GFCI and an Open Ground
Given: A 120 VAC GFCI supplying power to a 30 AMP RV. The RV has one problem, the 3rd Prong Ground wire at the 30 AMP plug is not making connection. (The RV chassis is floating because there are no ot...
Forum Discussion
DrewE wrote:
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It's a question of semantics, really, at this point.
The GFCI will detect a short between the neutral wire and the ground wire downstream from it. Whether or not either one connects to earth is immaterial for that detection. conductor! ........
........ If it's in the RV, then it matters not one whit whether the ground (or neutral, really) is tied to earth or anything else; the GFCI can detect an unacceptably low impedance between the two wires, and trip because of it. In this case, the ground lead is not open ended--it goes back to the GFCI.
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I have looked at a number of web sites and numerous GFCI diagrams and have not seen even one that had any circuit comparing neutral to ground. The only wires showing in those diagrams were hot and neutral. The circuits were comparing current flow difference between hot and neutral. And I see no way those circuits can detect impedance between neutral wire and ground wire or any additional circuits that could.
Perhaps I have not found the correct diagram to show that. Being an electrical engineer (retired) I really want to understand where that circuit resides and how it works.
