Re: Capacitor to bypass GFI outlet?

["Chris Shearer Cooper" <chrisnews@xxxxxxx>]

If there's a reasonably-priced X-10 friendly GFI outlet, that sounds like a
better plan ... but I have no idea how to find out which ones are friendly
and which ones ain't ...

"Robert Green" <ROBERT_GREEN1963@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:I-qdnb7k4KNGCiXenZ2dnUVZ_sGdnZ2d@xxxxxxxxxx
> "Chris Shearer Cooper" <chrisnews@xxxxxxx> wrote in
>
> <stuff snipped>
>
>> That is, what would happen if I attached a 0.1 uF 600V
>> cap from the line to the load? Would the X-10 signal get through?
>> Would it affect the ability of the GFI outlet to detect ground faults?
>
> [/sermon on]
>
> Sorry to feel compelled to butt in here.  Even the slightest chance that
> such a mod could compromise your GFI's ability to protect you makes your
> proposed mod a very bad idea.  As Tom noted, the wrong capacitor choice
> could have serious consequences.
>
> It seems that some GFI's are X-10 friendly, and some aren't.  Therefore, I
> respectfully submit that the better course of action is to find a GFI that
> presents no problem to X-10 and switch yours out.  It would also be
> helpful
> to the whole X-10 user universe to identify the make and model of the GFI
> so
> that brand can be avoided by others.
>
> [/sermon ended]
>
> I don't recall if you ever fully explained your X-10 problem in detail in
> the OP, so it may be that your proposed fix won't do anything at all.  The
> GFI may be a signal sink.  It may even be functioning perfectly and the
> X-10
> interference/attenuation is coming from something other device(s) along
> the
> circuit path.
>
> Personally, I'd do a little more investigation into the nature of the
> problem before assuming the GFI is not passing signals.  That's doubly
> true
> when the modification has the potential to cripple the life-saving
> function
> of the unit.  The capacitor fix is designed to couple opposing phases at
> the
> breaker box or at a 220V outlet. I've never read or heard of it being
> applied to a GFI.
>
> Your local electrical inspector would probably have a canary or two if you
> started adding external components to a GFI.  Could you live with yourself
> if someone in your house died as a result of a GFI failure because of the
> mod?  You're going to be working in the electrical box anyway, how much
> does
> a new GFI cost?  $10?  You'll probably expend the same amount of effort
> locating just the right value and type of capacitor!
>
> --
> Bobby G.
>
>
>