pops gfi

[Mel Ames]

AS soon as I plug in trailer gfci pops at power source.

[Ford Idaho]

Cord ran over?
Plug get wet?

[bikendan]

i remember reading some threads on this where you're not supposed to plug your shore cord into a power source that has a GFI.
i could be wrong but that's what i remember.

[BarryD0706]

Ya know, I've seen that on here too, but I know how GFCIs work, and I can't see how it could be true.

[DDC]

You can't put two GFI's on the same circuit.

[BillyBass]

Originally Posted by Mel Ames

AS soon as I plug in trailer gfci pops at power source.

How old is the cord I had the same problem with my old trailer.I came home plug it in the house it work and plug it in my generator and it work. But as soon I plug it in my garage with ground fault and it kick . When I reset it. It was fine but when I move it it kick again.So I was told to change the plug end and I did and it was ok.If they is any cuts in the line it will kick .I hope this helps you

[fast murray]

This happens alot when campers are plugged into GFCI's. You can try shutting off circuits in the camper to see if you can isolate the problem. For the long run, think about installling the correct receptacle and circuit for your rig and never have trouble with that again.

[caper]

As stated if the outlet you are using is a GFCI then the GFCI outlet in the trailer will usually trip. Try plugging the unit into a different outlet.

[onetonford]

Certain GFCI's test themselves by putting a small current to ground around 5 millivolts which when paired on the same line will see the other GFCI as going to ground and trip them. On my storage unit I have a circuit breaker type that so far works fine with my FIVER but used to plug into house and would trip so more than likely that is your issue.

[Mel Ames]

I installed a new male end on cord after this issue at a campground with a gfi on the 30amp breaker, then when I got home it started at home. also tried to isolate breakers in trailer gfi pops at house when I turn on converter breaker.

[RJHuser]

GFCI's work by comparing the current in the hot wire to the current in the neutral wire. If there is an imbalance, in the order of a few milliamps, the GFCI will trip. The GFCI assumes the imbalance is caused by current leakage to another path, such as to the ground connector or through a body to ground.

In a RV, a common source of this leakage current is the 12 volt convertor, especially the "newer" (post 1980-1990 era) switching type power supplies. These type of convertors commonly have input RFI suppression to keep high frequency energy off the incoming power wiring. These filters typically leak several milliamps to ground as there normal function. As they age, the leakage current can increase (that's why a GFCI might not trip when the RV or converter is new, then after a period of time the GFCI starts to trip). This leakage current can be high enough to trip a GFCI on the shore power.

Also, using more than one GFCI's in series can cause nuisance trips. The normal operation of the sensing circuitry in the GFCI can cause an apparent current leakage in an upstream GFCI. Again, as the GFCI ages, this apparent leakage current can increase. This can occur in a sticks and bricks house as well as in a RV.

Rick