Let's start with idea that GFCIs "pop" when they detect a ground fault--that's what they're designed to do. While it's possible, of course, that the GFCI has gone bad, it's much more likely that you actually DO have a weak or intermittant ground fault somewhere.

[So let's not begin by rushing out and buying a new receptacle when it may not be needed at all. Save that option for last.]

The fault--an unintended electrical path to ground--could be in or around the wiring to the GFCI itself or it could be in the wiring or outlets "downstream" of the GFCI. Do you know if this receptacle feeds any other receptacles or fixtures?

[If the GFCI feeds other receptacles downstream, try to eliminate anything that could have a fault downstream. It's possible, for example, that a frayed plug or something like that in another outlet fed by this GFCI is the culprit.]

If you can't isolate the problem to any particular appliance or fixture, and further assuming that you feel comfortable "putting your head under the hood", start by turning off the power to that outlet at the breaker and verifying that it is actually off. (A cheapo circuit tester is good for this.) Remove the cover plate and receptacle and carefully inspect all the wires and connections.

Look for a wire that's not securely attached to its terminal, a wirenut in the box that's come loose or anything that looks damaged or frayed. Also look for signs that a bare ground wire might be brushing against a terminal post or a bare portion of a conductor.

Just some "starter suggestions". Good luck with it.

Turn off the breaker
check the outlet with a tester to be sure it is off
remove the gfi without removing any wires
remove the wires on the line screws
bend the removed wires out of the way
reinstall the gfi
turn breaker on
plug something into the gfi that has been tripping it
If it trips the problem is right there
if it does not trip the problem is at either of the other outlets

Is there anything that's been plugged in (to either the GFCI or an upstream outlet) every time GFCI has tripped (whether turned on or not)? If so, you might want to remove this from the equation and try to replicate the problem again.

Have you confirmed that if you plug that same appliance into the next receptacle downstream, that it doesn't trip the GFCI? What I'm trying to do here is home in on the possibility that the fault is a mechanical failure within the GFCI itself.

Also, can you replicate the problem using both halves of the receptacle (assuming it's a duplex, of course)?

Hmm. Another thing you could pursue is this... Disconnect the load side wires that feed the two downstream receptacles and cap them with wirenuts, if you happen to have a couple handy. Then see if you can replicate the problem using the boombox or "larger appliance". That'd almost conclusively rule out a downstream fault and leave you pointed right smack at that GFCI receptacle. (You know, the one I said wasn't bad. ;-) )

But while we're at it, didn't you mean...

remove the wires on the load screws

My GFCI outlet kept tripping so I went to Home Depot and bought a new one but I'm still having problems with the new one tripping.

I'm all but convinced that maybe half of all GFCI receptacles purchased at the big box stores go to replacing perfectly good equipment. Same thing with breakers. ("The lights in my bedrooms flickered and went out. I replaced the circuit breaker, but..." You get the picture.) The manufacturers and merchandisers must love it.

If you're an electrician (or in your case, an apprentice) and you're working out of a truck with parts in the back and you're billing a customer for time, it might not be a bad approach to try a quick change-out first. You don't have to drive to Home Depot and curse at their infernal automatic checkout machines that beep and buzz until the sales assistant shows up to tell the machine there is no unpaid-for item on the bagging rack. If the swap doesn't work, you can throw the part back in the truck and return it to your stock.

It's probably just my old-fartism at work, but I still like doing some troubleshooting first. I only wish that the people who fix my car learned to diagnose problems. But...no!...they just start swapping in new parts until the darn thing miraculously works again.

(As my GF will attest, this is an excellent way to go through four car batteries in two months.)

Ah, the disposable society, sigh.

/end old fart rant :-)

Just thought about that when I reread the post, you are so right tom, thank you.

Hank

Cheers.

Nuisance tripping can be caused by a fault in the gfci (although it is much more common for the cause of nuisance tripping to lie elsewhere in the circuit).
The gfci can fail to trip when the test button is pressed.
The gfci can not be reset after tripping on a fault (not always the gfci at fault - has the source of the leakage current that tripped the gfci been removed?).
The gfci resets after a fault but there is still no power to the outlets ( also not always the gfci at fault)

more often than not, say 9 times out of 10, the gfi was right and i ending up finding a real problem, like:

-a partial leak to ground, say a cable underground than needs a little moisture to trip the gfi

-a load with a solid ground fault that is intermittent in nature

an insulation tester, called a megger is very handy finding these things, but watch out, they output high voltages, up to 1000 volts, and they can easily damage electronics.

if you need professional help, don't feel bad, it is easy to get stumped on an intermittent gfi trip.

rick