Electrical help

[ThePrez]

I have a 2014 Sandsport 25FBX. Cannot find any real information on it which is how
I stumbled upon this website. Owned it for a few years with no real problems other than typical maintenance. Recently noticed my batteries were **** near dead which I thought was odd as it’s ALWAYS plugged in. GFI outlet that trailer is plugged into was tripped. Ok no big deal, I reset. Tripped again. After doing this 4 or 5 times my wife noticed sparks coming out of fuse panel next to fridge under sink. No breakers are tripped. No fuses are blown. There is a piece of hardware underneath that is wired into breaker and has burn marks on it where is sparking. What is this thing and what does it do? Obviously has something to do with batteries charging and fridge.
Any ideas or advice? I don’t know how to post pics on this off my iPhone.

Thanks Prez

[cavie]

Not so. Some do, some don't. Many RV'ers had discovered this problem. I proved it for myself with 2 of my trailers parked side by side. 2002 5th wheel and 2011 Keystone. Neither would work when plugged into a GFI circuit. Trip the GFI outlet in either trailer and the shore GFI would stay activated. It seams to be within the quality if the GFI outlets.

[ScottG]

cavie wrote:
There are no arc fault breakers in an RV. There are no GFI breakers unless in a higher end MH. GFI Outlets are used in the RV world. It would be in the bathroom. Pictures would help. 2 GFI's in series don't play nice.

All good advice but GFCI's in series have no effect on each other. You could have thousands of them in a string and they would all work fine.

Cheers,
Scott

[cavie]

There are no arc fault breakers in an RV. There are no GFI breakers unless in a higher end MH. GFI Outlets are used in the RV world. It would be in the bathroom. Pictures would help. 2 GFI's in series don't play nice.

[ScottG]

Sounds like a simple loose connection. I would start by tightening every screw terminal.
Every RV I've bought had some loose connections at the breakers.

[joebedford]

Is that your converter and it's shorting out?

[opnspaces]

It might be your arc reactor going out. ;)I would flip the breaker that it is connected to an see if the GFCI still trips. If all is well with the breaker off then look for a name or number on the unit that sparks and we'll see if we can help.

[enblethen]

If itis either a gfci or arc device, it may need to be removed to clear issue.

[time2roll]

Can you turn that one breaker off that has the device with burn marks? Maybe the rest can operate normal. Does this breaker have any identification of usage?

In the mean time get a portable charger direct on the battery as it is desperate for a charge. If spending money get at least 5 amp charger, 20 amps is better.

Does that burnt devise have any name, description, or numbers on it?

[enblethen]

It could be a GFI circuit breaker. Or an arc fault breaker.
What color is wire?

[Lwiddis]

“as it’s ALWAYS plugged in.”

How often do you check the battery water level? Solar is safer way to charge and maintain batteries.

Try this for pictures... http://photoposting.is-great.net/?i=3