Lighting is tripping GFCI...help!
 

Hi All,

I have recently changed the order in which the lights turn on using my apex controller on my 6 bulb t5 tek light fixture.

It used to be:

2 bulbs>2 bulbs off and 4 on>all 6 on.

I have now changed it to:

4 bulbs on> 6 bulbs on > 2 off down to 4 bulbs again.

Now, all switches over fine until it tries to go from 6 bulbs in the eve down to four. When the two bulbs go off, it trips my GFCI and everything shuts down.

Even if I turn the bulbs off manually at any time going from 6 to 4 it trips the GFCI.

It never did it on my previous schedule and now I'm really stumped as to what's happening. The last thing I want is for it to happen when I go to work and have no flow or heat all evening.

Hope someone can help.
Thanks,
Dunc

what is the power draw from the lights? What is the breaker? What else is on the outlet?

Its a 6 bulb 54w t5 light. My whole system is running from one outlet. I've not had any problems in a year and a half with this. Its only been in the last few days when I changed the bulb timings.

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Fluorescent & MH ballasts are sometimes prone to tripping GFCIs. Almost impossible to troubleshoot most fluorescent ballast issues since they are sealed units. Could be a capacitor in one of the ballasts or could be the GFCI itself, coincidentally. Have you tried going back to the original schedule to see what happens?

I haven't tried the original schedule again yet. I don't like the original schedule as the two bulbs are pinky in colour and don't look that great on their own so I would like to keep as is if I can.

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