I have a 2006 Crossroads Cruise 5th wheel. I have a GFCI that is tripping and killing the circuit. The breaker does not trip and the fuse does not blow. I changed the GFCI and I get the same result. After filling the circuit and changing the GFCI, the circuit worked with a moderate load for about 30 minutes then the GFCI tripped again. I attempted to reset the GFCI and it immediately tripped again. The circuit was showing the same symptoms previously and then started working normally and then, again, started tripping. The GFCI seems to be the 1st in the circuit. There is a hot line coming in and a load line going out of the box. All other circuits function when the GFCI trips. The only other anomaly is occasionally the 12v lights will dim briefly. Any thoughts?

PS: If I kill the circuit by turning off the breaker, will it be safe to use the other circuits until I can get it fixed?Thanks, Don

Another PS: The tripping GFCI occurs whether connected at my home or at parks. I use a surge protector which has indicated proper incoming voltage.Thanks again,Don

Don in LA wrote:PS: If I kill the circuit by turning off the breaker, will it be safe to use the other circuits until I can get it fixed?Thanks, DonYes

Is this an inside GFCI or an outdoor one? I've had an outside one do something similar if it had been raining or if the trailer had recently been washed. It was water getting into the receptacle. Try unplugging everything that is plugged in downstream of the GFCI receptacle and reconnecting one item at a time to try to narrow it down.

Had that happen one time and it nearly drove me crazy...check the water heater element...if you turned power on to the water heater with no water in it, the element will burn out and cause a ground fault.

Tripping GFCI | Good Sam Community

rseymour21
Explorer
Oct 06, 2013
Don in LA wrote:
Thanks for a lot of good observations. I probably won't get to additional trouble shooting for a couple of days. I ran into a ground wasp nest yesterday and got stung 40 times. I had to jump into my bayou to get away from the wasps. I'm a little woozy from the Benadryl.

Don

Hope your okay! That would be a real bummer! 40 times, I'd be crying!
kroghville
Explorer
Oct 06, 2013
I had the same issue in a new unit, Plugged in the cell phone charger and in 2 ,5 ,4, or whatever seconds, it would trip.Had nothing else on the circuit. Took the fiver into CW for some minor warranty thing and had the tech there look for the problem and he stated he found nothing wrong at all. It's been working fine ever since. Go figure!!!
P.S. They had the nerve to try and charge me $125.00 an hour for not finding the problem,
wmgeorge
Explorer
Oct 05, 2013
Pop-Pop C wrote:
I replaced three GFCI IN MY CARDINAL.
Finially found a wire that had a piece of aluminum that ha duct into it.
Found this one in the back passenger side ,where the slide and th rear
Quarter came together. Took a lot of investigation and luck.
This was ove about 18 months as it would not trip all the time
Good luck!

Was it metal touching the bare White wire? That would be a hard one to find!!
Pop-Pop_C
Explorer
Oct 05, 2013
I replaced three GFCI IN MY CARDINAL.
Finially found a wire that had a piece of aluminum that ha duct into it.
Found this one in the back passenger side ,where the slide and th rear
Quarter came together. Took a lot of investigation and luck.
This was ove about 18 months as it would not trip all the time
Good luck!
Don_in_LA
Explorer
Oct 05, 2013
Thanks for a lot of good observations. I probably won't get to additional trouble shooting for a couple of days. I ran into a ground wasp nest yesterday and got stung 40 times. I had to jump into my bayou to get away from the wasps. I'm a little woozy from the Benadryl.

Don
wmgeorge
Explorer
Oct 05, 2013
FYI I have never seen it happen but others have. If the neutral (white wire most cases) and the green grounding conductor are touching at some point that can cause in some cases a trip. Never saw it others have.
CA_Traveler
Explorer III
Oct 04, 2013
Install a GFI in the garage or make/buy an extension cord with one. Then use it on the refer to see if the problem occurs. Later the HW, etc.
Kentucky_Travel
Explorer
Oct 04, 2013
It sounds more and more like a grounding issue within your electrical system. Bad grounds would cause several different kinds of "odd" problems.
wmgeorge
Explorer
Oct 03, 2013
"Good post but not entirely correct. You don't have to be using a three prong device to be protected by a GFCI receptacle.
The GFCI will trip if it see's a current imbalance between the hot and common or if it see's current from hot but NOT on common, which suggests the current is taking another route - through you."

Correct. In fact you can replace standard non grounded outlets with GFI 3 wire outlets and be up to Code. Frankly I would like to see a ground wire or Earth connection, but sometimes in old houses its just about impossible.
drfife
Explorer
Oct 03, 2013
I had a same symtoms on a previous trailer.

The bus bar had worked slightly loose.

Unplug from shore power and make sure the bus bar screws are tight.

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