[TenTec] GFCI problem when running high power

[Mike Hyder -N4NT-]

Hi, John--

I had a similar problem.  One GFCI protecting the kitchen, garage, outdoor 
and bath outlets.  Because the chain of outlets was so long, I figured it 
was putting enough of my signal into the GFCI to trip it.  My solution was 
to replace it with a standard breaker and then install individual GFCI 
outlets.  No more trouble.

73, Mike N4NT

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John K Gotwals" <john at gotwals.com>
To: <tentec at contesting.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2007 2:25 PM
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