Hey guys,I got a 1995 Fleetwood Elkhorn 11X TC, she's been sitting a while and threw a new battery in her today to start checking her out. I had 12 volt everywhere and everything works (for some reach the 12 volt on my fridge didn't). I decided to plug into shore power and check my AC and my fridge that way but it sparked while plugging in and instantly popped my GFI plug in my garage. I personally replaced the plug last year with a good one and I've had my toy hauler plugged in with no issues and on the same medium duty extension cord. I'm running a Magnetek 6332 Converter/Power center combo. My good extension cord won't reach any other plugs so I haven't tried yet. I started by shutting off the main breaker in the camper and trying again, same thing, pops the GFI instantly when I plug it in even with the main breaker off. Next step I'm going to pull all the 12 volt fuses and see if it does it again and if not start putting fuses back in 1 by 1 til I find the fuse that trips the GFI again. Any one have any advice or ever experienced this?Thanks!

Try the extension cord somewhere else with any electrical item plugged into it. Maybe your "good" extension cord has a problem. If it's good, I would check the connections on the converter. Sometimes gfi's don't play well together. You need to try a non gfi circuit in the house. But the sparking is worrisome.

You have a ground fault. Nothing to do with the 12 volt system. Call me. I can help.

Unplug the fridge from its receptacle (in the outside panel) and try the GFCI again. A shorted (to ground) AC heating element is a fairly common failure. It’s possible a rodent messed around behind the fridge and caused the 12V fridge issue along with this one too.

Mandalay Parr wrote:You have a ground fault. Nothing to do with the 12 volt system. Call me. I can help.Hey Jerry, that's awesome of you to offer to talk to me and help. Are you sure it's not too late? 11:30 here where I am lol just don't want to be a bother when you're offering help :)My extension cord ran a grinder yesterday and a sawzall the day before, I did test the cord though and ran my air compressor off it and had no problems at all, worked great. I will unplug the fridge tomorrow and test that. I have an awning that's in the way of the cover for the back of the fridge and it's a real pain so I'll tackle that in the morning when I can actually see lol.Also, would it still be the fridge even though I'm plugging it in with the main breaker off?

RockBottomRacing wrote:Also, would it still be the fridge even though I'm plugging it in with the main breaker off?Yes, it could be. Ground faults are between neutral and ground. The breaker only disconnects the hot wire.There’s no guarantee it’s the fridge but since it plugs in and a common failure, it’s super easy to eliminate it.

I keep popping the GFI plug when I plug into shore power

joshuajim
Explorer II
Jul 01, 2018
If you accidentally turned on the water heater electric while it was empty, the element burned out and will cause a ground fault. Make sure the heater is off and try again.

This one caused me hours of frustration.
jerseyjim
Explorer
Jul 01, 2018
FWIW, MAGNATEK became PARALLAX quite a few years ago. My (2001) MAGNATEK was failing, so doing quick research, found PARALLAX. The difference (size and weight) was astounding. Old tech vs new tech. Large and heavy to small and light.
So light that I didn't use mounting screws. 1 strip of Velcro to hold it on the shelf.

Again....FWIW.
wnjj
Explorer II
Jul 01, 2018
RockBottomRacing wrote:
Also, would it still be the fridge even though I'm plugging it in with the main breaker off?

Yes, it could be. Ground faults are between neutral and ground. The breaker only disconnects the hot wire.

There’s no guarantee it’s the fridge but since it plugs in and a common failure, it’s super easy to eliminate it.
RockBottomRacin
Explorer
Jul 01, 2018
Mandalay Parr wrote:
You have a ground fault. Nothing to do with the 12 volt system.
Call me. I can help.

Hey Jerry, that's awesome of you to offer to talk to me and help. Are you sure it's not too late? 11:30 here where I am lol just don't want to be a bother when you're offering help :)

My extension cord ran a grinder yesterday and a sawzall the day before, I did test the cord though and ran my air compressor off it and had no problems at all, worked great. I will unplug the fridge tomorrow and test that. I have an awning that's in the way of the cover for the back of the fridge and it's a real pain so I'll tackle that in the morning when I can actually see lol.

Also, would it still be the fridge even though I'm plugging it in with the main breaker off?
wnjj
Explorer II
Jul 01, 2018
Unplug the fridge from its receptacle (in the outside panel) and try the GFCI again. A shorted (to ground) AC heating element is a fairly common failure. It’s possible a rodent messed around behind the fridge and caused the 12V fridge issue along with this one too.
Mandalay_Parr
Explorer
Jul 01, 2018
You have a ground fault. Nothing to do with the 12 volt system.
Call me. I can help.
bob213
Explorer
Jul 01, 2018
Try the extension cord somewhere else with any electrical item plugged into it. Maybe your "good" extension cord has a problem. If it's good, I would check the connections on the converter.
Sometimes gfi's don't play well together.
You need to try a non gfi circuit in the house.
But the sparking is worrisome.

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