Forum Discussion

NicoleH's avatar
NicoleH
Explorer
Dec 30, 2013

Help Please? Power cord trips GFI

Hi! We are brand new and very "green" RV'rs. Just purchased our first MH, Monaco Dynasty 2007. We parked it for the first time in storage today and went to plug in our 50 amp to 30.dogbone>15 dogbone into the outlet to trickle charge. We tripped the outlet, the outlet next to it and another across the parking space. Everything was off in the coach. We checked the voltage at the outlet and it was 120. Our power cord is automatic and the motor to retract it had recently been replaced (not sure if related).
What are we doing wrong? Or what could be wrong? Thank you in advance!
Clarification: We popped the GFI outlet at our parking space and two others near by.
  • TNRIVERSIDE's avatar
    TNRIVERSIDE
    Explorer
    Dec 30, 2013
    westend wrote:
    NicoleH wrote:
    We tripped the outlet, the outlet next to it and another across the parking space.
    When you say "trip" does that mean that a circuit breaker tripped or that a GFCI outlet tripped. It's not clear.


    There is a difference in the breaker tripping or the GFCI tripping. Can you tell us which you have?
  • RoyB's avatar
    RoyB
    Explorer II
    Dec 30, 2013
    Just be sure all conductors are in good shape on your shore power cord... i.e. don't be using an adapter with the ground pin removed etc... No pins being burned...

    I always like to use my kill-a-watt meter with circuit tester plugged into it showing the camp ground source is giving me the proper neutral and ground setup and safe 120VAC levels before I use it.

    Roy Ken
  • westend's avatar
    westend
    Explorer
    Dec 30, 2013
    NicoleH wrote:
    We tripped the outlet, the outlet next to it and another across the parking space.
    When you say "trip" does that mean that a circuit breaker tripped or that a GFCI outlet tripped. It's not clear.

    As someone else posted, turn all your circuit breakers off in the coach, plug in your cords, and engage the breakers individually. If the power trips off with just the cords, you have a cord problem or a wiring problem in the coach's load center.

    It is possible that you are overloading the storage lot's 15 amp breaker. You may have to leave some devices unpowered to get beyond that limitation.
  • stillthinking99's avatar
    stillthinking99
    Explorer
    Dec 30, 2013
    Electric water heater left on? Battery charger on high output to bring battery levels up? If so limit its charge to 10 amps.
  • shooker99's avatar
    shooker99
    Explorer
    Dec 30, 2013
    I know why they are used, to be safe and the gov't says so. They do cause a lot of problems. I've had them run for two weeks or more then trip, for one.
  • ScottG's avatar
    ScottG
    Nomad
    Dec 30, 2013
    Victory402 wrote:
    Flip off all your breakers inside your rv, then try to plug it back in. If it doesn't trip start flipping on breakers until it does. This may reveal the overload. Since your tripping a GFI, is it raining or wet out?


    Just a quick note that an overload wont trip a GFCI. Good point on the weather aspect though.

    Cheers,
    Scott
  • Victory402's avatar
    Victory402
    Explorer
    Dec 30, 2013
    Flip off all your breakers inside your rv, then try to plug it back in. If it doesn't trip start flipping on breakers until it does. This may reveal the overload. Since your tripping a GFI, is it raining or wet out?
  • ScottG's avatar
    ScottG
    Nomad
    Dec 30, 2013
    If all is working correctly it should not trip it. You have a condition that could be dangerous and really should be corrected.
    The fridge is always the first thing to check. Try unplugging it to see if it still trips. If so then the heater in the fridge needs replacement.
    If not then try unplugging every other item in the RV and see what happens.
    Also check the outside receptacles for moisture which can make a GFCI trip.

    Good luck,
    Scott
  • acker1's avatar
    acker1
    Explorer
    Dec 30, 2013
    MH power cords do not get along well with GFIs. Try a non-GFI outlet.

    DICK

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