GFI outlet versus regular outlet

[kenandterry]

Recently, our electric kettle with a 3 prong plug, started tripping our GFI outlet in the RV when it had worked flawlessly for years. It trips the GFI at the moment the plug is connected, even without the kettle element being turned ON. My digital meter shows no short circuit for the cord. It shows continuity when the switch element is turned ON.

At home, it also trips any GFI outlet (kitchen or bathroom) at the moment the plug is connected. The electric kettle works fine in any regular electrical outlet in the RV or the house, and does NOT trip any breaker at the electrical panel.

What am I missing here for the change in operation?

[dalford]

If it trip any GFCI even on the house it means your kettle has a path for current to travel without going back to the GFCI.

Just because you can’t measure a discernible problem with you ohm meter does not mean there isn’t an issue with the kettle.

The GFCI measures the current leaving the receptacle and compares it to the current retuning to the receptacle. It only takes mili-amps (0.001+ amps) difference to trip the GFCI.

Get a new kettle…

[Tlmgcamp]

GFI are intended to be more sensitive than a basic breaker. GFI are also known to unnecessarily trip as they age. Since the pot is tripping GFI in the RV and in the house, my bet is that the pot is developing a problem and might be worth replacing

[D W]

A GFCI does not detect an overload or short. It merely detects an imbalance in current between the Load and Neutral due to "leakage". Normally, that leakage goes to ground, and the GFCI trips. My guess is that the leakage is not enough to trip a breaker on a normal circuit, but it's enough to trip a GFCI. The fact that it all of a sudden trips both your RV and house GFCI would indicate a problem with the appliance. Could actually be some internal corrosion of the connectors inside the kettle.

[NMWildcat]

You need a new electric kettle .....

[kenandterry]

Thanks for the feedback so quickly.

A new kettle is on the shopping list!

Topic closed.

[jimmoore13]

There's an echo in here. Get a new kettle, and cut the cord off the old one before you dispose of it so someone doesn't scavenge it and sell it at a thrift store. You know it's not worth repairing, and you know it has developed a problem that makes it dangerous to use. Ditch it.