Tripping GFCI

[Don_in_LA]

I have a 2006 Crossroads Cruise 5th wheel. I have a GFCI that is tripping and killing the circuit. The breaker does not trip and the fuse does not blow. I changed the GFCI and I get the same result. After filling the circuit and changing the GFCI, the circuit worked with a moderate load for about 30 minutes then the GFCI tripped again. I attempted to reset the GFCI and it immediately tripped again. The circuit was showing the same symptoms previously and then started working normally and then, again, started tripping. The GFCI seems to be the 1st in the circuit. There is a hot line coming in and a load line going out of the box. All other circuits function when the GFCI trips. The only other anomaly is occasionally the 12v lights will dim briefly. Any thoughts?

[rseymour21]

Don in LA wrote:
Thanks for a lot of good observations. I probably won't get to additional trouble shooting for a couple of days. I ran into a ground wasp nest yesterday and got stung 40 times. I had to jump into my bayou to get away from the wasps. I'm a little woozy from the Benadryl.

Don

Hope your okay! That would be a real bummer! 40 times, I'd be crying!

[kroghville]

I had the same issue in a new unit, Plugged in the cell phone charger and in 2 ,5 ,4, or whatever seconds, it would trip.Had nothing else on the circuit. Took the fiver into CW for some minor warranty thing and had the tech there look for the problem and he stated he found nothing wrong at all. It's been working fine ever since. Go figure!!!
P.S. They had the nerve to try and charge me $125.00 an hour for not finding the problem,

[wmgeorge]

Pop-Pop C wrote:
I replaced three GFCI IN MY CARDINAL.
Finially found a wire that had a piece of aluminum that ha duct into it.
Found this one in the back passenger side ,where the slide and th rear
Quarter came together. Took a lot of investigation and luck.
This was ove about 18 months as it would not trip all the time
Good luck!

Was it metal touching the bare White wire? That would be a hard one to find!!

[Pop-Pop_C]

I replaced three GFCI IN MY CARDINAL.
Finially found a wire that had a piece of aluminum that ha duct into it.
Found this one in the back passenger side ,where the slide and th rear
Quarter came together. Took a lot of investigation and luck.
This was ove about 18 months as it would not trip all the time
Good luck!

[Don_in_LA]

Thanks for a lot of good observations. I probably won't get to additional trouble shooting for a couple of days. I ran into a ground wasp nest yesterday and got stung 40 times. I had to jump into my bayou to get away from the wasps. I'm a little woozy from the Benadryl.

Don

[wmgeorge]

FYI I have never seen it happen but others have. If the neutral (white wire most cases) and the green grounding conductor are touching at some point that can cause in some cases a trip. Never saw it others have.

[CA_Traveler]

Install a GFI in the garage or make/buy an extension cord with one. Then use it on the refer to see if the problem occurs. Later the HW, etc.

[Kentucky_Travel]

It sounds more and more like a grounding issue within your electrical system. Bad grounds would cause several different kinds of "odd" problems.

[wmgeorge]

"Good post but not entirely correct. You don't have to be using a three prong device to be protected by a GFCI receptacle.
The GFCI will trip if it see's a current imbalance between the hot and common or if it see's current from hot but NOT on common, which suggests the current is taking another route - through you."

Correct. In fact you can replace standard non grounded outlets with GFI 3 wire outlets and be up to Code. Frankly I would like to see a ground wire or Earth connection, but sometimes in old houses its just about impossible.

[drfife]

I had a same symtoms on a previous trailer.

The bus bar had worked slightly loose.

Unplug from shore power and make sure the bus bar screws are tight.

[Don_in_LA]

Roy--Thanks for the suggestions. I am currently using the standard RV electrical cord supplied with the 5th wheel. It is plugged into a surge protector, which is plugged into a dedicated 30amp RV receptacle. The frige is plugged into a 15 ft, 14 Ga extension which is plugged into a 20 receptacle in the garage. I checked the receptacle with the plug-in analyzer. Both of the receptacles check out OK. I'm still scratching my head.

[RoyB]

If you are connected to a 120VAC 15A/20A receptacle in your garage using a RV30A-15A LONG Adapter it could be your 120VAC receptacle you are plugged into in your garage...

Make sure you are using all three wire connections. Some adapters may have the GROUND PIN removed...

The 120VAC receptacle you are plugged into may not even have the ground wire connected.

Before I hook up I use one of these circuit testers from LOWES and if the test lights don't show the CORRECT sequence I will not use that receptacle - plug it into another receptacle location that tests good.


We are all just plugging away in the dark here...
Roy Ken

[Don_in_LA]

Thanks for all of the replies. Sorry I didn't get back sooner. I've been busy with other stuff.

I changed the inside GFCI that keeps tripping. It still trips. The RV has been stored in my garage for the last month since our last trip. I also changed the outlet for the fridge. I am having trouble keeping the fridge running on shore power. It does run on AC but only when I have the propane turned on. I am now supplying the fridge with an extension cord, with the propane off, and the fridge works fine. It's looking more and more like a ground issue with either the fridge or water heater. Thanks again.

[ScottG]

motorcycle jack wrote:
A GFCI works by comparing the current in the return leg of power to the ground leg's current. If any item is working correctly the ground carries NO current, all current is in the hot and neutral legs. So Something is shorted to ground and allowing current to flow through it. Start by having everything on and as you turn off breakers check the GFCI to see if it will stay on. When it does, the last circuit you powered off has the fault. If you have everything off and it still trips then it is a weak GFCI and needs to be replaced. It could be as simple as one of the devices YOU plugged in (BUT it must have a three prong plug to be involved, two prongs do not use the GFCI) or in installed item (water heater, refrigerator, microwave or even the surge protector or the inverter for your battery charging). Good luck with finding it. Can you use the trailer with it off? Yes but something will not be working when it should.

Good post but not entirely correct. You don't have to be using a three prong device to be protected by a GFCI receptacle.
The GFCI will trip if it see's a current imbalance between the hot and common or if it see's current from hot but NOT on common, which suggests the current is taking another route - through you.
How GFCI works