Electrical blowing house ground fault

[SueRoeske]

We plug in our No Bo 19.5 to our house 20 amp to get refrigerator cooled for the next trip. Tonight the ground fault is blowing every time we plug in the No Bo. This has not happened before.

Nothing is on in the camper, we have not turned the refrig on yet.

We checked our house circuit breaker and reset each. No difference
We used a different extension cord from camper to house. No difference

What else could be causing this?

[valleyduo]

Have you used this outlet before to power your No bo? Gfi outlets don't always get along with campers.

[CHICKDOE]

either move the cord to a non GFCI protected receptacle in the house

or

turn off the gfci circuit breaker in the trailer

or

run the extension cord directly from the house to the refrigerator

[SueRoeske]

Valley duo - yes, this is the same outlet. We tried other exterior outlets with same result.

Chickdoe - We moved cord to non gfci protected and electricity stays on but were advised to not leave it this way over night.

If it is the gfci circuit breaker do we just buy a new one to replace it -- do these things go bad often?

Thanks, I really appreciate your help

[SueRoeske]

Another perspective -- just for future reference

Just spoke with another person who has experienced this with his camper. A tiny speck of moisture in the 30 Amp receptacle on the camper can cause this to happen.

On the 19.5, the outside shower is directly above the electrical input, the spout for water from the roof drips directly down to it, and I think a water input is directly above it.

Right now we are taking it out of the camper, drying all parts then will put back together and caulk it all around. Hope this works and solves the problem

[Flybob]

The GFCI breaker is not bad. The issue is the way they work. Some of the inexpensive GFCI breakers will appear to a good one in the same circuit as a fault. Try turning off the breaker in the distribution panel that controls the GFCI protected outlets ( bathroom etc) in the RV. This should be a different circuit than the fridge is on. If you can not do this. There is nothing wrong with being plugged into a non gfci outlet in the house. The large breaker in the campground pedestal is not GFCI protected.

[SueRoeske]

Flybob, will take this to the guys by the camper to check it out.
Thanks

[CHICKDOE]

i gotta ask! it works when you plug into a non-gfci receptacle but you were advised not to leave it this way. whose advice and based on what?

[SueRoeske]

Chickdoe, I asked a friend who is a mechanical engineer. He does not claim to be an expert but suggests we not leave it plugged in overnight as a precaution. Like maybe a fire could start while we're asleep. I didn't ask a lot of questions of him

[Flybob]

GFCIs are designed to prevent electrical shocks to humans. Circuit breakers are designed to protect wiring against shorts and overloads. You are still going through the circuit breaker in you home panel. GFCIs do not prevent fires.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by SueRoeske

Chickdoe, I asked a friend who is a mechanical engineer. He does not claim to be an expert but suggests we not leave it plugged in overnight as a precaution. Like maybe a fire could start while we're asleep. I didn't ask a lot of questions of him

You need to ask RV questions from RVers, not a mechanical engineer.

[CHICKDOE]

you're trying to cool down the refrigerator.

the only risk of fire that i could see would be if the extension cord was under gauge.

then again, you will get a propane burner fire if you have an rv refrigerator and shut down the shore power. it will switch to propane and fire up the burner.

[Oaklevel]

Originally Posted by SueRoeske

Chickdoe, I asked a friend who is a mechanical engineer. He does not claim to be an expert but suggests we not leave it plugged in overnight as a precaution. Like maybe a fire could start while we're asleep. I didn't ask a lot of questions of him

This is simply not true. The breaker should trip. As was said earlier GFCIs are designed to protect humans. Not to prevent equipment damage.

When you plug your camper into a campground electrical pedestal. The main outlet you plug into is not GFCI protected.

At home it is always best when possible not to use a GFCI protected outlet.

[rlh1957]

It is fine to plug camper in to a non GFCI receptacle in the house. When you have a dedicated 30Amp RV plug in your garage it isn't a GFCI circuit and goes directly to the main box with a 30A breaker. Then the RV cord plugs into the receptacle and out to the RV. So no GFCI in that loop. So no problem.
If using a 20A receptacle going over an extension cord to the RV make sure it is a good heavy quality cord 12 gauge three prong and in good shape. Don't run over wet ground.

[Larry-NC]

Originally Posted by rlh1957

It is fine to plug camper in to a non GFCI receptacle in the house. When you have a dedicated 30Amp RV plug in your garage it isn't a GFCI circuit and goes directly to the main box with a 30A breaker. Then the RV cord plugs into the receptacle and out to the RV. So no GFCI in that loop. So no problem.
If using a 20A receptacle going over an extension cord to the RV make sure it is a good heavy quality cord 12 gauge three prong and in good shape. Don't run over wet ground.

I've never had a problem running a quality (e.g., SJO) cord over wet ground. Our smaller travel trailer has been connected to a non-GFI 20 amp outlet via a quality 10-gauge cord for five years with no issues, through rain, snow, thundershowers, and everything else.

[TheWolfPaq82]

Been plugging our TT's into a non-GFI plug since 2007 and ran the refrig all summer long while they're in the driveway. You'll be fine plugging it in elsewhere.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by rlh1957

It is fine to plug camper in to a non GFCI receptacle in the house. When you have a dedicated 30Amp RV plug in your garage it isn't a GFCI circuit and goes directly to the main box with a 30A breaker. Then the RV cord plugs into the receptacle and out to the RV. So no GFCI in that loop. So no problem.
If using a 20A receptacle going over an extension cord to the RV make sure it is a good heavy quality cord 12 gauge three prong and in good shape. Don't run over wet ground.

You had me agreeing 100% until your last sentence.

Why would running a "good heavy quality cord 12 gauge three prong and in good shape" (your words) over wet ground hurt anything?

[KyDan]

I just set my Rv fridge on lp gas to cool it for a day. Too much trouble to drag out extension cord and it uses a small amount of LP in that time.

[MtBiker]

Electric motors and GFCI's don't always play well. The air conditioner in our boat house will often trip the GFCI if anything else is plugged into the same circuit.
It is always safer to use a GFCI protected outlet outside if available to prevent getting shocked.

[rlh1957]

How about a no nick, no cut, perfect shape outdoor extension cord. My statement was for all those who use tired old garage extension cords that are just looking for a chance to short out. My wording can be cloudy or muddy!