 9 are 32 inch and 2 are 54 inch tall. I cut a piece of plywood for each tree to sit on. The plywood is attached to 3 piece of 1/2 pvc going into the ground. This keeps the metal from the ground and gives the trees about 12 inches for snow clearance.

[N7XG]

Here is my take on the problem:

1) Most people wind strings of lights around and around a frame and as a result are creating a inductor that induces current, more than likely using the frame. This is how radios are built. For the lay person think of it as a device like a transformer.

2) To solve the problem you will have to counter act the inductor.

[djulien]

1) Most people wind strings of lights around and around a frame and as a result are creating a inductor that induces current, more than likely using the frame. This is how radios are built. For the lay person think of it as a device like a transformer.

2) To solve the problem you will have to counter act the inductor.

Are the light strings also acting like twisted pairs? (mini-light strings, not the parallel cord of C9's).

If this is creating a big transformer, then would reversing the winding direction in the middle or periodically eliminate the problem?

don

[marble42]

My trees are all 3/16 cold roll 5 sided with 3 inch legs welded
To get around the GFI problem i got 5/16 clear tubing it has in I.D. of 3/16
cut it 1/4 inch longer then the leg slide it on and hot glue the last 1/4 inch
to make it water tight.
To keep it from sinking into the ground i hot glued cheap green poker chips
to the bottom of the tubing.
Make some stakes out of the same 3/16 rod bend into a hook and cover the hook with the tubing this keeps the tree isolated from the ground and water.
Would post a pic if i new how.

[ErnieHorning]

Would post a pic if i new how.

Scroll down below the message entry window and click the attachments button.


Alternatively you can host the image elsewhere and link to via the image button.

[marble42]

Here are some pic
1 frame only
2 tube and chips in place
3 finished
4 lit (2)channel white,green both on