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Old 07-04-2017, 07:17 AM   #1
anthonbloom
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GFI circuit problem

Last weekend I lost power to three of five outlets on the GFI circuit on my 2012 Cougar 318 SAB 5th wheel. The two kitchen outlets and the outside outlet stopped working. I checked the GFI in the bathroom and that is functioning properly with 129V across both pins. The outlet in the pass-through storage is also working normally. I pulled the outside outlet and found 65V across the pins but 129V between the white wire and the ground. Shutting off the GFI panel breaker cuts the current as does testing the GFI in the bathroom.
I am thinking that I have a ground fault between the pass through outlet and the outside outlet, but I'm not sure if the outlets are wired in a single string or two branches and I don't understand why the GFI doesn't trip if that is the case. Any thoughts?
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Old 07-04-2017, 12:45 PM   #2
bobbecky
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It is very possible that you have a second GFI system that may be controlling the outlets not working. If not, you either have a bad GFI outlet or possibly have a bad or loose connection at the GFI, behind it.
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Old 07-04-2017, 03:20 PM   #3
Bob Landry
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A second GFI "downstream: from another has no effect on the first one in the string. I don't think I have ever seen more than one GFI on a circuit since there is no limit to the number of outlets it can protect.If everything was working before, you have a bad GFI. Be sure to pay attention the to "Load" and "Line" connections.
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Old 07-04-2017, 03:37 PM   #4
chuckster57
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I have seen multiple GFI circuits in RV's but it's not common. I've only seen them in the 6 figure Class A motor homes.
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Old 07-04-2017, 04:50 PM   #5
Bob Landry
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Multiples are common, just not having more than one protecting a single circuit. That's just not needed
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Old 07-04-2017, 08:41 PM   #6
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To be clear, I did say a second GFI system, not one with two GFI outlets. Our 2012 Montana has a GFI outlet in the bathroom that also controls the outside outlet, and a second GFI outlet in the kitchen, so I'm thinking larger rigs possibly will have two, and separate GFI circuits.
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Old 07-07-2017, 01:45 PM   #7
anthonbloom
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Fixed!

The problem was a bad contact in the receptacle under the overhead cabinet. The rather crude blade contact system had not made good contact on the neutral. A lot of diagnostic messing around and a bit of wire stripping solved the problem. 35,000 kilometers and suddenly there's a bad contact...the joys of RV ing!
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Old 07-07-2017, 01:49 PM   #8
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Glad you found it. Those type of receptacles are a PITA to put together, but my guess is it's faster than paying someone to strip wires or turn a screw.
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