Holiday lighting GFCI failures

We are having issues keeping our holiday lighting working. The GFCIs keep tripping. GFCI is required by code. I am wondering if anyone had the same issue and found a solution.

We have two GFCI outdoor outlets that hadn't been used in a couple of years, they had both gone bad and had to be replaced, so that's one possibility. If the GFCI is working correctly and still tripping, then you have a ground fault in the load you're plugging in, and the GFCI is doing its job. Either way, your best best is probably to contact an electrician, since the purpose of the GFCI is to keep people from getting electrocuted.

You can buy a tester to see if you have a bad GFI circuit. Not expensive and good to have one. Just plugs in and will trip it to verify it works right. Otherwise it could be tripping because of bad wiring, water in the area, or overloading. A tripping GFI is nothing to play with. It is failing for a reason. Which is for your safety. (I do have a degree in Electricity).

Our GFIs trip also. The irrigation system comes on and that causes the problem.
Or, rain will do it. These are the lights that are strung on the shrubs in the common areas.
We reset them all the time.

GFIs (ground fault interrupts) are designed to go off when the live wire makes shorts to ground. GFIs are required by code to be on any receptacle by water. For a normal house, this is typically any outside outlets, any bathroom outlets and, perhaps, an outlet or two in the kitchen.

GFIs, do fail but not that often. Instead, there is likely something wrong somewhere.

Often there is only one GFI for all of those circuits. This can create become frustrating to locate the actual circuit causing the problem.

In the example Kerry provided, the GFI's tripping when the sprinkler is turned on, there is likely a problem with the installation of an outlet (bad seal, bad cover plate, etc.) allowing water to enter the electrical outlet and shorting it out. Instead of simply resetting the breaker or interrupt, time should be taken to identify which outlet and fix the actual problem before the water starts to corrode the wires.

When I place holiday lights outside, I take the extra step to tape up (using electrical tape) all plugs and extension cord connections. This ensures that the connection will stay together and keeps the water out.

It's also possible that you have a bad set of lights or lights that are failing and need replaced.

Tim,

You are absolutely correct.

PLUS

(read it and weep)

THERE ARE NO 'OUTDOOR' EXTENSION CORDS RATED FOR WATER CONTACT/WET LOCATIONS SOLD AT 'THE BIG BOX STORE'. THERE ARE NO CONSUMER GRADE LIGHTS/DECORATIONS RATED FOR WATER CONTACT/WET LOCATIONS SOLD AT 'THE BIG BOX STORE'

This very thread proves the point.

WE ARE CORPORATIONS

NOT SOCIAL CLUBS

This thread also demonstrates the danger of well meaning volunteerism at work.

BUT

The 'do gooders' will continue to merely reset the code required safety devices rather than elimate the cause of their 'tripping'.

Folks.........we do have "waterproof receptacles " that were installed by licensed electricians.
The strings of lights were purchased at a big box store, and they do say "outdoor". Maybe they lied.
Guess the strings of lights plugged together are part of the problem. We have tried wrapping the connections in plastic and that just seemed to hold the moisture. I'll try the electricians tape suggestion. Thanks

Don't skimp on the tape.

Once all possible openings are covered (wire going into plug end, joint where plug and socket meet, etc.) put 3 or 4 layers of wrap on it (I simply keep it as one continues strip of tape). I also turn the torn outer end on itself, creating a pull end that doesn't stick down. This makes removing the tape easier when the lights need to be taken down and put away.

ps.

? would you hang an outdoor rated ceiling fan from a tree branch exposed to the rain and irrigation system ?

What do your paid (but evidently unsupervised) vendors say ?

Have they been paid in full ?

Why, if the work has proven unsatisfactory ?

The issue is for your vendors, not the world wide web

it seems like many hoa's are haivng this issue, so a solution or two would definitely help quite a few organizations on this site.

Make sure the GFCI's are labeled "WR" for weather resistant and enclosed in a outdoor box. We have outdoor Christmas lights with no issues once we started using the WR grade GFCI outlets.

I just found a home inspection report that recommended against plugging a refrigerator into a GFCI plug. The reasoning was that the devices trip too easily and your first clue that something is wrong could be a refrigerator full of rotting food.