GFI Outlet

Barstorm · 03-13-2016, 12:00 PM

The GFI outlet is good. Does anyone short of saying take it to the dealer, have any suggestion on finding out the problem on the electrical line. I know which electric line is the problem that keeps the GFI outlet popping. We all know that most of the electical lines are hidden, and I have also found out that some of the outlets are not like the ones in a house. How does one get into the outlets when there is no screw to remove the plate. I would like to check the wiring in the outlet. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I do realize that I will in all likely have to take it to the shop. I would like to mention that this is a new unit that was purchased last November and covered. A guess would be possible mice damage, to the electric line over the winter, but there is no indication of mice activity. I did have mice bait throughout the unit this winter.

Ford Idaho · 03-13-2016, 12:03 PM

What kind of outlet do you have it plugged into?

Are you running anything, A/C, coffee pot?

Barstorm · 03-13-2016, 12:13 PM

Nothing is plugged into the outlet. The outlet when reset pops within seconds. There has to be a short somewhere in the line. This is a GFI outlet.

Barstorm · 03-13-2016, 12:14 PM

I have already tried a new GFI outlet, same results.

uhduh camping · 03-13-2016, 12:15 PM

My first thought is that one GFIC controls ground faults on numerous other outlets at the same time depending on how it is wired. It could start in the kitchen area, protect water heater and then go on to protect bathroom outlets. So it could be a fault in an appliance some where else in the circuit. How do you know GFIC outlet is good? Do you have GFIC breaker? Mice would most likely not cause ground fault, short circuit yes possible.

Ford Idaho · 03-13-2016, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barstorm

Nothing is plugged into the outlet. The outlet when reset pops within seconds. There has to be a short somewhere in the line. This is a GFI outlet.

Let me re-ask my questions.

Is the unit plugged into a GFCI 110 outlet?

Is there anything that requires 110 power to work plugged in and or turned on?

rockfordroo · 03-13-2016, 12:47 PM

RV outlets have a back that snaps on/off. See pic. The wires are placed in the outlet and then when the back is snapped on, the slotted metal parts slice into the wiring insulation and touch the metal wire, similar to "suitcase" connectors.

If you're GFCI problem has occurred since you bought the trailer, it's possible the hot and neutral were installed backwards in one of the outlets.

One of these might help:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/16561511?w...756632&veh=sem

hammer55 · 03-13-2016, 12:53 PM

does it kill the circuit after it, or does it just kill that plug, sometimes they feed through and then there is another gfi down the line that might be bad, like the outside, not knowing just trying to help,,,,,

rockfordroo · 03-13-2016, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hammer55

does it kill the circuit after it, or does it just kill that plug, sometimes they feed through and then there is another gfi down the line that might be bad, like the outside, not knowing just trying to help,,,,,

There should never be 2 GFCI's in series.

hammer55 · 03-13-2016, 02:25 PM

didn't say in series, and thats why I asked it it killed the circuit beyond the gfi,

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

There should never be 2 GFCI's in series.

Barstorm · 03-13-2016, 02:34 PM

I would like to thank all members that are responding. I would like to hopefully explain my problem better. There are three wires feeding into the GFI outlet. One wire is the line wire, that one feeds the 120v to the outlet. The other two wires are load wires for other outlets. When I disconnect one of the two load wires, (the wire that the gives power to 3 outlets in the back of the trailer) the GFI outlet works properly. It is when I attach the second wire to the load, the GFI outlet pops. It will not hold a reset to the GFI outlet after about 5 seconds. That tells me that the problem is with that electrical line that loops the back three outlets somewhere. How does one check that line because the line is hidden thru the walls, etc, to the back of the trailer. All outlets work thru-out the trailer including the other GFI outlet in bathroom. Oh yeah, forgot to mention the GFI outlet in question is located on the island where the sink is. The regular outlet works fine located on the other side by the sink when I have the the second wire not attached as mentioned above.

wahoonc · 03-13-2016, 02:54 PM

A couple of questions: Has it always done it? Or did it just start doing it?

If it has always done it there may be a reversed wire, or possibly a wire has a fastener through it somewhere along the way. There may be a mis-wired plug.

If it just started doing it, I would suspect a damaged wire, possibly caused by rodent electricians or a fastener through the cable, or the cable rubbed on something exposing a conductor.

There are several ways to test the line to find the fault. What I would do is disconnect the camper from the power, disconnect the first plug downline from the GFCI, cap the wires and plug it back in, if the GFI trips it is in that first run, then continue down the line until you isolate which section is bad. FWIW on my current RV I have 5 down line from the GFI, not my preferred system, I would rather have them on a couple of separate circuits.

Aaron

rockfordroo · 03-13-2016, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hammer55

didn't say in series, and thats why I asked it it killed the circuit beyond the gfi,

Sorry, read it too fast, I guess.

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