Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Keystone RV Forums > Keystone Tech Forums > General RV Issues
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 04-07-2021, 10:23 AM   #1
edepp
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Troy
Posts: 25
Fridge Keeps Tripping Outside Storage Facility GFCI Plug

Our Dometic refrigerator keeps tripping the storage facility outside "GFCI." We have nothing but the fridge turned on while on the storage lot. We have a commercial extension cord going from our travel trailer directly to the storage unit's GFCI outlet. They said that we may have a power surge "issue." I'm not so "sure." Any ideas?
edepp is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-07-2021, 10:44 AM   #2
chuckster57
Site Team
 
chuckster57's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,235
Has this been an issue from day one? What gauge extension cord and how long? Does it trip as soon as you plug in, or after the fridge has been on for a while?

The electric element will cause an increased draw, how many amps is the storage GFCI outlet and are you the only one plugged into that circuit?
__________________

2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.

Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
chuckster57 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-07-2021, 11:04 AM   #3
edepp
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Troy
Posts: 25
Happening from day one. We use a 16 GAUGE wire, 25 foot, 13 amp, 125 volt, 1625 watt, 5-15P/R, UL Listed outdoor extension cord. We have the receptacle to ourselves. We know it works. When we are there to clean up, we have the fridge on, lights and tv running. No issues. We turn everything off except the fridge when we leave. We have even gone back the next day and everything is fine. But it has tripped multiple times while we aren't there. We have a 2021 Keystone 30ripr. Thanks, Erin
edepp is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-07-2021, 11:29 AM   #4
Javi
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Waco, Tx
Posts: 5,456
Most likely the fridge is on a GFCI in the trailer... Plugging the extension cord into a GFCI can sometimes cause problem... GFCI don't like being in a chain...

https://diy.stackexchange.com/questi...er-gfci-outlet
__________________
2015 Ford F350 DRW 6.7 Diesel XL
2020 Avalanche 313 RS
Javi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-07-2021, 11:59 AM   #5
cavie
Senior Member
 
cavie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Port Charlotte
Posts: 240
trip the GFI circuit in your RV and report back with the results.
__________________
2011 Keystone Sprinter 323BHS. Retired Master Electrician. All Motor Homes are RV's. All RV's are not Motor Homes.
cavie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-07-2021, 12:16 PM   #6
edepp
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Troy
Posts: 25
Quote:
Originally Posted by cavie View Post
trip the GFI circuit in your RV and report back with the results.
Thanks. I'll give it a try. I'm also going to check out how the others have their RVs plugged into their individual spots. Maybe we're using the wrong cords.
edepp is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-07-2021, 02:09 PM   #7
flybouy
Site Team
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Joppa, MD
Posts: 11,714
16 ga wire is too light, use 14 or 12. When you say "turn everything off" do you turn the breaker for the converter off? Depending on the battery condition the converter can draw a considerable load, look at the breaker for it for the rating. If the outlet only trips when you are not present then I suspect either the battery charger is kicking it off when the fridge is running or someone is plugging something in when you aren't there. Of course, some could be tripping it just to mean as well. I would get a decent extension cord first and eliminate that.
__________________
Marshall
2012 Laredo 303 TG
2010 F250 LT Super Cab, long bed, 4X4, 6.4 Turbo Diesel
flybouy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-07-2021, 05:06 PM   #8
edepp
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Troy
Posts: 25
Thanks. We’ll try a different extension cord. As far as what is plugged in/left on, we have the electric ‘on’ at the control panel, then we turn everything off except the fridge. No lights or anything else are left on. The tv is plugged in, but off, obviously.
edepp is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-07-2021, 05:10 PM   #9
edepp
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Troy
Posts: 25
Oh. And not sure about what you mean by converter.
edepp is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-07-2021, 05:11 PM   #10
chuckster57
Site Team
 
chuckster57's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,235
[QUOTE=edepp;442953]Thanks. We’ll try a different extension cord. As far as what is plugged in/left on, we have the electric ‘on’ at the control panel, then we turn everything off except the fridge. No lights or anything else are left on. The tv is plugged in, but off, obviously.[/QUOTE
If you don’t turn off the breaker for the converter, then it’s on and doing it’s thing. On the flip side, you do need 12VDC for the fridge controls. Kind of a catch-22.
__________________

2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.

Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
chuckster57 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-07-2021, 05:24 PM   #11
edepp
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Troy
Posts: 25
Quote:
Originally Posted by flybouy View Post
16 ga wire is too light, use 14 or 12. When you say "turn everything off" do you turn the breaker for the converter off? Depending on the battery condition the converter can draw a considerable load, look at the breaker for it for the rating. If the outlet only trips when you are not present then I suspect either the battery charger is kicking it off when the fridge is running or someone is plugging something in when you aren't there. Of course, some could be tripping it just to mean as well. I would get a decent extension cord first and eliminate that.
You mentioned the converter. We are learning since this is our first trailer BUT I think the converter may be in the same compartment with the fuses. We are learning as we go, as you can tell. Not sure what to check, though.
edepp is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-07-2021, 06:23 PM   #12
bobbecky
Senior Member
 
bobbecky's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Box Elder
Posts: 2,898
Another thing to consider is, being outside, have you had rain? If the connections, either at the trailer end or at the receptacle where the cord is plugged into are getting wet, even from heavy fog, it’s possible that the moisture can be tripping the GFI.
__________________
Bob & Becky
2012 3402 Montana
2012 Chevy 2500HD D/A CC
bobbecky is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-07-2021, 06:42 PM   #13
flybouy
Site Team
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Joppa, MD
Posts: 11,714
Quote:
Originally Posted by edepp View Post
You mentioned the converter. We are learning since this is our first trailer BUT I think the converter may be in the same compartment with the fuses. We are learning as we go, as you can tell. Not sure what to check, though.
The converter is the device that takes 120 vac and converts it to 12 vdc. It has a built in battery charger to keep the trailer battery charged. Typically it's attached to the back of the electrical distribution panel where your 120 vac breakers and 12 vdc fuses are housed.
__________________
Marshall
2012 Laredo 303 TG
2010 F250 LT Super Cab, long bed, 4X4, 6.4 Turbo Diesel
flybouy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2021, 07:26 AM   #14
edepp
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Troy
Posts: 25
It's in a dry location.
edepp is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2021, 07:28 AM   #15
edepp
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Troy
Posts: 25
Quote:
Originally Posted by flybouy View Post
The converter is the device that takes 120 vac and converts it to 12 vdc. It has a built in battery charger to keep the trailer battery charged. Typically it's attached to the back of the electrical distribution panel where your 120 vac breakers and 12 vdc fuses are housed.
Thank you! We'll be checking it today.
edepp is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2021, 10:05 AM   #16
cavie
Senior Member
 
cavie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Port Charlotte
Posts: 240
Quote:
Originally Posted by edepp View Post
It's in a dry location.
And your point is??
__________________
2011 Keystone Sprinter 323BHS. Retired Master Electrician. All Motor Homes are RV's. All RV's are not Motor Homes.
cavie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2021, 10:14 AM   #17
edepp
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Troy
Posts: 25
Quote:
Originally Posted by cavie View Post
And your point is??
Sorry. That was directed to Bob and Becky asking if the location of the receptacle is dry.
edepp is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2021, 12:34 PM   #18
cavie
Senior Member
 
cavie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Port Charlotte
Posts: 240
Quote:
Originally Posted by edepp View Post
Sorry. That was directed to Bob and Becky asking if the location of the receptacle is dry.
When it comes to GFI's it does not matter. One GFI outlet controls many downstream that are in a dry location along with some that are not.
__________________
2011 Keystone Sprinter 323BHS. Retired Master Electrician. All Motor Homes are RV's. All RV's are not Motor Homes.
cavie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2021, 01:24 PM   #19
Javi
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Waco, Tx
Posts: 5,456
Quote:
Originally Posted by cavie View Post
When it comes to GFI's it does not matter. One GFI outlet controls many downstream that are in a dry location along with some that are not.
What does alchohol have to do with GFI
Javi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2021, 01:30 PM   #20
cavie
Senior Member
 
cavie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Port Charlotte
Posts: 240
Quote:
Originally Posted by Javi View Post
What does alchohol have to do with GFI
__________________
2011 Keystone Sprinter 323BHS. Retired Master Electrician. All Motor Homes are RV's. All RV's are not Motor Homes.
cavie is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
fridge, gfci, storage

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates in any way. Keystone RV® is a registered trademark of the Keystone RV Company.


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 02:47 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.