Inverter for residential refrigerator

[Sbryant]

First, we have a 2014 Georgetown 360 XL which we purchased new in Nov, 2013. We absolutely love our coach.

I know there are some very knowledgeable people on this forum so I’m looking for someone to provide us with some helpful directions.

The last several months, either sitting with no engine running, or driving down the road, the refrigerator would not come on or it turns off sometime during the trip.

Today leaving Birmingham to head back to Mississippi, the inverter would not come on; therefore no power for the fridge.

DH has checked the batteries and they are good. He was looking at the inverter and found a built in gfi, which we had no idea was there. We can only assume since the gfi was tripped that’s the reason the fridge has turned off several times.

So here’s the question. What makes the gfi trip? Since it’s built in should I assume it can’t be replaced? Does that mean the inverter is going bad?

Someone, please share some knowledge so we can follow the trail.

Thank you so much!

Shirley Bryant

[Flybob]

How did you check the batteries? If they are original batteries, they may test good in static mode, but are not capable of handling a load.

[Sbryant]

So are you saying that if the batteries are defective that would cause the gfi to trip?

[BandJCarm]

What is brand and model of Inverter that has 'built in GFI'???

[wmtire]

Originally Posted by Sbryant

So here’s the question. What makes the gfi trip? Since it’s built in should I assume it can’t be replaced? Does that mean the inverter is going bad?

Someone, please share some knowledge so we can follow the trail.

Thank you so much!

Shirley Bryant

Shirley this is a good explanation on why GFCI trips (for what they are designed for)

Power Inverters and GFCI Tripping | Don Rowe Power Inverters Blog

No, it doesn't mean the inverter is going bad cause the gfci is tripping, but something else could be having problems.

Do you know if anything else is wired to this inverter besides the refrigerator? Do you have outlets in the coach or other 120 volt appliances that work when not using shore power or the generator (ex, microwave, tv, etc)?

[Sbryant]

Very difficult to get up into compartment above propane tank. But I saw Prowatt SW on the top and on the front it says Prowatt SW 1000.

[Sbryant]

The only thing our inverter runs is the refrigerator

[BandJCarm]

Originally Posted by Sbryant

Very difficult to get up into compartment above propane tank. But I saw Prowatt SW on the top and on the front it says Prowatt SW 1000.

OK, made by Xantrex.

Here is one, click on specs. It does say "Dual GFI receptacles".

https://www.batterystuff.com/inverte...PointTechSpecs

There are links there to the specs and to the manual. Possibly something there might help? I did see this in the manual:

GFCI protection De-energizes the AC circuits and thereby protects the user from electric shock if a ground fault occurs.


From the manual from Troubleshooting:

To test (or reset) the GFCI protection:
1. Press the unit’s power switch to turn the inverter On.
2. Plug a test lamp into the AC outlet.
3. Push the TEST button.
Note: The RESET button should pop out and the power should
turn Off (the lamp should go out). If the lamp remains lit, or if
the RESET button does not pop out, the GFCI may not be
functioning.
If the GFCI trips by itself at any time, reset it and perform the
preceding test.

[Larry-NC]

Okay, so now you've had a lesson in GFIs, but slim answers to your question, namely "What causes the GFI to trip?"

One cause which was mentioned was "another GFI downstream." Is the outlet that the refrigerator plugs into also a GFI outlet? Does it have Test and Reset buttons on it? You don't need two. Since it's difficult to mess with the inverter, you could change the outlet behind the refrigerator.

Another cause is dampness. Any moisture at all can cause a tiny current flow across the surface of an outlet (either the one on the inverter or the one for the refrigerator). Is it getting really steamy humid in the motorhome? If so, that could be the cause. You could spray A LITTLE BIT of WD-40 on the outlet faces and refrigerator plug but that won't be a long-lasting solution.

There could be current leakage from any electrical terminals. Is there moisture around the refrigerator's compressor, perhaps from an icemaker leak? Pull the refrigerator out, take off the cardboard cover at the bottom and make sure everything is dry.

Just a few suggestions.

Larry

[cavie]

once the GFI trips it will not reset itself. If your fridge problem is intermittent than the GFI is not at fault. Have your batteries load checked. Not just check the voltage.

[Flybob]

No bad batteries should not trip the GFCI in the inverter, but if I understand the quoted part of your post below it is not the GFCI. They generally do not auto reset and if you did not know it was there, once tripped, the fridge will not have worked until you found and reset it. The inverter, will shutdown of the supply voltage ( batteries) is too low. You can take them to be load tested or put a digital meter on them and start the inverter and run the fridge. Measure the battery voltage when the inverter is supplying power to the fridge or another load.

Originally Posted by Sbryant

found a built in gfi, which we had no idea was there. We can only assume since the gfi was tripped that’s the reason the fridge has turned off several times.




Shirley Bryant

[Sterlingsilver]

1000 (watts) is not enough for a fridge. I ripped mine out and put a 2000 in. End of problems.

[jfp2673]

I have the 2000 watt inverter on my 2014 351ds and noticed the fridge started randomly resetting the gfci. It is a common problem if you do a search. A gfci is very sensitive and should not be used on a fridge circuit. Forrest River installs these inverters because it is a low cost inverter. The solution is to either replace your inverter for a new one or several people including myself have opened up the inverter and replaced the gfci outlet with a standard outlet that does not have a gfci. The circuit that the residential fridge is on in a site built home never gets a gfci receptacle, they are too sensitive.

[Sterlingsilver]

Forgot to mention, my 2000 watt inverter was $129 from Harbor Freight. No GFCI on that baby and really no need for it on a fridge circuit. IMO I also switch it manually with a toggle switch. Not much to go wrong.

[cavie]

Originally Posted by jfp2673

I have the 2000 watt inverter on my 2014 351ds and noticed the fridge started randomly resetting the gfci. It is a common problem if you do a search. A gfci is very sensitive and should not be used on a fridge circuit. Forrest River installs these inverters because it is a low cost inverter. The solution is to either replace your inverter for a new one or several people including myself have opened up the inverter and replaced the gfci outlet with a standard outlet that does not have a gfci. The circuit that the residential fridge is on in a site built home never gets a gfci receptacle, they are too sensitive.

+++2

[WhatsNext]

We had a similar issue, it turner out that the negative ground screw was loose. I took it out and replaced it with a nut and bolt. No more issues now

[Sbryant]

What’s Next - can you tell me where the ground screw is located? Thanks.