GFCI for hot tub bad breaker?

[kansastj]

Im trying to wire up a 50amp GFCI for a hot tub and it keeps breaking when I turn on the breaker. I'm certain I have the breaker wired correctly because I have wired these before. So I thought I would install the breaker in the fuse box with nothing wired to it at all and turn the the switch on and try to test it by pressing the test button. I didnt even get to this point. After I turned on the main power swith to the fuse box the breaker broke instantly. I figured with nothing hooked up to it there is so reaseon it should have broke. There is nothing to cause any short. So my question is do you think my breaker is bad. I bought it at the Home Depot, it is a Cutler-Hammer. Thanks for your help or advise.

[Rewired]

quote:Originally posted by kansastj

Im trying to wire up a 50amp GFCI for a hot tub and it keeps breaking when I turn on the breaker. I'm certain I have the breaker wired correctly because I have wired these before. So I thought I would install the breaker in the fuse box with nothing wired to it at all and turn the the switch on and try to test it by pressing the test button. I didnt even get to this point. After I turned on the main power swith to the fuse box the breaker broke instantly. I figured with nothing hooked up to it there is so reaseon it should have broke. There is nothing to cause any short. So my question is do you think my breaker is bad. I bought it at the Home Depot, it is a Cutler-Hammer. Thanks for your help or advise.

From the sounds of it the breaker is bad, if it has only the neutral "pigtail" connected to the neutral buss bar in the panel, and NOTHING connected to the load side of the breaker, and it continues to trip, the breaker is a dud for sure!

[kansastj]

After getting off the phone with the Culter-Hammer tech he agreed that the breaker must be bad and Home Depot was glad to exchange it. I might have some more questions for you guys later and Im glad I have finally foud a decent forum for misc home repairs. Thanks.