Electrical Problem (not GFCI)

[Tracy]

Hi everyone, total newb here. We just got home from our inaugural trip in our 2013 Passport Ultra Lite, during which we had no issues whatsoever, only to face an immediate electrical issue when we got home...

We set up in our driveway, plugged into our garage via a 30A to 20A converter, and everything was fine. We were running a dehumidifier after an especially humid weekend, and that ran without issue for several hours, but the next time we checked, we had a problem. We hadn't tripped a breaker, and our GFCI outlet in the bathroom was not tripped either. We only have 3 working outlets: the bathroom GFCI outlet, 1 in the kitchen labeled "GFCI protected", and the one outside also labeled "GFCI protected". Every other outlet (note, none of these are labeled GFCI protected) are not working. Confirmed with a multimeter that all breakers & fuses are good. I just don't know where to go from here....

Any advice or insight would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance from a new & disappointed camper

[jasin1]

Originally Posted by Tracy

Hi everyone, total newb here. We just got home from our inaugural trip in our 2013 Passport Ultra Lite, during which we had no issues whatsoever, only to face an immediate electrical issue when we got home...

We set up in our driveway, plugged into our garage via a 30A to 20A converter, and everything was fine. We were running a dehumidifier after an especially humid weekend, and that ran without issue for several hours, but the next time we checked, we had a problem. We hadn't tripped a breaker, and our GFCI outlet in the bathroom was not tripped either. We only have 3 working outlets: the bathroom GFCI outlet, 1 in the kitchen labeled "GFCI protected", and the one outside also labeled "GFCI protected". Every other outlet (note, none of these are labeled GFCI protected) are not working. Confirmed with a multimeter that all breakers & fuses are good. I just don't know where to go from here....

Any advice or insight would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance from a new & disappointed camper

i’d maybe look at he outlet that the dehumidifier was plugged into..the rv outlets are sketchy when brand new…and these may be original ..a wire may be burned off in the back of that outlet or broke off..they are just stablock outlets for the wire…turn off all power and unplug from the garage first..also shut off the inverter if you have one

[jsb5717]

Did you use the multimeter to confirm power at the GFCI outlet itself? Did you check the breaker and outlet for where you are plugged into shore power? Also, confirm that the dogbone is good. I've had those go bad.

[rhagfo]

Well let’s look at what we have, we have a GFIC outlet and two fed outlets off of that working. So the adapter is good only one leg on a 30 amp circuit.
Question how many circuit breakers in your power panel?
Question , and other outlets labeled GFIC protected?

OP states all circuit breakers have power, on the screw side?

[jsb5717]

Also, did you try the appliance in a known good outlet to make sure it isn't that?

[Tracy]

Originally Posted by rhagfo

Well let’s look at what we have, we have a GFIC outlet and two fed outlets off of that working. So the adapter is good only one leg on a 30 amp circuit.
Question how many circuit breakers in your power panel?
Question , and other outlets labeled GFIC protected?

OP states all circuit breakers have power, on the screw side?

There are 6 circuit breakers in the panel. There are only 2 outlets labeled GFCI protected, and those are both working (as well as the GFCI outlet itself). Yes, all breakers have power on the screw side.

[chuckster57]

A simple plug checker with the indicator lights might help diagnose.

[solv3nt]

First check your outlet that you were plugged into. Some of those dehumidifiers are power hogs, and depending on your extension cord, you may have had extensive voltage drop.

Next I'd check if there are any other GFCIs that may be upstream that may have kicked. Next option would be to check all wiring to each receptacle until you find the problem.

Good luck.

[Berdan]

Not sure how your non-GFCI outlets are wired at the breaker box but mine shared a breaker with the DC Converter, which essentially reduces the 15A current capability to the outlets by the amperage that the converter happens to be drawing. At times the converter would be pulling 7 amps. I ended up moving my non-GFCI outlets to a separate breaker. I think you said that no breaker was tripped so this may not be your problem.

[JShort880]

I haven't seen the obvious thought posted here yet so I'll say it.

Did the outlet kick itself and you just need to reset it. I have overlooked the very very simple fix sometimes and made it a bigger deal is why I ask! Just throwing it out there .

[Tracy]

Loose wire nut....can't believe one little wire nut could wreak so much havoc!! Replaced that and we're back in business!

Thank you all for your thoughts & time! Happy Camping!

[jsb5717]

Originally Posted by Tracy

Loose wire nut....can't believe one little wire nut could wreak so much havoc!! Replaced that and we're back in business!

Thank you all for your thoughts & time! Happy Camping!

Glad you figured it out. It's a mixed blessing, isn't it?

First it's 'Really?! That's all it was?!'
Then it's 'I'm glad that's all it was'

[whitwam4]

You probably have an open circuit, check all terminals on the switches that aren't working. They are wired in a loop and you will lose your continuity. One of those are probably not connected. We had a similar problem and found that an outlet wire was almost snipped through at installation and finally failed.

[flybouy]

Originally Posted by whitwam4

You probably have an open circuit, check all terminals on the switches that aren't working. They are wired in a loop and you will lose your continuity. One of those are probably not connected. We had a similar problem and found that an outlet wire was almost snipped through at installation and finally failed.

Look at the post previous to yours and the one previous to that. The OP found the issue and fixed it.

[JShort880]

Originally Posted by Tracy

Loose wire nut....can't believe one little wire nut could wreak so much havoc!! Replaced that and we're back in business!

Thank you all for your thoughts & time! Happy Camping!

Nice! Happy you found it!

[rlh1957]

Glad you found the issue and glad you discovered the loose connection. Loose connections or poper grounding leads to increased amp load draw and overheating which can cause fires and shorts before a breaker kicks.

[Weldon]

Originally Posted by chuckster57

A simple plug checker with the indicator lights might help diagnose.

Glad you found the fix. I ended up replacing our GFCI and 5 additional outlets. I agree with what John said above. I have one from HD and use it often.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Receptac...B&gclsrc=aw.ds

[chuckster57]

I have that one and another that will test/trip the GFCI.

[Brettd421]

Hello I currently have the same issue with my 2013 outback same gfi in the bathroom kitchen and outside working can you tell me where the wire nut was loose please thanks

[Tracy]

It was right inside the breaker box - once we pulled that out to start investigating, it was right there.