GFCI and an Open Ground
Given: A 120 VAC GFCI supplying power to a 30 AMP RV. The RV has one problem, the 3rd Prong Ground wire at the 30 AMP plug is not making connection. (The RV chassis is floating because there are no ot...
Forum Discussion
BB_TX wrote:The path that the GFCI protects is between either the hot or (with a modern GFCI, neutral) to the earth through an individual. That "tickle" you feel with an ungrounded RV metal shell is what the GFCI is designed to prevent.
A GFCI trips when stray current leaks off to ground thru some unintended path. If you do not have a ground, it can’t leak off. And therefore the GFCI would never trip, even if it should. Lack of a good ground is not a good thing. And is also not safe for you. You need to correct that problem.
The US NEC allows (in fact, encourages) replacing 2 pole receptacles with GFCIs. They do not need a ground to function, although code does require labeling the 3 pole GFCI receptacles with a note that there is no ground connection.
There are lots of good reasons for carrying a non conducting ground throughout a facility or RV, but needing one for a GFCI to function is not one of them.
