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01-26-2015, 03:32 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Sunriver, Oregon
Posts: 502
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Electrical Issues
Wife & I are leaving next Mon for 3 months in AZ & So Cal. Normally I park my GT in driveway for ease of loading. However, when I plug it into a 20 amp GFI outlet on my front porch, it trips that GFI circuit. I plugged it into another GFI with same result. Then I ran my cord into the house and plugged into a non GFI outlet. That caused the breaker to trip on my house panel. I tried isolating the problem in my coach by shutting off all breakers including the main. As soon as I turn the main on, the GFI and or breaker on the house trips. Everything is fine if on 30 or 50 amp.
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01-26-2015, 03:45 PM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 15,266
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Little confusing, Have you tried it on a 30/50 circuit since you had this problem? Check to insure that the water heater switch us not on. If you energize the electric element in the WH without the WH being full of water, it will instantly burn out the element and short it. This will cause the RV to trip a GFI or breaker if plugged in.,
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01-26-2015, 03:56 PM
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#3
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Phat Phrog Stunt Team
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: SC Lowcountry
Posts: 1,449
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This type thing can drive you crazy. Something in your rig is causing a short and tripping your GFCI's and house breaker. I had a similar issue with my 5th Wheel. The exact same thing would happen when I plugged into 20amp shore power. I disconnected from shore power and went to the 5er, opened one slide, then plugged into 20amp. If it tripped, I unplugged, reset and opened the other slide, it didn't trip. I then crawled underneath to find one of the electrical wires had been stripped in the slide in and out process. I wrapped it with electrical tape and problem solved until I went to Annual Rally in Goshen and FR replaced the wiring harness. It took a while, to figure out what was tripping the breakers. Just be patient and you might be able to figure out what is causing the short. As FlyBob suggested, the WH would be a good start.
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John & April & "Scout"
2013 Sabre 32RCTS-6
Nights Camped 2013-(44) 2014-(59) 2015-(47)
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01-26-2015, 04:37 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Bronston, KY
Posts: 734
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It may be that you are simply pulling more than 20 amps. Water heater is 10-12A and converter pulls 7 or 8 A and refrigerator pulls 3 Amp. Then any plugged in AC items will try to turn on.
Make sure heaters, water heaters etc. are off then try again.
Bill
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Life is a journey, not a destination.
2005 Georgetown 359ts
Bill & Virginia, Kentucky
Nights camped in 2011...78 , 2012...73,
Nights camped in 2013...123, 2014 ...101
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01-26-2015, 04:43 PM
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#5
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Phat Phrog Stunt Team
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Iowa
Posts: 34,507
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You really shouldn't plug into a gfci.
With that being said your household outlets are 15 amp not 20.
You may be drawing to much juice.
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01-26-2015, 04:48 PM
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#6
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Phat Phrog Stunt Team
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Iowa
Posts: 34,507
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See the difference?
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01-26-2015, 05:07 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Sunriver, Oregon
Posts: 502
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One thing I should have added. I have always been able to plug into a GFI before with no problems. Also, nothing is on in the MH. Thanks for replies. Wish I was an electrician!
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01-26-2015, 05:08 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Sunriver, Oregon
Posts: 502
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TURBS
You really shouldn't plug into a gfci.
With that being said your household outlets are 15 amp not 20.
You may be drawing to much juice.
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I have a 20 amp for Xmas lites.
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01-26-2015, 05:09 PM
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#9
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Phat Phrog Stunt Team
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Iowa
Posts: 34,507
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Shut off all the breakers in you mh distribution panel then try plugging in.
If it doesn't trip then turn one on at a time till it does..
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01-26-2015, 05:09 PM
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#10
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Phat Phrog Stunt Team
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Iowa
Posts: 34,507
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Krazymace
I have a 20 amp for Xmas lites.
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Very good!
Normally that's not the case
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01-26-2015, 05:11 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Eastern Ontario
Posts: 4,167
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Are you using the same electrical extension cord as before? Is it a home made extension cord or store bought? Could it be miss-wired?
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Fonzie
2011 Rockwood 8319SS with ProPride 3P hitch/GoodYear Marathons/TST TPMS 507
2019 F350 Ruby Red 6.7l diesel 3.31 axle electronic locker
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01-26-2015, 05:16 PM
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#12
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Site Team - Lou
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,268
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Krazymace
I have a 20 amp for Xmas lites.
