Tripping GFCI

[denny]

This control box for my smoker is tripping the GFCI. The new GFCI and the receptacle at the circuit end have been checked with a tester. Wiring of the black wire is consistent thru the plugs, receptacle and elsewhere and verified. The box is plastic so all grounds and white wires are connected at a terminal strip and have solid connections (verified!). It trips immediately when plugged in and with the switch in the OFF position. A spark is visible and audible at the neutral side of the plug prong and receptacle upon being plugged in. The control box has never been plugged into the smoker during these testing sessions.

Disregard the "P. U. Coil" between the switch and PID #1. It will be for a watt meter and its associated circuitry is not shown for simplicity's sake. It has not been installed during these tests.

Can anyone see where the fault is? It looks fine to me but then I'm the one who wired it! Thanks in advance!

 

[denny]

My wiring diagram didn't make it! Trying again....

 

[dernektambura]

acording to your schematic you have wrong connection on PID #2 conector....

 

[dernektambura]

Seems that Neutral feed to #2 connector of PID is missing... you basically jumpered PID connector #2 and neutral side of smoker recepticle without connecting neutral feeder...

 

[Steve H]

Seems that Neutral feed to #2 connector of PID is missing... you basically jumpered PID connector #2 and neutral side of smoker recepticle without connecting neutral feeder...

That does make me wonder as well.
Your drawing is a bit confusing. You're not bonding the neutral to ground are you?

 

[dernektambura]

That does make me wonder as well.
Your drawing is a bit confusing. You're not bonding the neutral to ground are you?

Hope not.... otherwise he is looking for some weird hairdo...

 

[denny]

Thank you both for taking the time to respond.

dernek--respectfully, I don't know how to "connect neutral feeder" as you suggest. What would I connect from where to where and if necessary, what should I disconnect? Can you please explain so even a dummy can understand?

Steve--I have the green ground wires and the white wires all connected to a terminal strip where all wires are therefore bound together. The box itself is plastic--I don't know any other way to do do it. I have to either connect the green wires somewhere or just leave them loose. How would you suggest I do it?

Please excuse my ignorance. I don't claim to be an expert, and what I've drawn represents the best of my understanding to make it work. If either of you can tell me exactly how I need to wire it, or send me a picture, I would be so relieved!

There is a lot of theory I don't understand but I do know there is a difference between neutral and ground--a voltage potential can exist between them. As far as I can determine, the neutral and ground in my house breaker box go to the same point or at least they appear to. It doesn't seem right to connect them together as I have done but how else?!!

PS--My lack of knowledge may make it extremely difficult for you to get the point across to me. I'm sorry if it does. I'm way past the point of wanting in-depth understanding; I just need to make it work--while anything learned will be appreciated!!

 

[Steve H]

You need to separate the ground and neutral. Just ground the green wires at the outlets. And run the white/neutrals to the outlets and controller.

Do not connect the neutral and ground together. If there is no way to ground to the box then don't worry about it. But the ground and neutral need to be isolated from each other. Can you post a pic of the terminal strip?

https://www.smokingmeatforums.com/threads/pid-done-finally.287556/

 

[dernektambura]

Thank you both for taking the time to respond.

dernek--respectfully, I don't know how to "connect neutral feeder" as you suggest. What would I connect from where to where and if necessary, what should I disconnect? Can you please explain so even a dummy can understand?

you didnt connect white wire from extention cord to PID connection #2...
Do not splice neutral and ground...
you do not need inline fuse protections... its already protected upstream by panel breaker...
make sure your heater is rated at not more than 1500 watts if panel breaker rated @ 15amps...

 

[denny]

Alright! Now that's what I needed! A primer-level how- to! After my post yesterday, the matter of neutral and ground continued to bother me. I took the green wires loose and taped them off. Didn't touch the white wires at all. I plugged in a small fan as the load (instead of the large element in the smoker)--turned it on and it ran without tripping the breaker! I guess everything is ok but I didn't get to check it all out but I plan to do so today when I hook it up with the smoker itself.

Your collective advice was spot on and exactly what was needed. Happy days and thank you each so much!

Steve, I'll try to attach the terminal strip photo if I can--always difficult for me! And dernektambura, you are of course correct about not needing the fuses--I put them in because I couldn't be sure of future access to a GFCI circuit. Also, it was an always-good reminder about the circuit breaker. As it happens, my breaker box has all 20 A circuits.

Right now I'm in fat city and very appreciative of your help!

And finally Steve, thank you for the link you gave me. That was a beautiful job and I wish I had found it sooner. I searched several times this year but they must have been before you made the post.