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drummer2020's avatar
drummer2020
Explorer
Dec 21, 2020

GFCI at shore power tripping

Hello Everyone. Brand new to this. Hopefully someone can help me out. I have a 2021 Amerilite 199DD travel trailer. I inadvertently drained the hot water tank for winterizing and thought I had the switch off but I did not. The element failed of course. The GFCI on the shore power tripped to alert me. I went ahead and installed a new element, but alas, the GFCI tripped again after a few hours. I went ahead replaced the converter thinking that that may have been damaged in the element failure but still, the GFCI tripped. At this point, I isolated it down to the "GEN" circuit. When this one is in the "off" position, the GFCI at the shore is not tripping. I have a 30 amp to 15 amp plug adapter for the power source and have been using this for the last 3 months with no issue until the element failure, for information sake. If someone has some words of wisdom that would be super. Thanks!!
  • CA_Traveler's avatar
    CA_Traveler
    Explorer III
    Dec 21, 2020
    Wondering if the current problem could be related to the rain in the area vs the repaired HW. Moisture is a common cause of a tripped GFCI. Is the 20/50 adapter exposed to the weather as one possible source? Outside plugs are susceptible to moisture. Moisture can be almost anywhere.
  • drummer2020's avatar
    drummer2020
    Explorer
    Dec 21, 2020
    Thanks for the reply! You have a good point there but the connections at the adapter and at the plug in source are out of the way of moisture. It has rained a bunch here the last couple months and haven't had an issue previous to the water heater element failure.
  • Dick_B's avatar
    Dick_B
    Explorer
    Dec 21, 2020
    Can you plug into another post as a test or is the campground full?
  • enblethen's avatar
    enblethen
    Nomad
    Dec 21, 2020
    You do not have a 220 adapter or at least you better not have!
    If your rig is equipped with a fifty amp four prong cord, you rig is 120/240.
    If you have a 30 amp three prong cord it is 120 volts.
    First, your water heater element burnt and went to ground. Disconnect all the 120 volt wires going to the water heater. it is possible more then the element was damaged.
    Verify that the shore power cord has no continuity between the neutral pin and the ground pin.
  • CA_Traveler's avatar
    CA_Traveler
    Explorer III
    Dec 21, 2020
    Understood but don't discount changing conditions. Turn off all CBs except the one for the Gen circuit. Do you still have the problem?

    GFCI tripping can be difficult to isolate. A ground fault from the hot line to ground is one and turning off CBs can help to isolate that type.

    GFCIs can also detect on a turned off circuit a potential leak from neutral to ground. Isolation of this fault involves disconnecting the circuits neutral wire.

    Refers involve moisture and are another possible source.
  • CA_Traveler's avatar
    CA_Traveler
    Explorer III
    Dec 21, 2020
    Bud,

    Good clarification. I interpted his post to mean a 20/50 adapter or 20 M to 50 F. But 20/30 plus 30/50 adapters is another solution.

    Good suggestion to further isolate the HW.
  • drummer2020's avatar
    drummer2020
    Explorer
    Dec 21, 2020
    It is a 30 amp RV. The adapter plug is 30 amp to 15 amp adapter. The trailer is parked at my house and I keep it plugged in while not in use in case we want to use the lights or radio in the trailer when working on the trailer. I will try and do some testing today once I find my multimeter and get back to you guys. Thanks for the input.
  • drummer2020's avatar
    drummer2020
    Explorer
    Dec 21, 2020
    I do happen to have another known good adapter so I will try that as well. Thanks for the suggestions!!
  • drummer2020's avatar
    drummer2020
    Explorer
    Dec 21, 2020
    Also, I did plug it into another power source at home and it tripped that GFCI too.

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