Bad GFCI Outlets or Something Else?

[MontanaMike]

I have a 2024 Keystone Raptor/Carbon series 310WFO that I've had since new. This fall I used it when I was hunting and noticed a weird issue with the GFCI outlets and even though it's under warranty, I'm curious if this is a known issue or something I'm doing wrong. I'm by no means new to the RV world or even Keystone RVs but I am 100% sure I didn't have this issue over the summer when I used it in similar situations.

Anyway, one outlet is in the bathroom and I think it has a protected outlet in the passthrough and the other outlet is in the kitchen and it has a couple protected outlets in the kitchen. When I run the generator (no shore power) those two outlets and their protected outlets sometimes will work and sometimes wont. Even weirder is sometimes they work and the LED is green and then, with nothing plugged into them, will start flashing red/green and then turn red and then completely turn off. With no load. My "load" is usually a coffee maker or a phone (USB) charger. Once I had a power tool battery charger in it as a test load. Worked for an hour and then the next time I ran the genny to charge the coach batteries and make coffee, it would work, then flash alternating colors after 15 minutes or so then switch to red. Also...when they turn red or the LED goes completely out, I cannot "reset" it or "test" it. Sometimes it's just the one GFCI and the other is fine and sometimes it's both. Again...very weird.

I should note that the two outlets in the bedroom are not GFCI and are not protected and they work just fine with the generator.

Has anyone seen this on a newer coach? Less than a year old and I'm wondering if the outlets are bad or if it's something else.

Thanks in advance!

[NH_Bulldog]

Do you use a neutral-ground bonding plug on the generator? Do you use an EMS in the RV?

[MontanaMike]

Originally Posted by NH_Bulldog

Do you use a neutral-ground bonding plug on the generator? Do you use an EMS in the RV?

No idea. It's bone stock from what Keystone did at the factory. I should note that it came with the 440i solar package (2k inverter and dragonfly lithium batteries) and the 5500 watt Onan generator.

[Gkri]

Originally Posted by MontanaMike

No idea. It's bone stock from what Keystone did at the factory. I should note that it came with the 440i solar package (2k inverter and dragonfly lithium batteries) and the 5500 watt Onan generator.

Rob has a good point about bonding. Don't expect the assemblers at Keystone to be licensed electricians. If your generator does not have a bonded neutral, that could explain the problems. Your home and campground electrical connections will be bonded. And your trailer breaker box will be unbonded. Without a bonding plug at the generator, the potential between neutral and ground can be different, creating havoc with the GFCI's.

[NH_Bulldog]

I would strongly suggest installing an EMS (Electrical Management System), either hardwired or plug-in. This is not a simple $50 surge "protector", but a $250-$300 device that monitors your incoming AC power supply and will alert you or shut down if it senses a potentially damaging power situation. I use a Power Watch Dog hardwired unit, but Progressive also makes a good product. I had an Onan 5500 in a Fuzion and it was not neutral bonded, so it is worth checking to see if yours is.

One easy test is to use a simple 3 light plug-in circuit tester in any outlet in the RV while running off generator power and see if it indicates open ground or open neutral, then try that same outlet on shore power to see if you get a different result.

[MontanaMike]

My dealer says it's the gfci outlets and is going to get replacements from Keystone. I'll suggest the neutral bonded and have them check it out.

[LHaven]

Almost a stone bet two outlets didn't go bad simultaneously. My money is on adding the bonding plug. A GFCI's whole purpose in life is to make sure everything that comes in the hot goes out the neutral and nowhere else. Anything that confuses it shuts it down. Bonding plug is cheap and you don't have to leave your rig somewhere for a week to find out if it works.

[MontanaMike]

Originally Posted by LHaven

Almost a stone bet two outlets didn't go bad simultaneously. My money is on adding the bonding plug. A GFCI's whole purpose in life is to make sure everything that comes in the hot goes out the neutral and nowhere else. Anything that confuses it shuts it down. Bonding plug is cheap and you don't have to leave your rig somewhere for a week to find out if it works.

How would one go about adding a bonding plug or even check to see? Again, we used the RV over the summer numerous times and it didn't trip those plugs when I would run the generator.

[LHaven]

This guy has already written a pretty comprehensive article explaining the problem and the solution. For $5 and 15 min, it won't hurt anything (unless you misassemble it) and might solve your problem immediately.

https://rvelectricity.substack.com/p...r-bonding-plug