Repairing Faulty Ground Fault Failure

[@nortyfiner]

I was a US Navy mechanic for 20 years. I very often found that when something was malfunctioning, and I took it apart, didn't find anything obviously wrong, and put it back together, it was magically fixed. I think it's because in the process, I accidentally cleaned out whatever bit of debris or tightened whatever loose thing was causing the original problem. Gremlins broke it, gremlins fixed it.

[@FineBakedPastry]

Yeah, sometimes a little bit of dust in the wrong place can make all the difference.

[@amorpilo9666]

The Omnissiah wills it.

[@herzogsbuick]

i learned the same thing as a kid working on million dollar machines at a newspaper. the head maintenance guy told me just un-seat and re-seat all the connections, that fixes most problems

[@AlvinYorkII]

As someone who spent over 10 years in the Navy who was allowed to assemble/disassemble a few more electrical components than I probably should've due to my electrical background, can confirm. "Mechanical agitation" is a real troubleshooting step, even if the SOPs don't explicitly say so

[@Coowwan]

Appliance repair here. Yeah that’s happened for me too. Just unhooked everything, looked at the connections, and put them back. Magically fixed.

[@Lampe2020]

14:25 The noticeable delay between "Click!" and "Hijau!" made that shock even funnier XD

[@kanter1598]

No, no, it wasn't "Hijau!", it was definitely "THE DUCK'S SHIET"

[@KangJangkrik]

Lol hijau is green

[@wowgggearing]

​@@KangJangkrikhooh bang

[@BenieTheDragon]

I heard "PIECE OF ..SHI--"

[@abdullahk0405]

Seems human pain reflexes are slower than circuit breakers

[@SamMurphyHSV]

Mehdi is so selfless. He goes around the world to test electrical systems in tourist areas to make it safer for all while letting his own home become neglected with failing outlets. He is the true hero we need!

[@MrDevianceh]

cobbler's kids have no shoes

[@Youarenotme01374]

@@MrDevianceh we dont give a fk

[@xyzxyzxyzxyzxyzxyz]

We have a saying in my language: _"The horse of the smith and the kids of the cobbler, they always walk barefoot."_ Of couse, it rhymes in my language. The meaning is that what you do as your work, you are less likely to do in private.

[@Noxedwin]

​@@Youarenotme01374 That's the proverb. _"The cobbler's children have no shoes."_ You can be stupid if you like, but you don't have to be a dick to other people about it.

[@lizekamtombe2223]

@@Youarenotme01374 Speak for yourself, we care. That you don't care is your own loss. Enjoy your pitiful existence, or not, now we do not care..

[@velvix]

3:32 the noctua edition screwdriwer is a w

[@raffaellu4375]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@therescuedlemur433]

Frr

[@LolKillization]

Gloves?! My god, that's the first time i see Mehdi wearing protective gear on his hands.

[@tomholroyd7519]

GLOVES!

[@Yezpahr]

If he made one mistake and it caught a glowing wire or caught fire somehow he would need to get skin grafts. That stuff he used as "protective" gear, well that's literally liquid fire when it ignites, dripping, oozing, splashing is guaranteed. Especially if you handwave in a panic. I still shiver at every move he makes even without overthinking it the way I just demonstrated, it's a miracle (oh and a lot of skill) he still has all his digits and original skin.

[@Ali____m_a007]

🥊

[@theodoros_1234]

He did wear gardening gloves waaayyy back in the Graphite video (I think that's from 2017), but that didn't end very well for him😂 I'd recommend going back and watching that.

[@edwardhugus2772]

He should consider protective HEADGEAR..........Zap/ Shock/ Bang Head......Repeat.

[@TheBigV_008]

8:46 - 10:53 Pretending to understand ElectroBoom's explanations makes me feel smarter

[@saadnaseer9815]

My dumbass was waiting for him to show the fake input.

[@Potatoincanada201]

Did you even notice he wasn’t looking at his work?

[@florianneacosta987]

@@Potatoincanada201 I mean, yeah, because he said that it was too difficult for him to understand, he found a process on how to assemble It online.

[@Potatoincanada201]

@@florianneacosta987 Or his university teacher was stuck to the wall

[@alumaven]

disassembly then assembly often fixes stuff for me to. great achievement to have.

[@ghostbiker7391]

yeah especially when it doesn't need the parts that were not put back

[@anj000]

It seems he also burned a little bit the small coil inside. You can see smoke 8:21. Not sure if that makes the difference.

[@Akotski-ys9rr]

No it’s often frustrating because you’re like why isn’t this piece of shit working so you take it apart, find nothing wrong, put it back together and it suddenly starts working again

[@someoneUprobablyknow]

@TeodoraTacderen part 2 of waiting your father returning.

