SunStat GFCI Tripping

[dtmoy]

Hi,

We have the HeatWeave electric system installed in our master bath. The silver wire in the silver braided conduit, when attached to the SunStat, trips the GFCI in the SunStat. The installer (plumbing company) disconnected the wire and says it is fine to use without it. An electrician who looked at it says not to use it. Is it unsafe to use? If not, how can I locate the problem? Can it be repaired?

Thanks, Dave

[Christopher]

Dave,

Your electrician is right.
Do not disconnect the ground wire! You'll then be running a system that is shorted out and will cause damage.

Our SunStats each have a built in GFCI that will trip in the event the heating element is damaged.
The silver wire that is in the silver braided conduit is actually the ground wire. When you hook it up and it trips the GFCI, that means something has damaged your heating element (probably during the install).

The next step would be to call us here at the factory, [phone]. We have a couple of different rental tools that can be used by your electrician to find the break. We also have a repair kit to fix it.

[dtmoy]

Hi Christopher,

Thanks for replying. How feasible is it to try and fix it. Would repairing the wire be like trying to chip a fossil out of rock?

Dave

[Christopher]

Dave,

Honestly, when trying to remove the mortar from around the break, you might cut it again, but at that point it doesn't really matter.
The repair kit has wire lengths of about 5" - 6", so it will bridge a good section if needed.
Actually finding it is the hardest part; once you've located it the repair is pretty easy.
Here is a link to the PDF version of the repair instructions.

[dtmoy]

Christopher,

The installer, when trying to fix the situation, also cut off the silver sheathing that covers the wires in the wall. Can this be threaded back over the wires or is it now compromised and should be replaced. Not sure what the code is on this.

Thanks,

Dave

[Christopher]

Dave,

Well, that braided shield is actually part of the ground system, and depending on your local code, it may have also qualified as a necessary conduit.
Depending on what your code is, and what your inspector thinks, you may now need to have that power lead in a conduit.
It should be possible to re-attach it, using a rosin core solder, as long as there is enough left on the power lead to solder too.

Honestly, I'd be a little worried about these installers at this point...

[Watts Radiant]

Mar 11, 2010 7:51:32 GMT -6 dtmoy said:

Christopher,

The installer, when trying to fix the situation, also cut off the silver sheathing that covers the wires in the wall. Can this be threaded back over the wires or is it now compromised and should be replaced. Not sure what the code is on this.

Thanks,

Dave

Another thing to think about, Dave, is that if the braided shield is damaged, you may have damage to the cold lead also. I would inspect that region of the cold lead for scrapes or cuts to the wire. Even a tiny piece of the braided shield can pierce the wire insulation and cause a GFCI trip.

-MDR