Breakers and GFCI Outlet Flipping When Generator Running

[Roaminonthereg]

Hello!

We've been traveling regularly in our 2023 Raptor 429 since December. Most of the time we are hooked up to shore power. When on shore power our electrical systems work great.

Over the last week we've been boondocking and running the generator to power heater, AC, microwave, and charge the batteries when our solar doesn't do the trick (thick tree canopy above us). Please note, we don't run all these systems at the same time!

Every once in a while, and it seems on a more frequent basis, when the generator is running the kitchen GFCI outlet will trip, disabling the outlet near the kitchen sink (the GFCI outlet), the outlet in the kitchen slide (where our espresso machine is plugged in but off), the outlet near the counter and stove, and the outlets in the sofa slide.

The only thing plugged into any of these outlets is the coffee maker, and it's off.

In addition, if I reset the GFCI outlet, it will work for sometime, and then it will trip again along with the GEN and WASH breakers on the main panel (both GFCI breakers).

The GEN breaker controls the circuit described above. The WASH breaker controls the garage outlets, which only a TV that is usually off is plugged into.

With such minimal load on these circuits, I suspect I may have a short somewhere, but I also don't turn off the inverter when the generator is running. The inverter display panel shows it's being bypassed when the generator is on, but I'm not sure I can trust any of the displays in this rig.

It also seems like out two LI batteries aren't staying charged as long as I'd expect. Last night the generator kicked on twice to recharge, tripping the GFCI and breakers despite no load to those circuits.

Does anyone have any idea what might be going on?

 

[JBM3M]

If it only happens on the generator it is the generator or the wiring that connects it. I think GFCI tripping is due to neutral crossing to ground. I am not sure about that, just my understanding. But, if it doesn't do it on shore power and does with generator that should surely narrow things down. Bad outlet on gen?

 

[Roaminonthereg]

Thank you, I have an Onan QG 5500 EVAP generator.

I've been searching online to find a schematic or image of a properly grounded unit. Do you know what I should be looking for when I open up the compartment to verify if the ground is crossing the neutral?

I can see the grounding wire is screwed in on top and the negative connects underneath as I think they should in the installation manual: https://www.cummins.com/sites/default/files/rv-manuals/0983-0600.pdf

But tracking where they go from there is bananas. With the 400i solar system, there are ground wires all over and I'm not sure where the generator itself is actually grounded to the frame.

 

[Roaminonthereg]

Looks like the negative goes straight to the battery bay.

I don't see where the generator is directly grounded to the frame.

 

[Roaminonthereg]

Here's some annotation tracing the braided ground wire. It is screwed in behind the plates visible.

Seems like the negative wire connects to the lower screw where the grounding wire feeds.

 

[JBM3M]

This is out of my knowledge base. We have some really smart folks who will probably be here later and they will know. Be patient. I am totally bad remembering names so I can't remember who until they post. Sorry. Old-fart-itis.
EDIT: Try chuckster57

 

[jay_lind]

New here, but having the exact same issue as described above on my ‘23 raptor 351. Did you ever get to the bottom of what was causing all this??

 

[wiredgeorge]

The OP hasn't been on since June last year. Send the OP a private message and they may get a notification and get back to you on this.