[@FineBakedPastry]

When you disassemble stuff you inadvertently remove dust and debris that might have accumulated on the device that was most likely causing the malfunction. It's pretty common.

[@P0551bl3]

One electroboom dies in each video. There is an electroboom factory somewhere producing clones of him every month or so.

[@uzi1476]

👀

[@kernel_data_inpage_error]

Plot armor

[@carl67lp]

For as often as Mehdi performs his GFCI tests, he ought to 3D print some sort of enclosure that would let him put his probes and resistor all in place ahead of time. Sure, wouldn't make as much of visual spectacle, but it'd be easier!

[@paisleyprince5280]

It's all part of the pagentry

[@victormateus7026]

as long as the enclosure features a ton of live exposed wire i agree

[@Deletirium]

I strongly suspect most of the shocks/pops are added in post. 🫠 He's got a good schtick worked out, but he's intelligent- he wouldn't actually allow himself to be shocked by say, house current for example.

[@saiv46]

I bought a cheap tester which also happen to test GFCI. I didn't have any protection besides sketchy grounding and GFCI in bathroom.

[@dhpz]

Bold of you to assume he know how to make 3d model and use 3d printer

[@TechforMusicAI]

Here in Uruguay we have a saying: "En casa de herrero, cuchillo de palo" (in a Blacksmith's house, a wooden knife), so you get where I go with this. I always found that the greatest of professionals (specially the most creative) usually tend to be pretty careless about their own workplaces... Maybe because they know exactly when each plug in the house is gonna burst into flames, who knows.

[@EmuAGR]

Nice to learn it's said in Uruguay too. It's a very popular saying in Spain actually! It might be as old as time.

[@Derek_Garnham]

in UK, "a plumbers tap (faucet) always drip" and "a cobblers child is poorest shod"

[@EduardoRohdeEras]

In Brazil "Casa de ferreiro, espeto de pau" means the same! 😂

[@Hoeech]

To be fair, he makes those "mistakes" on purpose for comedic effect

[@Mateus_Pereira_Silva]

Uruguay mentioned. Saludos de Melo!

[@rpercifieldjr]

Unfortunately, I have extensive experience with AFCI's and GFCI's. Nuisance tripping of GFCI's is sometimes associated with inductively coupled noise onto the feed lines, such as a compressor starting for an AC or Refrigerator. Another source is that the GFCI is very sensitive to high frequency conducted emissions and will trip. While your Tesla Gun does have very high voltages, they may not be at a frequency that is worst case for the breaker you have.

[@mb-3faze]

Although tempting to put a GFCI socket on a refrigerator it's usually better not to because that last thing you want is for the refrigerator to de-power (and de-ice) without you knowing. Also, invariably the socket is right behind the refrigerator making it a PIA to reset it.

[@sadlerbw9]

So, what can be done in the case of noise on the feed lines? Do you just have to try different outlets until you find one that is less sensitive, or can you stick something on the input lines to suppress the noise?

[@rpercifieldjr]

@@sadlerbw9 Currently there are multiple efforts to define at Agency Level (i.e. UL, IEC, NEC, etc) a way to improve performance of these systems in the real world. One example was when the compressor on a refrigerator started, and the inrush current occurred, this inrush would impress a current in an adjacent wire for the bathroom, and the GFCI would trip. Not the GFCI for the Kitchen but the bathroom. In evaluation it was shown that the feed cable for the bathroom ran in the same holes in the studs that the kitchen did. it was over 12ft of running in parallel. The solution was to replace the breaker panel GFCI breaker with the outlet version in the bathroom. This stopped the impression of a differential current in the wire. This issue affected about 60% of a 600 unit apartment complex. It is very complicated and technically challenging to resolve. Also each case is different. You can look for the offending signal source, but may never find it. Many times it requires changing the outlet GFCI and or AFCI to another manufacturer to get a better noise immunity.

[@filips7158]

Why unfortunately? You hated your GFCI job?

[@filips7158]

​@@sadlerbw9install a higher quality device. Radiated emission susceptibility means insufficient design quality.

