[TenTec] GFCI problem when running high power

[Duane Calvin]

John,
	If the suggested fixes don't work, it might pay to estimate the
length of the wire running from the box to your GCFI breaker.  There is a
max recommended length on a span with one of these breakers because they get
induced currents on them which can cause it to trip.  Additional RF
susceptibility just makes that problem worse.  Not sure how to cure it, but
if you determine that's one of the contributing factors, you'll at least
know what you're up against.
	
	73, Duane


Duane Calvin, AC5AA
Austin, Texas
www.ac5aa.com  
 

-----Original Message-----
From: tentec-bounces at contesting.com [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com]
On Behalf Of John K Gotwals
Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2007 1:26 PM
To: tentec at contesting.com
Subject: [TenTec] GFCI problem when running high power

I am using an Orion to drive my Drake L-4B, and I operate mostly on 40 
meters. My antenna is a 110 feet long dipole, center-fed with open-wire feed

line, and elevated about 30 feet with the support for one end attached to 
the house chimney. My shack is in a 2nd floor bedroom, and the circuit 
breaker panel is located in the basement at the opposite end of the house. 
The house has a brick exterior, and one end of the antenna is only a few 
feet from the shack.

When I operate high power on 40 meters, a GFCI equipped circuit breaker, 
which is located in the house circuit breaker panel, moves to the open 
position. None of my station equipment is attached to this breaker; this 
particular breaker powers four outlets in the garage and two outlets on the 
house exterior. None of these outlets are normally in use. Is it possible 
(or even desirable) to install one or more bypass capacitors inside the 
breaker panel, and immediately adjacent to, the ground-fault circuit 
interrupter? If so, what type of capacitor is recommended?

John, N9JG 

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