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Old 01-26-2015, 03:32 PM   #1
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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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Old 01-26-2015, 03:45 PM   #2
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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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Old 01-26-2015, 03:56 PM   #3
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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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Old 01-26-2015, 04:37 PM   #4
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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.

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Old 01-26-2015, 04:43 PM   #5
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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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Old 01-26-2015, 04:48 PM   #6
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See the difference?
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Old 01-26-2015, 05:07 PM   #7
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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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Old 01-26-2015, 05:08 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TURBS View Post
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.

I have a 20 amp for Xmas lites.


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Old 01-26-2015, 05:09 PM   #9
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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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Old 01-26-2015, 05:09 PM   #10
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I have a 20 amp for Xmas lites.


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Very good!
Normally that's not the case
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Old 01-26-2015, 05:11 PM   #11
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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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Old 01-26-2015, 05:16 PM   #12
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Quote:
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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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Old 01-26-2015, 05:17 PM   #13
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Quote:
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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..

Did that. As soon as I turn the main on with all other breakers off, I get a trip.


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Old 01-26-2015, 05:21 PM   #14
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Originally Posted by Herk7769 View Post
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.

Good to know.


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Old 01-26-2015, 05:34 PM   #15
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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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Old 01-26-2015, 06:01 PM   #16
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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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Old 01-26-2015, 06:03 PM   #17
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Originally Posted by Flybob View Post
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.
He's still tripping breaker in the house with all breakers in the camper turned off.
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Old 01-26-2015, 06:25 PM   #18
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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.
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Old 01-26-2015, 06:41 PM   #19
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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?

Quality 30 amp cord.


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Old 01-26-2015, 06:48 PM   #20
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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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