[@mohamedabdallah7497]

Hi ElectroBOOM I just wanted to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for all the incredible content you create. Your videos are not only informative but also highly entertaining, making the often intimidating world of electronics accessible and fun for everyone. From your detailed explanations of basic principles to your adventurous experiments, you have a unique way of making complex concepts understandable and enjoyable. Your approach to teaching is refreshing, blending humor with serious education, which keeps your audience engaged and eager to learn more. The way you demystify electronics, breaking down intricate ideas into simple, digestible pieces, is truly a gift. Your dedication to safety and your relentless emphasis on the potential dangers of working with electricity is something that sets you apart. You manage to balance the thrill of experimentation with the essential reminders of safety, ensuring that your viewers are well-informed and cautious. Your personal experiences, often humorously painful, serve as valuable lessons to us all, and they certainly make your points unforgettable. On top of your educational content, your creativity and willingness to take risks are incredibly inspiring. Whether you're building elaborate circuits, testing the limits of various components, or demonstrating electrical phenomena, your enthusiasm is infectious. You've inspired countless people to pick up a soldering iron, experiment with circuits, and dive into the fascinating world of electronics. Thank you for all the hard work, dedication, and passion you put into your videos. You have a remarkable talent for turning what could be a dry subject into an exciting adventure. Your ability to educate and entertain simultaneously is unmatched, and it's clear that you truly care about your audience and their learning experience. Please keep up the fantastic work. We are all eagerly looking forward to your future projects and the unique way you will present them. You are not just a great educator but also a fantastic entertainer who makes learning an enjoyable journey.

[@polliosantrophilloes]

Damn he aint readin all that

[@mohamedabdallah7497]

it was worth a try😅

[@polliosantrophilloes]

@@mohamedabdallah7497 true tho

[@Terrobility]

Tell me it's AI without telling me it's AI

[@mohamedabdallah7497]

@@Terrobility Chat gpt :>

[@samedman1]

8:08 Electrical engineers when they have to work on the most simple valve ever

[@SafetyLucas]

Lol I never understood how people have trouble with mechanical devices. You can just look and see how it works, whereas electrical circuits are the ones with invisible operation.

[@ErrorTH]

and vice versa. I can understand a comple madness of springs and levers, but even a simple circuit requires me to engage 100% jf my brain...

[@0Blueaura]

@@ErrorTH and here too, I haven't finished any school, yet I can understand the overall mechanism and circuit when it is shown to me, but to think about it from a new project perspective and i wouldnt be able to differentiate an open gate and polarities most likely lol

[@alexturnbackthearmy1907]

@@0Blueaura Especially if they are different from what you are used to. Why we cant agree on which is + and which is - exactly?

[@mangamaster03]

​@@alexturnbackthearmy1907conventional VS electron flow notation. Picking one would require engineers and physicists to compromise. We don't get along.

[@NYR14477]

9:33 never heard “thingy”’so many times in a span of a min and half LOL

[@justinbanks2380]

9:31 "warranty terminated if opened" 🤣

[@yusinwu]

Mehdi: OOOPPPPSSSS!!!

[@kaftoronexdbulletfiremobil6091]

😂😂😂

[@adicsbtw]

fun fact: those stickers aren't even legally binding in most countries, including the US. They're just there to scare customers from repairing their own products really

[@alluseri]

That reversed song at 13:35 was really funny for no reason at all

[@rayyankhan4737]

Fr

[@thedevilinthecircuit1414]

Backtracking!

[@letMeSayThatInIrish]

2:31 Was that head bump even planned? I love this channel.

[@gabbonoo]

i hope all those shocks dont contribute to early onset dementia >_>

[@___Bruh__]

I have a feeling that most things he does aren't planned. One wrong move and you're literally dead.

[@beastnighttv]

@@___Bruh__ am I tripping or that doesnt makes sense....

[@TheXxthedamagedxX]

​@@___Bruh__ ​come on bruh, you really don't think he meant to shock himself when he took the glove off then immediately picked up the outlet?... did you know that wwe is real too?

[@___Bruh__]

@@TheXxthedamagedxX WWE is proven fake. If you’re gonna make a claim that he fakes all of this, then back it up with something.

[@jmhuene]

"I forgot to fix it!" - BUSTED out laughing 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣

[@realzakariax]

same here 😂

[@isaacbrewer5616]

I have the same problem with an outlet in my kitchen!!! I also now finally understand how GFCI works and not just what they do! Thanks! Great video!

[@div0007]

Make sure you wear gloves before you start playing with that GFCI puppy😅

[@kujalavanimalini4199]

2:32 W got mehdi hinting his head to cupboard before gta 6

[@Potatoincanada201]

He’s felt worse 😂😂💀

[@justinbanks2380]

13:48 ah yes, the good old sniff test to see if your electronics are working 🤣

[@ijtsuken]

this is actually a very strong test of electronics - you can understand whether the white smoke on which it works has escaped However, surprisingly, the protector works even after the smoke has escaped

[@justinbanks2380]

@@ijtsuken oh, I know it's a very valuable test as often it will tell something is wrong even before sparks/or smoke. Just funny that (at least on the cut he released) he started with that test, when often that is a second or third test after you've done tests before making power live, lol

[@MisterPlanePilot]

This is the really cool stuff I also come here for. Mehdi is a pro as disassembling and learning things, only to put it all back and teach us something, especially with everyday household items like a GFCI outlet. I absolutely love it

[@CzarnobylPL]

Mehdi: remember to keep yourself save Also Mehdi: uses all metal pliers while checking GFCI

[@Okurka.]

