Third time a charm?

[Fallon]

A GFCI stands for Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter. They sense when current is going to ground rather than neutral & shut things down. Ground is a safety wire & any current leaking to ground indicates a problem. Even worse is when current leaks to your body instead of ground (which is what a GFCI is designed to prevent).

GFCIs can go bad & need replacement. However if your GFCI is in your breaker box or the first outlet in the circuit, it protects every downstream outlet. So trying different outlets doesn't help. Try a different GFCI entirely, not the same one using different outlets.

 

[Mowbizz]

Here is the thing. Gfci has another feature you haven't thought of. Its made to detect low levels of current and quickly shuts off. When the heater block ages it doesn't heat as efficiently when new hence low levels of current. Im sorry.. You might have to replace gfci to afci. The afci will trip if wired overheats ... Well... It supposed to that way. What size wiring is your circuit? 12 2? Are you using 20 amp plugs ? Hint it has a side slot on one of prong insert. Are you using a short 12 or 10 gauge extension cord?

Thanks for the suggestions. As far as I know everything is 20A. I can't find anything written on the yellow extension cords except they are rated at 15A (no wire gauge).
My BX only has about 220 hours on it so I can't imagine the block has degraded so much.

 

[SLIMSHADIE]

Mowbizz it has to be your GFCI, they do go bad. When your block heater worked from your house but not the garage, thats they key. Especially even after the dealer. Different cords and plugs but that dang GFCI keeps popping!!! Its bad...

 

[Mowbizz]

Mowbizz it has to be your GFCI, they do go bad. When your block heater worked from your house but not the garage, thats they key. Especially even after the dealer. Different cords and plugs but that dang GFCI keeps popping!!! Its bad...

I hope you're right!
I'll have to change that out.

 

[Mowbizz]

Well, the block heater worked as intended with one of those "no ground" adapters. Until I get a chance to try changing the GFCI outlet this is how I'll utilize the block heater.
I was careful and kept an eye on things as it was connected and no problems were seen with using it this way. Somehow, there is something on the BX/block heater that is bleeding a trace of current to ground. Beats me what it is though...worked like a charm last winter. I'm no electrician nor an engineer...I just want things that WORK like they're supposed to.
Safety police, no need to lecture on using the "adapter" :thumbsup: