New TV trips GFCI

I hate to oversimplify things... but how about plugging the TV into a different circuit that doesn't have a GFCI on it? If this TV is going into a bathroom (WHY does anybody need a TV in the BATHROOM???) mount the TV high on the wall and keep the non-GFCI protected receptacle at lease 6 feet away from any plumbing fixture. Use a single (not duplex) receptacle dedicated for ONLY the TV. (And only operate the TV with a batter-powered remote control!)

Four days later:
I replaced the GFI and now everything works OK.  Thanks for all the
advice, everybody.  Jim

Bob Weiss  <bwe @carroll.com> wrote:

Or completely isolate the antenna circuit with a transformer pair?  I don't
think a pair of back-back baluns will work though...  you'll need a true
RF isolation transformer on the cable/antenna lead in.

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Chances are that the TV has a 2-wire polarized cord, with no direct ground
connection. When you connect the CATV cable, you connect an earth ground to
the system via the shield of the coax. The antenna connector of the set is
actually connected to the neutral side of the powerline (probably through a
small capacitor). This capacitor has a low enough reactance to pass an AC
current from the powerline to ground through the coax. This is exactly what
a GFCI is supposed to detect, and it responds by tripping out. By connecting
the grounded coax, you are effectively grounding the neutral side of the
line. This is supposed to be done, but ONLY at the service entrance panel!
You have created a ground loop, and the current caused by the potential
difference between the neutral at that GFCI, and the coax shield (which
should be grounded only where it enters the house) is causing a problem. The
only quick fix that comes to mind is running the set on an isolation
transformer (carefully grounding one side of the secondary, as it is now the
neutral in a "separately derived system"). Other options include running a
dedicated line from the entrance panel to feed the set (not a sure fix), or
eliminating the GFCI (definitely NOT recommended).

73,
Bob Weiss

In the coax (one in series with the screen and one in series with the inner core,
mount 2 2nF capacitors (or the like).
Put a plastic box around it.