Not to mention that LTT screwdriver.

[@Simon_Denmark]

I mean pliers are usually metal but they need to be voltage tools that have insulation on the grips/handles and screwdrivers need to be insulated until the actual tip.

[@khaitomretro]

4:24 Obviously that's not how we check it. Always use the back of your hand to check the live before grabbing it.

[@saadnaseer9815]

Oh god didn't even realize what he did 💀

[@danek_hren]

I do!

[@LordShehzi]

I was waiting for him to realize he did not fix anything, just disassemble and then reassemble😂😂😂 14:05

[@MichanaAlerting]

This video is giving me dad vibes. Mehdi is just so loveable and seeing him work while explaining things is just like my dad when I help him with stuff.

[@xTerminatorAndy]

HELLO MEHDI!!!! You should ask Big Clive to analyse the circuit

[@ElectroBOOM]

HELLO!

[@danwhite3224]

I was going to say the same thing!

[@techtechnicalgaming]

​@@danwhite3224same

[@techtechnicalgaming]

@TeodoraTacderen what

[@Bourinos02]

@TeodoraTacderen bruh

[@BMack37]

Thank you for this, I often get asked about these in my line of work and haven't really had an opportunity to take a working one apart. I work in this weird little niche bridging electrical and electronics, specifically dealing with high voltage surges that blow up electrical and electronics in people's homes, mostly from lightning strikes and damage from the electrical grid. These fail are many ways and you let me understand how they basically all work. One is obviously catastrophic where plastic blows out and electronics are burnt. But they also will sometimes not reset, sometimes they will not hold a reset, sometimes the button is permanently and firmly depressed down, and sometimes the button will be press-able but it won't do anything.

[@HighMansx]

That's such a smart way of detecting leakage voltage by running Live & Neutral through the coil! Love the video!

[@someoneUprobablyknow]

"19 hours ago" 💀

[@Star_mango]

WTF

[@bruh6000.]

Maybe a member

[@wc4538]

20 HOURS AGO?!💀☠

[@bladeoflucatiel]

The better way to measure ground leakeage is to actually disconnect the ground/earth on the pannel and put an ampmeter between the connection 💀💀💀 PLS dont do it.

[@geraldalexander8093]

Fantastic video! I was literally dealing with this same exact issue last week. I removed the faulty GFCI and pulled it apart (unfortunately I had to destroy the casing to disassemble it) and I saw basically the exact same hardware you saw. I figured out the solenoid coil, and disconnecting contacts, but I couldn't understand what was going on between the line terminals. Thanks to your video, now I know!

[@memejeff]

Was it riveted shut?

[@geraldalexander8093]

@@memejeff Strangely, the case was all plastic. There were 8 plastic tabs that kept it together, but unlike normal plastic tabs that can be pushed aside with a small screwdriver, they had been heated and formed after insertion to make it impossible to disassemble non-destructively. The only way to get past the tabs was to cut either the tabs (which didn't work very well) or cut open the holes they were threaded through (which was much easier, but way more destructive).

[@memejeff]

@@geraldalexander8093 wow. I have never seen something like that before. Shame that they made it like that. Sounds like a shockingly complex way of sealing it.

[@DudokX]

You are my favourite hotel electric grid reviewer

[@cannack]

7:16 me 4 hours into a ``simple 30 minute`` head-light bulb change on my car

[@MS-PAINT-2024]

😂

[@mu11668B]

You know the thing is going to be a real shocker when Mehdi pulls out insulation gloves.

[@ashl4848]

Yes. It was really shocking

[@farhanrejwan]

@@ashl4848 i see what you did there

[@ashl4848]

@@farhanrejwan yes, there was no resistance.

[@blu_subwoofer6714]

1:36 that face I absolutely cracked up lol 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@blu_subwoofer6714]

@ElectroBOOM_Tap_profile I’m seriously considering reporting you.

[@Bobikilla2]

Mehdi never disappointed us. He explains everything so good and clean that even my 10 yo brother understands it. Keep up the great work!!!!

