Forum Discussion

Explorer

Apr 05, 2016

Trailer is tripping a GFI in my garage....

I have a 2012 Dutchmen trailer that I keep plugged into the side of my garage.
Normally not its a problem but it has begun to trip a GFI plug in my garage.
I have narrowed it down to one circuit breaker in my trailer that seems to be the cause...
I have flipped all the breakers off in my trailer and turned them on one by one, and the only one that causes this is labled "GFI".
The GFI plug in my trailer is in my bathroom and has the outlets on the same wall in that circuit.
My refrigerator is in it also so I cannot use it on electricity.

I have swapped out the extension cord so that is not it.

Has anyone heard of this or has any direction I can check next?

Thanks in advance...

35 Replies

scrubjaysnest
Explorer
Apr 06, 2016
Could also be the hotwater heater element ours was wired to the same breaker as the reefer.
time2roll
Nomad
Apr 05, 2016
Unplug the fridge (exterior access compartment) and try again.
Then use a good extension cord and plug you fridge direct to the garage GFI.
road-runner
Explorer III
Apr 05, 2016
A pretty good GFCI troubleshooting procedure can be found in this post GFCI troubleshooting post. Too bad it's not a sticky because this comes up fairly often.
enblethen
Nomad
Apr 05, 2016
Un-plug the refer and see if doing that clears the problem.
If it does, disconnect the 120 volt element wires from the circuit board. Plug in the refer and see if it clears the problem.
No, then circuit board.
Yes, it is the element in the stack.
Hiking_Hunter
Explorer
Apr 05, 2016
Could be a bad heating element in your refrigerator (still working but one side shorted to ground). Try unplugging your refrigerator from 120v and see if the GFI will reset. The plug should be accessible behind the outside access panel.