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bmupton's avatar
bmupton
Explorer
Feb 07, 2014

GFCI Circuits

So my outside receptacle, my main fridge and my little bar fridge in the outside kitchen are all on a GFCI circuit protected by the GFCI in the bathroom. This means that DW can't blow dry her hair reliably, because if either of the fridges are running they consume just enough amperage that her hair dryer puts the circuit over the top and pops the breaker.

I think the Norcold fridge uses about 2.5A and the little bar fridge uses about the same (I don't have a spec sheet for either) which really only leaves 7 or so Amps (It's a 12A breaker) for her hair dryer.

So I have three options:

1.) Get a low amperage or DC hair dryer (Any suggestions?) I do have a DC plug just outside the bathroom that could be used for a DC model hair dryer I think
2.) Figure out a way to run my fridges on an extension cord run back to the pedestal instead or running off the main shore power through the trailer plugs.
3.) Re-wire the two outside plugs to a separate breaker somehow (likely not really an option)

What would you do?
  • Just turn the refrig off while she is using the hair dryer. A few minutes off won't hurt a thing.
  • sclark wrote:
    It is easy to find out what is on each breaker. Just turn the breakers off one at a time to determine what controls what. Good luck.


    I know, I've just been lazy. Plus it's in storage and a pain to get to.

    This is one of the first things I need to do when it comes out of storage and we set up for the season.

    I'm still at a loss as to why they put 90% of the outlets on one breaker and the rest on the other though. I sometimes think RV manufacturers aren't playing with a full deck when it comes to some of their design choices.
  • It is easy to find out what is on each breaker. Just turn the breakers off one at a time to determine what controls what. Good luck.
  • Free Range Human wrote:
    Um...I'd plug my hair dryer into a different outlet.


    Haha, good point. :-)

    I forgot to mention that among other issues, I can't find a receptacle in this trailer other than the one in the main slide under the kitchen table that is on the second circuit.

    I have to trace the stuff out to see what is running off what breaker.

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