[@LMitchellAnimation]

Taking something apart and learning from scratch is always so fun love seeing others do it as well it feels the most authentic and most constructive way to learn for myself at least

[@flyviawall4053]

That basically means the test button does not simulate the ground fault but only provide energy to the tiny rail gun inside. No worry Mehdi you will be safe🥰

[@thebaker8637]

Yeah that’s super weird. In Europe RCD test buttons literally close a circuit between live and neutral outside the sensing coil (through a resistor) thereby directly simulating a fault.

[@killingtimeitself]

i suppose its more likely that the closing mechanism will fail rather than the current sensing circuitry.

[@thebaker8637]

@@killingtimeitself but simulating a current imbalance will also cause the whole closing mechanism to activate as it would in a real ground fault, and it will also catch issues with the current sensing system itself

[@killingtimeitself]

@@thebaker8637 yeah, obviously, either code demands that it only insure the closing mechanism work, or it's simply just not that big of a deal. Using a test load would be more reliable though.

[@Mostlyharmless1985]

Most of the idiot light inspection tools have a GFCI test button that does an actual ground fault.

[@calebfleckenstein4825]

Medhi, thank you for making the videos you do! Four year ago, as an aspiring college student, I wasn’t sure which path to take. Your videos helped me significantly in making that crucial choice. I am graduating with my Bachelors in Electrical Engineering in a week and I tell everyone you made the choice pretty easy! Keep doing what you do sir!

[@saadnaseer9815]

Congrats man. Wishing you all the best and hope u become as good if not better than medhi in electrical stuff.

[@Ali107]

13:07 *THE ONE PIEECE!!!*

[@Jim_100]

THE ONE PIECE IS REAAAAALLLL

[@AltafKhan-qd1tk]

I'll be the pirate king

[@zephyfoxy]

8:20 oh god, I had a GFCI in my kitchen die in such a scary and violent way that I thought the house was burning down. Heard this ungodly buzzing noise and then a loud pop like a firecracker. Kitchen smelt like burnt wiring, half the outlets were dead, half weren't. At the time I had no clue. Panic-called electricians and they came out first thing in the morning. They diagnosed it to the GFCI. After they replaced it, I took the old one apart like you did and found that the little coil there had a visible break in some of the windings, and under an electric microscope, I found insanely tiny bits of copper everywhere. So I guess something inside mechnically failed and that coil smoked itself until the copper melted and formed a break that caused a violent short/arc.

[@compzac]

It could also have been that the coil was trying to break the circuit, but had physically gotten stuck, you can see in his video when he was playing with it. it was buzzing angrily and started smoking. in my experience with GFCIs the test resistor and that coil are not meant to see full 120 volts for very long. they will often fail. usually spectacularly with pops and electrical smells and the mysterious grey smoke.

[@eDoc2020]

@@compzac That's the most likely scenario. It was trying to trip but for whatever reason failed to shut off the power. That's probably part of the reason they say to test monthly, that ensures everything keeps moving freely.

[@zephyfoxy]

@@compzac If that was the case I can't imagine why. At the time nothing was really using that circuit, and after they replaced it with a new GFCI and I turned everything on, nothing ever tripped. I wasn't in the kitchen at the time it happened and nothing was on but a little LED light, so I'd be confused as to why it wanted to trip.

[@Geniusprimate]

​@@zephyfoxy PREHISTORY PROFILE - TYRANNOSAURUS / Genius primate kzbin.info/www/bejne/iWSrfJhtbdafe8U PREHISTORY PROFILE - HELICOPRION / Genius primate kzbin.info/www/bejne/oKuzfKlsoJ18qtk

[@brandondejong8080]

Electrician here, gfci receptacles are the most common device changed out when on a service call, they have gotten better over the years but they are still very prone to going bad in one of a thousand different ways

[@SleekHeroo]

Just curious, are there any reasons they become faulty? Or is it just based on luck?

[@anthonyshiels9273]

I just LOVE Electrocute's piano playing.

[@VidaDigital]

Who else wants a Technology Connections / ElectroBoom crossover?

[@LittleDancerByGrace]

MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

[@Khantia]

Knowing how it works is the first step you need to take before you can even attempt to fix it. But I generally agree, that sometimes disassembling something and then reassembling it can fix the problem.

[@MIW_Renegade]

I had the same model of Eaton GFCI outlet installed, and it also failed in the same way, despite no ground faults, and got to the point it wouldn’t even reset. Took it apart after replacing and now it works fine

[@MuhammadabdurrehmanJami-vz8do]

8:00 found an insulating material after 10 years !

[@jonathansanchez1305]

14:21 😂 I LOVE BEING PART OF THIS CLUB!!

