GFCI TRIPPING

Jul 29, 2014
37
beneteau oceanis 45 south haven, mi
My 2014 Oceanis 45 has a GFCI under the port helm in the 110V 50 amp circuit. I have come back to the boat twice and found this breaker tripped. The first time was caught early and the batteries were still functioning. Last week when we got on the boat everything was dead including all the food in the fridge and freezer. We think a rainstorm tripped it. My electrician said the FFCI is redundant and unnecessary. He suggests removing it as there are adequate breakers including a GHCI in each head. Anyone else have this problem and any suggestions?
 

Joe

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Jun 1, 2004
8,200
Catalina 27 Mission Bay, San Diego
I don't know... you have an opinion from a bonafide electrician. I was told that you only needed one GCFI per circuit... so I would go with the professional.
 
Jul 7, 2004
8,492
Hunter 30T Cheney, KS
Everything on the circuit after the GFCI should be protected by that device.
I don't know... you have an opinion from a bonafide electrician. I was told that you only needed one GCFI per circuit... so I would go with the professional.
"per circuit" is the key. The protected outlets need to be on the load side of the GFCI
 
Feb 6, 1998
11,709
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
My 2014 Oceanis 45 has a GFCI under the port helm in the 110V 50 amp circuit. I have come back to the boat twice and found this breaker tripped. The first time was caught early and the batteries were still functioning. Last week when we got on the boat everything was dead including all the food in the fridge and freezer. We think a rainstorm tripped it. My electrician said the FFCI is redundant and unnecessary. He suggests removing it as there are adequate breakers including a GHCI in each head. Anyone else have this problem and any suggestions?
From what you describe you appear to be confusing an RCD or ELCI with a GFCI. Beneteaus, especially later models, have an RCD or ELCI main breaker close to the inlet from shore. This is a 30mA trip level to protect the whole boat not a 5mA trip level of a GFCI. They usually look like this can can be branded Legrand Tenby, Schneider, Merlin Gerin etc...


Note the 30mA trip rating above the test button.

Please make sure you are using a qualified marine electrician NOT a land based electrician and preferably one that has an ABYC certification. If you are really tripping a 30mA RCD tehn this is indicative or electrical problems that need to be identified.

If your inlet breaker says 30mA this is NOT a GFCI it is an RCD or ELCI breaker. I suspect your electrician does not seem to know the difference between an RCD/ELCI and a GFCI. Marine wiring is not the same as land.....

Snap an image of the breaker and post it, so we know more accurately what product we are discussing....