Question About GFIs

[BlueKota]

I have a gas generator for when the power goes out. It and the house are about 8 years old. Lately whenever there is a power outage and the generator comes on the GFIs all trip. We had a power outage yesterday and this time the one for the hot water heater tripped when it never had before. In fact none of them use too

We are calling an electrician tomorrow, but I was wondering if anyone here has a guess whether it will require a major fix or a minor one? One of my sister's friends think the installers didn't ground something right, but that doesn't make sense to me because why would it have just started to do this in the past few months? Wouldn't it have done it right from the start? Another friend suggested they might have installed too many GFIs, but again wouldn't that have been a problem all along too?

Oh well at least the latter friend helped me figure out the water heater has a GFI and that's why I had no hot water this a.m. I just don't get what could have happened recently? The only thing I have noted different is one of our electricity company's power stations has had a car run into it and also got clobbered by a tree in a bad storm. So there have been more outages and I wonder if the surges coming from it during those episodes were stronger than normal?

[GP6971]

1. Is your generator a standby that

automatically kicks in when the power goes out? Or a stand alone that you have to start?

[BlueKota]

3. Standby

Automatically kicks on

[GP6971]

5. Then I think an electrician

will have to figure it out. I have a stand alone and I disable the things I don't powered until I need them.

[PJMcK]

2. A fault may have developed

If your GFIs are tripping, it implies you’ve developed a short, wouldn’t you think? It’s good you’re calling an electrician. They’ll figure it out quickly and safely.

Our generator runs off our propane tank. The automatic switch is on the outside of our house, partly protected by a deck. I won’t be surprised if it eventually develops a problem given the fierce weather we can get in NE PA.

Good luck!

[BlueKota]

4. Thank you!

That makes sense that a short developed over time.

[ret5hd]

6. GFI's also go old/weak...my first suggestion...

would be to replace one with a brand new…then purposefully cut your power, let the generator take over, and just see what happens.

If that fixed the one, replace the others and try again.

MAYBE save a few bucks.

on edit:
https://www.trulineelectric.com/blog/2020/april/gfci-safety-all-you-need-to-know/#:~:text=GFCI%20outlets%20last%20between%207,necessary%20every%207%2D10%20years.

[BlueKota]

7. That is a great idea!