[@jamesapsg]

pov: your house is haunted but you are an engineer 1:20

[@TheOriginalJoneser]

As a Master Electrician with an Electronics technician degree, MANY TIMES with the GFCI Receptacles, I have discovered that the lack of space in the box, combined with too many wires and improper installation, can put a forward bow between the mounting screws and the face of the GFCI. and can cause this exact reaction. A few simple spacers under the mounting screws solve this.

[@thedoctor2880]

"Oh... I forgot to fix it" KILLED ME EVERYTIME

[@johnwiley8417]

7:07 Like opening a box of grasshoppers.

[@xyzxyzxyzxyzxyzxyz]

1) _Laughs in europonese_ 2) Remembers, that if we would shock ourselves like Mehdi, we would probably be dead. 3) Say, shall we call it even?

[@Okurka.]

If you shock yourself like Mehdi you do also survive; he isn't immune to electricity.

[@xyzxyzxyzxyzxyzxyz]

@@Okurka. As a general rule of thumb: No, we don't. The long answer is that it depends on your particular local distribution grid and your particular house. I have 15 A 240 VAC. Getting shocked by that will absolutely kill you if the current happens to pass through your heart. I have a friend who lost his dad from electrocution by simply cutting a live cord he assumed was not plugged in, without GFC.

[@danbsj]

It's nice to see you have so many subscribers. We live in a very extrovert world, but this just tells me that we have a ton of introvert nerds out there, and it's nothing to be ashamed about.

[@UnderRenovations]

1:32 great plushie btw

[@johnfrian]

Impressive, going from 100% confusion to explaining how it works in an understandable way!

[@coin777]

14:35 Why are You greenscreened at the last scene? 😂😂

[@theodoros_1234]

Notice on the sponsor ad (a few seconds later) how he zooms himself out into a tiny little man to make space for the sponsor graphics? I'm guessing that's why he used a greenscreen.

[@Delibro]

rofl, I just now noticed that, he put himself smaller on his seat to let the other things have space :DD

[@nazmulhassan3370]

"FIXED IT! Oh... I FORGOT TO FIX IT!" Mehdi hall of fame 😂

[@racker6081]

at 14:27, for the first time ever since I started watching you, I got startled when you got shocked XD

[@tom4ivo]

You took something apart and put it back together, and there were no extra parts lying around? Truly a god among men.

[@lollermann]

10:53 Nah dude I gotta buy you a dinner first

[@SirWuffleton]

It's funny that I just had a faulty GFCI of a different brand that was several years old - It would randomly pop when a particular low-power server was added to my homelab rack. Even after swapping the guts into a new chassis with a known-good power plane at the behest of "voltage out of range" diag messages, it'd still pop after 1-2 hours. After reaching wit's end after many tests the fix for me also was swapping it out for one that looks like your replacement! Whether it was a failure due to a design flaw, years of semi-high (5a-10a @ 120v) constant load, or some weird transient noise that an additional (and extra-sensitive) protection feature didn't like my setup, I'll probably never know. All I can say for certain is maintaining sanity is definitely worth the $20 for a new GFCI when nothing else can isolate the outlet, wiring, or devices that it feeds as this isn't a completely uncommon failure mode for old GFCI outlets. They don't last forever!

[@honeybadger2371]

8:13 "it's so mechanical" every electrical engineers worse nightmare, like when i tried to fix my fans button, those 4 buttons off/1/2/3, so i opened it up but i didn't know how to put it back, i literally need to watch a video on how they work, i need to open it up 3x because i put the "THINGIES wrong💀💀

[@ThatJay283]

8:05 the coil there is the solenoid used to disconnect the circuit when a short is detected. it starts smoking because normally only gets powered for a very short amount of time

[@janvesely1938]

4:30 Buy yourself a headlamp.

[@civildisorder]

This scratched the itch I had as a kid to take things apart and (pretend to) understand how they work. Also appreciated the realization of not fixing the original problem after going through the effort of putting the whole thing back together again.

[@BeAwareOfElectricalHazard]

He is the most interesting science KZbinr I've seen

[@docsnavely1010]

This is the best explanation/demonstration of a GFI outlet that I've ever seen or heard.

[@elvara872]

From an EU perspective, it's actually crazy to see that only on the outlet in the wall and the size of the circuit just to protect 2 plugs. What I have in the fuse box here works both as a circuit breaker and a GFCI to protect all the outlet in my place and people at the same time. It's crazy how different it is in NA compare to here. I would be so lost trying to work in canada or US.

[@kratz9]

GFCI breakers are a thing in the US. Code specifies what needs protection, but both methods are acceptable. Typically only 'wet' (bathroom/laundry/kitchen/garage/basement/outside) locations. One main advantage of the wall plug GFCI is that the state is visible and it can be reset from the point of use.

