20 SWD Eaton breaker trips

Urshurak776

Urshurak776

Joined
Aug 21, 2012
Messages
3,030
Location
South Carolina
Hi all. Not a big electrical guy. I have, in the past, added garage outlets and a breaker to a panel, installed a GFCI outlet, etc.

We bought a house in 2019 (built in 2015.). All original wiring and breakers.

But, have an issue in kitchen circuit. Have two circuits. One is on a GFCI breaker and the other is on a normal breaker (but has a GFCI receptacle.).

Whenever we use the outlets on the circuit with the GFCI breaker, it trips. Quesadilla maker, or our Blackstone electric griddle it trips. Plugging in phone charger it doesn’t. It’s starting to happen more often.

We’re not overloading it. Those devices draw well under the rating. So, not sure?

Should I replace breaker? Do these tend to go bad over time? Something else maybe?

In picture it’s the one that says kit with the GFCI.
IMG_4643.jpg
 
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"SWD" means that the breaker is designed to be turned on and off frequently like a light switch. In my elementary school that was the only light switch-- the teacher would go to the breaker box to turn the lights out to show movies.

In other words the SWD marking doesn't have anything to do with the GFCI function.
 
mk378 said:
"SWD" means that the breaker is designed to be turned on and off frequently like a light switch. In my elementary school that was the only light switch-- the teacher would go to the breaker box to turn the lights out to show movies.

In other words the SWD marking doesn't have anything to do with the GFCI function.
Click to expand...
Is it the wrong type of breaker installed then?
 
Okay, just checked the "test" button on the breaker and it works as intended.

One thing I find weird is the first outlet after the breaker is a GFCI outlet. Is that necessary if there is already a GFI breaker? Maybe that's code in South Carolina?
 
Urshurak776 said:
Is it the wrong type of breaker installed then?
Click to expand...
No. SWD is an additional rating which means that it is more durable than a standard breaker. It can be used like a standard breaker as well. I think that all of the Cutler-Hammer 15 and 20 amp single pole breakers are rated SWD.

Two GFIs should never be installed in series on the same circuit. It is likely to cause one of them to malfunction and false trip. If you already have a GFI outlet as the first outlet you can remove the GFI breaker and replace it with a regular one. Or remove the GFI outlet and replace with a regular one.
 
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mk378 said:
No. SWD is an additional rating which means that it is more durable than a standard breaker. It can be used like a standard breaker as well. I think that all of the Cutler-Hammer 15 and 20 amp single pole breakers are rated SWD.

Two GFIs should never be installed in series on the same circuit. It is likely to cause one of them to malfunction and false trip. If you already have a GFI outlet as the first outlet you can remove the GFI breaker and replace it with a regular one. Or remove the GFI outlet and replace with a regular one.
Click to expand...
Thanks! I'll try a 20 amp outlet in place of the GFCI outlet.

EDIT: All the recepticles are 15 amp in this circuit. I have a few 15 amp outlets I can use. Looking up SC code, seems if you have a 20 amp breaker and ONLY one outlet, it MUST be a 20 amp outlet. But, if you have multiple, it can be 15 amp outlets.

Does that seem right? All the outlets in kitchen are 15 amp outlets.
 
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Urshurak776 said:
Urshurak776 said:
But, have an issue in kitchen circuit. Have two circuits. One is on a GFCI breaker and the other is on a normal breaker (but has a GFCI receptacle.).

Whenever we use the outlets on the circuit with the GFCI breaker, it trips. Quesadilla maker, or our Blackstone electric griddle it trips. Plugging in phone charger it doesn’t. It’s starting to happen more often.
Click to expand...
mk378 said:
Two GFIs should never be installed in series on the same circuit. It is likely to cause one of them to malfunction and false trip. If you already have a GFI outlet as the first outlet you can remove the GFI breaker and replace it with a regular one. Or remove the GFI outlet and replace with a regular one.
Click to expand...

Thanks! I'll try a 20 amp outlet in place of the GFCI outlet.
Click to expand...
The above comments don't seem to align. Post #1 states that one circuit has a GFCI breaker while the other circuit has a GFCI receptacle with a non-GFCI breaker. mk378's statement is correct; however, I don't see where you have two GFCI devices in series on the SAME circuit? Am I not reading this correctly?
 
Nukeman7 said:
The above comments don't seem to align. Post #1 states that one circuit has a GFCI breaker while the other circuit has a GFCI receptacle with a non-GFCI breaker. mk378's statement is correct; however, I don't see where you have two GFCI devices in series on the SAME circuit? Am I not reading this correctly?
Click to expand...

Sorry, yeah, I made that confusing....

The GFCI Breaker has a GFCI outlet as the first outlet.

My other kitchen circuit has a regular breaker and the first outlet is a GFCI outlet as well.

So, both circuits start with a GFCI outlet, even the one with the GFCI breaker.

The kitchen circuit that has a regular breaker and starts with a GFCI outlet works fine. The issue is the circuit with both the GFCI breaker and the GFCI outlet.
 
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Urshurak776 said:
The GFCI Breaker has a GFCI outlet as the first outlet.

My other kitchen circuit has a regular breaker and the first outlet is a GFCI outlet as well.

So, both circuits start with a GFCI outlet, even the one with the GFCI breaker.

The kitchen circuit that has a regular breaker and starts with a GFCI Outlet works fine. The issue is the circuit with both the GFCI breaker and the GFCI outlet.
Click to expand...
Got it, that is very likely the problem then. I've re-read your original write-up several times and (as written) there is no indication that either circuit has two GFCI devices on it.
Urshurak776 said:
Thanks! I'll try a 20 amp outlet in place of the GFCI outlet.

EDIT: All the recepticles are 15 amp in this circuit. I have a few 15 amp outlets I can use. Looking up SC code, seems if you have a 20 amp breaker and ONLY one outlet, it MUST be a 20 amp outlet. But, if you have multiple, it can be 15 amp outlets.

Does that seem right? All the outlets in kitchen are 15 amp outlets.
Click to expand...
You are correct about replacing it with a 15 amp outlet like the rest in the kitchen.
 
Nukeman7 said:
Got it, that is very likely the problem then. I've re-read your original write-up several times and (as written) there is no indication that either circuit has two GFCI devices on it.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I apologize, I didn't even realize it myself until I traced everything out.
 
Nukeman7 said:
Got it, that is very likely the problem then. I've re-read your original write-up several times and (as written) there is no indication that either circuit has two GFCI devices on it.

You are correct about replacing it with a 15 amp outlet like the rest in the kitchen.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the help. I am replacing the GFCI with a 15AMP outlet. I'll report back how it goes. I ordered a "square" outlet so it matches the faceplate.
 
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