Forum Discussion

dhull's avatar
dhull
Explorer II
Jul 30, 2019

GFI trips when generator used

Onan 2500 installed in a 2017 Wolf Creek 840 TC

I have a GFI outlet under the sink on wall with a reset button on it. It controls 2 other outlets, one outside by steps and one on the wall behind the kitchen sink. All works fine on shore power.

When I fire up the Onan a few seconds after the transfer switch powers camper sometimes the GFI trips and I lose power to those 3 outlets. All the other non GFI 110 outlets in the camper work.
This is an intermittent problem and some times works fine. Other times it'll trip once or twice I can reset the GFI with gen running and then work fine or it'll take a fit keep tripping and refuse to work at all. At this point just resetting the GFI causes it to trip again immediately. Turning off the generator and starting over is only way to reset GFI.
There may be some correlation with higher outside temperatures
and the likelihood of the problem happening.
How can I fix this?
  • wnjj's avatar
    wnjj
    Explorer II
    road-runner wrote:
    This is a weird situation and I doubt that there will be much if any actual experience to draw from. Only best guesses. The GFI senses only downstream faults, so I don't see how doing anything at the generator or transfer switch would fix the problem. The power out of the generator isn't as clean as shore power, which could explain why you never see the trip on shore power. When there are weird GFI trips I'm usually about the last person to say "replace the GFI", but in this case I don't think that's a bad thing to try. Another obvious isolation step is to disconnect the downstream outlets from the GFI. Tough call, in my estimation, which to try first.

    X2

    Disconnecting the downstream receptacles or at least inspecting them is a good idea. Maybe there’s a loose ground wire in one of them and the vibration from the generator is enough to cause it to bump the neutral.
  • I did dissappear went boondocking for a week, no cell coverage even, sure missed those robo calls.
    Anyway still experiencing problem and still intermittent. I should have stated that this is an on board genny controlled by a transfer switch.
    Seems like the most easily implemented suggestion given is to unhook downstream outlets to see if that's what's tripping the GFI. I sure hope it's not a genny problem as a ground neutral bond problem is over my head and something I would not mess with since the problem is only an annoyance as I can use other receptacles if needed.

    Thanks...

About Technical Issues

Having RV issues? Connect with others who have been in your shoes.24,189 PostsLatest Activity: Jan 19, 2025