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02-23-2021, 11:02 AM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Saint Marys
Posts: 66
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5er Popping GFI
I put my Montana to bed for a long winters nap about four months ago, and at that time everything was working fine. Last week I went over to exercise my generators and discovered that the GFI plug supplying 120 V to my camper was tripped. Don’t y’all just love gremlins?
So far I have checked the power source with my bulldog surge protector and the circuit and GFI plug is good. I have checked all of my extension cords. I have also checked the Bussman 184150 F 150 A fuse between the battery and the master switch for continuity. I hope that someone who knows a lot more about electricity than I do can share with me where I go from here to find out what is tripping the GFI at the power source.
Thank you so much in advance for your time and thoughts.
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02-23-2021, 11:54 AM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,319
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__________________
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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02-23-2021, 02:56 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Box Elder
Posts: 2,907
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Is the GFI outlet protected from the weather? And are the plugs, if any, on the cords plugged into that GFI outlet protected from the weather? Any connection on the run from the GFI outlet to the RV that gets wet can cause the GFI to trip.
__________________
Bob & Becky
2012 3402 Montana
2012 Chevy 2500HD D/A CC
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02-23-2021, 04:03 PM
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#4
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Saint Marys
Posts: 66
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Everything is under roof and dry. The problem is in the camper.
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02-23-2021, 04:19 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Upper Chesapeake Bay
Posts: 4,819
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Benbill
Everything is under roof and dry. The problem is in the camper.
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Are you at a storage facility with just one dedicated gfci outlet on that circuit? Nothing else at all connected to the circuit?( inside the building does the gfci outlet supply any other outlets?) ..and don’t rule out the gfci just going bad on its own. How old is it? ...just trying to get a idea of the situation
__________________
2020 Cougar 315 RLS
2020 Ram 3500 6.7HO 4.10 Dually Aisin
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02-23-2021, 04:27 PM
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#6
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Saint Marys
Posts: 66
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Yes, the gfci outlets are dedicated. One for each power pole. I have tried two other power poles. Same result.
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02-23-2021, 04:28 PM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Saint Marys
Posts: 66
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Thank you. That was a great reference. I will be investigating the hot water heater.
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02-23-2021, 04:29 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Upper Chesapeake Bay
Posts: 4,819
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Benbill
Yes, the gfci outlets are dedicated. One for each power pole. I have tried two other power poles. Same result.
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Ok just trying to get the facts down... did you read the other post where the water heater element caused it to trip?
__________________
2020 Cougar 315 RLS
2020 Ram 3500 6.7HO 4.10 Dually Aisin
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02-23-2021, 04:41 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Upper Chesapeake Bay
Posts: 4,819
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jasin1
Ok just trying to get the facts down... did you read the other post where the water heater element caused it to trip?
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Lol I was typing while you responded about the water heater..could it have been left on when you winterized possibly?
__________________
2020 Cougar 315 RLS
2020 Ram 3500 6.7HO 4.10 Dually Aisin
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02-23-2021, 06:19 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Port Charlotte
Posts: 240
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Do me this little test, please. Turn off all GFI circuits in your RV ( you may have 2 ) then plug it in. I have proven this with my 2 trailers. I have seen others that have had the same experience. Sometimes GFI's do not like being plugged in series. Push the test button or turn off the breaker. Come back and give us a report.
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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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02-23-2021, 06:56 PM
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#11
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Saint Marys
Posts: 66
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I will definitely try your suggestion, but I may need a couple of days to get back with you. Thank you for your ideas.
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03-14-2021, 08:19 PM
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#12
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Saint Marys
Posts: 66
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UPDATE... I finally ended up with a service call, and the technician confirmed what several of you were hinting at. He told me that you can never have two GFI’s in line with one another, because they end up canceling each other out and popping their breakers. So out with the 110 v 20 amp extension cord plugged into the GFI outlet to tender the batteries, and in with a new 50 amp extension cord, so I can reach the power box. Hopefully this solves my issue long term. As always, thank you to all who replied with your thoughts and ideas. I so greatly appreciate your support.
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03-15-2021, 06:12 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: South US
Posts: 712
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I had a similar prob lem the other day running the fridge (only) on a household plug on the front of my house. Ended up purchasing a larger diameter 50 ft. cord and the problem was solved. Needless to say the new cord went inservice on the trailer inventory and the old one is now for projects around the house.
RMc
__________________
2018 Ram 3500 SRW Aisin Trans. HO CTD
Air Lift Bags -Curt 16K Slider Hitch
2017 Laredo 350 FB
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