[@RonParker]

@@kratz9 Current code requires AFCI in most living spaces, so a lot of new construction puts all of the protection devices in the panel. Personally, I prefer it that way, because with circuits shared between multiple rooms, the receptacle with the AFCI/GFCI might not even be in the same room as the point of use, and which room it's in is entirely up to what substances the electrician who installed it was on that day.

[@mernokimuvek]

Actually, in many european countries it is no longer accepted to use asingle RCD for the whole house. You must use more to avoid loss of power everywhere and several minutes or hours of profanity if a ground fault happens.

[@Weissenschenkel]

I wish USA started using the Europlugs or even Schuko ones. Exposed plug terminals are dangerous, either having GFCI or not.

[@Aikisbest]

0:30~ I heard that as "...to refresh your MAD science or computing knowledge.." for a split second XD

[@gotjucom]

why does the outlet look so sad and surprised at the same time? luv your energy man!

[@blacksmeim8791]

3:45 Is there a reason you don't have a central RCD? Seems dangerous

[@danek_hren]

They don't have RCDs, only AFCIs, GF(C)Is and overload protection breakers.

[@Skull-alive]

ElectroBOOM is like magic nobody understands t but loves watching it.

[@GamingGenius777]

OMG I was looking at my ice cream as I was eating it at 9:29 LOL

[@Chartreuse-Dragon]

PAY ATTENTION! LOL

[@TheDemocrab]

0:00 The first thing hat the uninsured see after being defibrillated in the US

[@MaxCarponera]

Suggestion: The tripping solenoid composes a tank circuit with some spurious capacitance on the circuit, making it resonate in a certain RF frequency that coincides with some thing around your house. Might be some radio station or a neighbour using a blender. Alternively, the current sensor can be the one who picks de RF.

[@zaucethesaucebauce527]

Today marks a great moment in history, Mehdi has finally used gloves!

[@yashrajshinde1085]

14:13 This happens to me too..., And my family thinks I repaired it...

[@shadowOrgon]

As a mechanical engineer with an electrical minor, I was fascinated to see the inside of one of those. I always assumed there was some kind of device that 'sensed' when current went through the ground wire and thats when it would pop. Never would have guessed there was a comparison circuit between live and neutral but that made so much sense in the world. God I love engineering.

[@eDoc2020]

It actually wouldn't work if it sensed current on the ground wire. If you touch a live wire and a cold water pipe none of the shock current would go through the ground wire.

[@Awais....]

2:00 😮 😮

[@davecSFD]

Holy cr*p, Mehdi, Dank, Clive, Krazy Ken, and TechnologyConnections all in the last 24 hours? I guess this is what winning the lottery feels like.

[@mr.villager_minecraft_noob]

11:15 Dont you think that loos sus lol.

[@TheM0nkeyBomb]

Was searching for this comment

[@mr.villager_minecraft_noob]

@@TheM0nkeyBomb lol

[@mr.villager_minecraft_noob]

@@TheM0nkeyBomb CAn you make this famous somehow

[@SudburyMan]

I have a video suggestion and it might help others too.. Smart switches that requires a neutral wire do not work in buildings that have no neutral wire in the switch box. What can you create that will make them work? 🤔😃 One product example is TP-Link KASA switch on/off. Will not work. I have heard about adding diodes, resistors, capacitors to bring the neutral in from the junction box at the light to the switch... Anyone interested in Electroboom helping the community out on this? 😮 For Science

[@joe125ful]

3:49 Exactly! EU standard for win. 9:27 Brutaly owercomplicated...

[@AliJ23]

"I've noticed that a lot of times when I just open and close something, magically it starts working fine afterwards." -Every engineer ever

[@mikethor009]

A bit light on ZAPs this time. But i always love watching your videos.

[@mooncowtube]

Shout out to some really fab piano -- main reason to watch these videos is to see how amazingly talented your incidental music assistant is becoming!

[@Antti_Nannimus]

I HATE the commercials, but I accept them as the inevitable price that must be paid to receive FREE-OF-CHARGE this genius (I WON"T say "Brilliant" ) instruction from the single BEST & ONLY Professor of Electrical Circuitry, Engineering, and Painful Shocks anywhere in the digital multi-verse. (I too have a GFCI outlet that has been mal-functioning (for over 30 years), but now I at least understand why there might be an explainable reason for it.) Thank you, Dr. ElectroBOOM!

[@ThatJay283]

2:55 i did some extra calculations to figure out whether or not the resistor would have gone up in flames :) the video was too blurry to tell whether the resistor was 22kΩ or 220Ω, but if it was 22kΩ it would draw ~0.055A or ~0.65W. if it was 220Ω it would draw ~0.55A or ~65.5W :D

[@doomslayerclout]

Probably 22k ohm one

[@bahamutbbob]

We need a collab with Technology Connections to learn more. Through the magic of having two hosts!