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The "circuit" may be fused for 20 amps, but unless the outlet has a "T" on one socket pin, the outlet is only rated for 15 amps.
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2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
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01-26-2015, 05:17 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Sunriver, Oregon
Posts: 502
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TURBS
Shut off all the breakers in you mh distribution panel then try plugging in.
If it doesn't trip then turn one on at a time till it does..
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Did that. As soon as I turn the main on with all other breakers off, I get a trip.
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01-26-2015, 05:21 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Sunriver, Oregon
Posts: 502
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Herk7769
The "circuit" may be fused for 20 amps, but unless the outlet has a "T" on one socket pin, the outlet is only rated for 15 amps.
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Good to know.
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01-26-2015, 05:34 PM
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#15
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Site Team - Lou
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,268
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A GFCI plugged into a GFCI is unreliable.
It may work; but then again it may not.
However in your case I think you have a ground fault in your wiring somewhere and the GFCI is properly responding to it.
The only way to trouble shoot this involves opening all the breakers and removing the circuit Neutrals from the buss; leaving just the incoming Neutral and incoming (main) circuit breaker "ON"
If the GFCI still trips, the ground fault is in the wiring connections from the power center to the garage.
If it is stable, then connect ONE circuit and related Neutral at a time until you get the trip. Then troubleshoot that circuit till you find the bare copper wire (ground) that is touching the white neutral in the junction box.
Have you tested your coach for a "hot skin" condition?
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Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
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01-26-2015, 06:01 PM
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#16
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 15,266
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The fact that you say that nothing is on is pointing more toward a burned up heating element in the WH. When the element burns out, many times, it causes a ground fault. This can easily be checked. Make sure RV is disconnected from AC power. Open the outside panel on the WH, You will see two connections to the heating element. Disconnect both, ( remember which terminal they were connected to) Tape them to prevent shorting to anything. Now plug in shore power, If the GFI does not trip, the heating element was the problem It only takes 1-2 seconds of being powered to burn out the element. They are relatively simple and inexpensive to replace and can be found at big box stores.
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01-26-2015, 06:03 PM
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#17
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Phat Phrog Stunt Team
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Iowa
Posts: 34,507
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Flybob
The fact that you say that nothing is on is pointing more toward a burned up heating element in the WH. When the element burns out, many times, it causes a ground fault. This can easily be checked. Make sure RV is disconnected from AC power. Open the outside panel on the WH, You will see two connections to the heating element. Disconnect both, ( remember which terminal they were connected to) Tape them to prevent shorting to anything. Now plug in shore power, If the GFI does not trip, the heating element was the problem It only takes 1-2 seconds of being powered to burn out the element. They are relatively simple and inexpensive to replace and can be found at big box stores.
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He's still tripping breaker in the house with all breakers in the camper turned off.
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01-26-2015, 06:25 PM
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#18
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 15,266
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Yes that is correct. The blown WH element causes a ground fault with everything turned off. Everything turned off still leaves the common and ground connected to everything. Some of the water heaters may have an plug in the external access area, which you can unplug . If you have a plug ( looks like normal home outlet) try unplugging it.
__________________
2015 Freedom Express 248RBS
TV 2015 Silverado HD2500 Duramax
TST Tire Monitors
Honda 2000I + Companion
2 100W solar panels
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01-26-2015, 06:41 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Sunriver, Oregon
Posts: 502
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fonzie
Are you using the same electrical extension cord as before? Is it a home made extension cord or store bought? Could it be miss-wired?
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Quality 30 amp cord.
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01-26-2015, 06:48 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Eastern Ontario
Posts: 4,167
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I'm talking about the cord that plugs into the 15 amp house receptacle or do you have an adapter that goes directly from your 30 amp cord to the 15 amps receptacle?
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Fonzie
2011 Rockwood 8319SS with ProPride 3P hitch/GoodYear Marathons/TST TPMS 507
2019 F350 Ruby Red 6.7l diesel 3.31 axle electronic locker
Yamaha 3000iseb generator:Progressive Ind. EMS-HW30C : Eastern Ontario
Nights Camped: 2014 (18) 2015 (18) 2016 (36) 2017 (32) 2018 (42) 2019 (28) 2020 (35)
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