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04-07-2021, 10:23 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Troy
Posts: 25
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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?
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04-07-2021, 10:44 AM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,347
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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.
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04-07-2021, 11:04 AM
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#3
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Troy
Posts: 25
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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
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04-07-2021, 11:29 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Waco, Tx
Posts: 5,457
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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
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04-07-2021, 11:59 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Port Charlotte
Posts: 240
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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.
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04-07-2021, 12:16 PM
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#6
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Troy
Posts: 25
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cavie
trip the GFI circuit in your RV and report back with the results.
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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.
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04-07-2021, 02:09 PM
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#7
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Joppa, MD
Posts: 11,752
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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
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04-07-2021, 05:06 PM
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#8
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Troy
Posts: 25
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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.
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04-07-2021, 05:10 PM
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#9
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Troy
Posts: 25
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Oh. And not sure about what you mean by converter.
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04-07-2021, 05:11 PM
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#10
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,347
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[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.
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04-07-2021, 05:24 PM
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#11
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Troy
Posts: 25
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Quote:
Originally Posted by flybouy
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.
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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.
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04-07-2021, 06:23 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Box Elder
Posts: 2,910
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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
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04-07-2021, 06:42 PM
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#13
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Joppa, MD
Posts: 11,752
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Quote:
Originally Posted by edepp
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.
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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
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04-08-2021, 07:26 AM
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#14
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Troy
Posts: 25
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It's in a dry location.
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04-08-2021, 07:28 AM
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#15
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Troy
Posts: 25
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Quote:
Originally Posted by flybouy
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.
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Thank you! We'll be checking it today.
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04-08-2021, 10:05 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Port Charlotte
Posts: 240
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Quote:
Originally Posted by edepp
It's in a dry location.
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And your point is??
__________________
2011 Keystone Sprinter 323BHS. Retired Master Electrician. All Motor Homes are RV's. All RV's are not Motor Homes.
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04-08-2021, 10:14 AM
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#17
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Troy
Posts: 25
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cavie
And your point is??
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Sorry. That was directed to Bob and Becky asking if the location of the receptacle is dry.
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04-08-2021, 12:34 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Port Charlotte
Posts: 240
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Quote:
Originally Posted by edepp
Sorry. That was directed to Bob and Becky asking if the location of the receptacle is dry.
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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.
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04-08-2021, 01:24 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Waco, Tx
Posts: 5,457
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cavie
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.
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What does alchohol have to do with GFI
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04-08-2021, 01:30 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Port Charlotte
Posts: 240
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Javi
What does alchohol have to do with GFI
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__________________
2011 Keystone Sprinter 323BHS. Retired Master Electrician. All Motor Homes are RV's. All RV's are not Motor Homes.
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