[@wigglesfourthree3390]

14:28 way to test the GFCI, made my arm jump. Mostly due to muscle memory and feeling your pain as you jump. I hope to meet you someday so you can hit me with your wand. Remember kids, you don't need to FEAR electricity but simply respect it.

[@duyunodawey6371]

It's so wholesome that electroboom still uses his daughter's piano playing as his background after all these years

[@andrewparker318]

Mehdi, we in the community have so many ideas for projects we can do! Just give us a heads up you will be making a LATITY video and then we will repost all of the ideas we have been submitting on the subreddit over the last few years! Otherwise if you just react to it without warning, you might only see terrible memes or things of that nature

[@therealjibrano]

i fucking died when he said he forgot to fix it oh my god. cuz like i had totally forgotten about the fact it was broken cuz i was trying to understand his explanation

[@seanb3516]

I have observed a Strange Failure mode on my household GFCI Socket (just one). The socket is receiving power from a light which has a dimmer on it. Stupid, I know. I noticed the GFCI Failed to Activate when the Socket Voltage was down to 87V rather than the expected 110V. I don't know if I am correct in this however if I am it would seem to be a very dangerous fail mode.

[@compzac]

Ive never seen that before, A GFCI wired after a dimmer switch. my guess would be that either the triac in the dimmer which is trying to reduce the voltage is playing havoc on the sensing. or perhaps the sensing circuit inside wouldnt activate at voltage that low. or even maybe it was active and trying to break the circuit, but the 87 volts instead of 120 was making the coil too weak. knowing what i do about dimmers. Which admittedly isnt too much but i do know that not only do they reduce the voltage but they also reduce the Hertz. so instead of 120 at 60Hz it would have been 87 at like 35Hz and maybe that was causing issues. who knows, thats an odd quirk and probably should be addressed. but I doubt anyone ever would since your never supposed to wire dimmers to anything other than inbuilt lights, as far as i know your not even allowed by code to wire dimmers to non GFCI outlets or at least have to make it plain that that particular outlet is on a dimmer since most dimmers can only handle like 150 to 300 watts of power and if someone say tried to bung a space heater at 1500 watts into the outlet it would absolutely burn out the dimmer circuit and potentially risk a fire in the wall.

[@sootikins]

@@compzac Lamp dimmers do not alter the frequency (hertz). Agreed that feeding any outlet from a dimmer is stupid and probably illegal.

[@leybraith3561]

... Some GFCIs don't cope well when connected to appliances that halfwave rectify the mains. The DC offset component (current only drawn on one side of sine wave) creates a semi saturated state in sensing transformer and messes with tripping. Possibly your dimmer only uses half the sinewave at certain voltages?

[@eDoc2020]

Your example with a dimmer is unreasonable (it's a code violation) but a related situation is a loose neutral connection. That would lead to the GFCI's circuitry being unpowered even though the hot leg of its output is still connected. Touch hot and ground and you'll get shocked but it will never trip. All standard GFCIs share this issue. Some specialty GFCIs require power to activate their output and thus are immune to this problem.

[@eDoc2020]

@@leybraith3561 Half-wave rectification of the output doesn't affect the sensing coil. If there's no ground fault there's no magnetic field and thus no saturation. The issue comes when a fault current is _purely_ DC. Even if the _fault_ is half-wave rectified there is a major AC component and it will trip.

[@xuesco2210]

Was watching some ghost hunters recently and thought I'd love to see Electroboom take apart the ghost hunting equipment and do tests on what sets it off.

[@mohamedmergueb2180]

IF TONY STARK HAD MEHDI IN HIS CAVE BOTH OF THEM WOULD BE DEAD

[@danek_hren]

Stolen 🤓☝️

[@mohamedmergueb2180]

Yup

[@kyrollos0208]

Why lol?

[@jasoncoates1835]

As a designer and maker of music electronics, I would like to confirm that opening and closing a device is an excellent diagnostic tool. Also it's helpful to poke at it a few times while muttering and pretending to know what you're looking at. Those two things work for me ~92% of the time, in a professional setting. It's only when they fail that I have to get out schematics and meters and scopes... ugh. 🤣

[@suspense_comix3237]

Damn, I didn’t know Mehdi was specialized in Mechanical Engineering as well.

[@sypernova6969]

Mehdi, that was reallly cool. very well explained, and the mechanical nature makes it very easy to understand, congratz on putting it back together, btw. thanks!