Hey guys, I have one GFI outlet located in the bathroom. Downstream or in series from that GFI outlet is three other outlets. Two of them are inside in the other bathroom and the next is an outside outlet. We have had a tremendous amount of rain here, am I correct in assuming that the outlet that is located outside and had a cord plugged into it when it was raining may be the culprit? If not please advise. Thanks so much, DavidThe new GF Ioutlet has a red light that is constantly flickering and a constant green light.No reset.

Did you unplug everything from those other outlets? If so maybe rain got in that outside outlet. Try blowing it out with some air and see if that helps.It will not reset until the fault is repaired or removed from the circuit. They are very sensitive as they should be so people don’t get shocked.

GFCI will not reset without power to it. Verify that you have power to the line side using voltmeter.If power is present, disconnect the load wires and retry. If unit resets there is problems down-stream.

You have power in as much as the lights on the GFCI are illuminating.A new GFCI wouldn't reset for three possible reasons, provided it does have power:1. You have a ground fault of some sort downstream. A bit of water in the outdoor outlet would be one quite believable cause for this.2. You have the line and load connections mixed up (on some models, not all).3. Very rarely, you got a broken unit from the factory.

We had that same problem with an outside GFCI at home. Whenever it rained it would trip. I gave up and replaced it with a standard single outlet for that one extension cord.But in the February 2020 Trailer Life one posters stated that his outside GFCI would fill up with water when it rained which tripped it and after it drained out or evaporated the GFCI could be reset. The solution was to drill a drain hole in the box to allow the rainwater to drain out.

New GFI Outlet Will Not Reset | Good Sam Community

16 Replies

wa8yxm
Explorer III
Jan 23, 2020
The constant green light suggests it's already "Set" but the flickering red suggests a screw loose.. Many RVers have a few screws loose.. Most take a #2 Square bit (or #2 Phillips) and many can be found in the area of the circuit breakers.. Be sure to unplug before you TIGHTEN EVERY SCREW IN THAT BOX.
time2roll
Nomad
Jan 23, 2020
ENG2242 wrote:
We have had a tremendous amount of rain here, am I correct in assuming that the outlet that is located outside and had a cord plugged into it when it was raining may be the culprit? If not please advise. Thanks so much, David
Yes a damp exterior outlet can allow leakage to ground and trip the GFCI. If you have an air compressor you could try to dry it out some.
DFord
Explorer
Jan 23, 2020
The receptacle behind the refrigerator accessible through the outside refrigerator panel on our MH is also connected to our GFCI. Be sure to check it.
DrewE
Explorer II
Jan 23, 2020
ktmrfs wrote:
DrewE wrote:
You have power in as much as the lights on the GFCI are illuminating.

A new GFCI wouldn't reset for three possible reasons, provided it does have power:
1. You have a ground fault of some sort downstream. A bit of water in the outdoor outlet would be one quite believable cause for this.
2. You have the line and load connections mixed up (on some models, not all).
3. Very rarely, you got a broken unit from the factory.

add (4) ground and neutral shorted downstream of the GFCI. This will also trip a GFCI.

That is true. I was considering that to be a form of ground fault, but it's good to call it out separately. It's also not too uncommon to find, particularly when putting in a GFCI where one was not previously there, since such shorts can easily go undetected and don't in themselves cause any problems in an otherwise properly constructed and working electrical system.
ktmrfs
Explorer II
Jan 23, 2020
DrewE wrote:
You have power in as much as the lights on the GFCI are illuminating.

A new GFCI wouldn't reset for three possible reasons, provided it does have power:
1. You have a ground fault of some sort downstream. A bit of water in the outdoor outlet would be one quite believable cause for this.
2. You have the line and load connections mixed up (on some models, not all).
3. Very rarely, you got a broken unit from the factory.

add (4) ground and neutral shorted downstream of the GFCI. This will also trip a GFCI.
ScottG
Nomad
Jan 23, 2020
For some strange reason, the manufacturers of GFCI swapped the "line" and "load" connections from top to bottom a few years back. So if you hook up the new one exaclty the same as an old one, it would be backwards and dead. Might verify the connections.
Etstorm
Explorer
Jan 23, 2020
Might also check and be sure there is not another GFCI on the same circuit which is tripped
BFL13
Explorer II
Jan 22, 2020
Look carefully at the vinyl covering of the wires going into the GFCI in case they have cuts in them. I had a mystery issue that turned out to be that, where the cut let the wire touch the frame (which is grounded) just before it got to the GFCI connection. Those cuts can be hard to spot.
enblethen
Nomad
Jan 22, 2020
Make sure your line and load wiring is on the correct terminals.
Make sure neutral, white wire is on silver screws, and the black wires is on the brass screw.
Yeti_plus
Explorer
Jan 22, 2020
On my Bigfoot I had much the same problem. The waterproof covers are good at keeping water out, but also good at keeping water in. When I pulled the cover off the exterior receptacle I was amazed at the amount of water that poured out. I would start by removing the exterior receptacle cover, and as has been suggested blowing out the moisture. If that doesn't do it then check the connections on the new GFCI making sure to get the line and load connections on the right terminals.
Brian