Newbie Power Loss Question

[funfyzics]

Good Morning!
My wife and I are newbie RVers and have bought a 2018 Epro 14 ft TT(small). In one of our first trips I plugged a 1500 watt water kettle in along with a ceramic heater(Dumb!) and found all of the 110 outlets did not work.
I thnik they are all on same circuit) I checked the circuit and it is not flipped and I switched it on and off several times.I think it is the GFCI plug as it has the buttons pushed in. I am not super knowledgeable but want to learn.Can anybody give me some diagnostic tips? Also I did but a multi meter and outlet tester plug and a replacement GFCI plug. Not sure if RV plug is the same a residential however.

Sorry for length of post and thanks for any help,

Brian

[CHICKDOE]

need to clarify a few things. i'm assuming you have a 30 amp trailer. do you have it plugged into a 30 amp rv receptacle using the rv cable or a 15 amp household receptacle with an extension cord? which circuit breaker are you switching on/off? the one on the pedestal or one of the branch circuits in the trailer electrical panel? do you have any other 120 volt receptacles in the trailer such as the microwave or a tv? do they work? you can try to reset the gfci by pressing the reset button until it clicks, but to do this the gfci must have power to it?

[funfyzics]

It was a 20 amp outlet I plugged the coffee pot into not 200!

[nayther]

you probably triped the GFCI. There's one outlet with the GFCI buttons, make sure it is not tripped, reset it and they all should be hot. Microwave is probably on a separate circuit so it would still be operational when the plugs are not.


RV and sticks/bricks 120 volt is all the same. if you were connected to a standard 20 amp circuit at home you may have tripped that breaker. Since you say you bought an outlet tester what does that tell you?

[funfyzics]

How can I get power to Gfci outlet when all outlets run off it

[HappyTrav]

Originally Posted by funfyzics

How can I get power to Gfci outlet when all outlets run off it

It will be the first outlet in the string. All other outlets on that GFCI circuit are protected but that GFCI outlet.

When is GFCI outlet trips the reset button will stick out a little bit.

Press the reset button on the GFCI outlet. If it was tripped you will feel/ hear it reset.

Bob

[funfyzics]

Doesn’t have to be power to the GFCI outlet for it to be able to reset? I have no power and the buttons aren’tout at all

[CHICKDOE]

confirm whether you have 120vac power into the trailer or not. does anything using 120vac power work? a/c, microwave, electric water heater, tv, etc. if any of these work the problem is within the trailer. if none of them work the problem may be outside the trailer. need to know where to look.

[TheWolfPaq82]

Did you press the "Reset" button on the GFI ? Those buttons don't stick out very far when they trip and it may not even be noticeable.

[Reverse_snowbird]

Originally Posted by TheWolfPaq82

Did you press the "Reset" button on the GFI ? Those buttons don't stick out very far when they trip and it may not even be noticeable.

Have you located your main electrical panel? Usually the GFI for the whole trailer is in that panel.

[funfyzics]

I don't have power to the trailer! Checked all breakers in trailer box and all were untripped! I have an outlet testor but I think outlet has to have power for it to work.
Your suggestions will be appreciated.

Thanks
Brian

[ijon]

My gfi has a amber light that comes on when tripped.

[TheWolfPaq82]

If the entire trailer is dead, check the power pole you're plugged into.

[Mr. Dan]

With all the focus on the GFCI circuit, I don’t remember seeing whether you checked and flipped the pedestal breaker off then on. Did you? CHICKDOE mentioned the pedestal early on.

EDIT: yes, see post 13 posted while I was typing.

[CHICKDOE]

i'm taking your word that you do not have any power into the trailer. so the problem is outside. have you reset the breaker on the pedestal. you did turn it on when you plugged int the pedestal right? sometimes the trailer end of the power cord needs to be inserted into the trailer receptacle and turned to lock it. you did this right? do you have an ems protector in the power cord somewhere? by chance does you power cord have the little blue led lights on it where it plugs into the pedestal? are they on? if you can plug into another pedestal try that and see if that works? can you use an adapter to plug into the 50 amp receptacle to see if that works. we need to know if you have power at the pedestal and then at each connection up to the trailer. there have bee reports and photos of bad connections at the trailer receptacle, but before we get there we need to know that you have power from the pedestal and through the shore power cable. i voltage meter would be nice but do not attempt to use one if you are unsure of how to. 120vac power needs to be respected.

[KyDan]

The OP posted his issue YESTERDAY morning.

I'm gonna guess he figured something out by now.
A follow up would be nice but maybe camping got in the way of posting to a bunch of wanna be campers!

[funfyzics]

I am not a full time RVer and am planning onchecking power out this weekend

[Flybob]

Do you have power ( light on microwave). If yes, then you have power inside the trailer. If you are certain there is no 120VAC anywhere in the RV, then I would start at the pedestal. You will need a meter.

Is there power at the pedestal?

No call park maintenance.
If you have a plug on both ends if your main power cord check the RV end for power just as you did at the pedestal.
If you have power there, make sure the plug is inserted fully and twisted to the lock position.
If there is power at the RV end of the power cord, check the power in side of the main distribution panel. If you have power there then check for power on the distribution side of the smaller breakers. Let us know what you find. Even if GFCI is bad if you are connected to shore power, the light in the microwave should work.

[rlh1957]

Some rigs have more than one string of plugs on different GFCI. There is always one in the bathroom. When the look see solve fails... get out the meter and start from the power source confirming power and move to next junction to test at power distribution panel, then the breaker where it feeds the other areas that appear dead. Easy yes, time consuming just a little. But you know your rig from then on.

[TitanMike]

In reading the OP's posts I would consider the following:

Check to see if there is power at the power cord's connector that plugs into the trailer (if a removable cord. If so than go to the power panel and see if there is power to the 120v bus. Quick way is to remove the MAIN breaker (usually the top) and see if the bus is hot. If so then see if power is coming out of the breaker.

Being as it's a new trailer remove the power inlet on the trailer and see if one of the wires has come loose from the connector. A known issue with some new trailers.


In short start where you know you have power whether it's power pole or end of extension cord from a house receptacle. From there follow it's intended path through the tt's power cord to the power panel, through individual breakers, and down to the outlets.

FWIW, my main power indicator is the clock on the microwave. If no clock there is usually no power to the trailer. If the microwave clock works that means power is at least making it to the power panel and circuit breakers.

Now it''s just a matter of checking from the circuit breakers to the bad outlet. Typically the bad actors that cause power loss are GFCI's. Most of the Electricians I know have very little good to say about them.