GFCI at shore power tripping

[drummer2020]

Hello Everyone. Brand new to this. Hopefully someone can help me out. I have a 2021 Amerilite 199DD travel trailer. I inadvertently drained the hot water tank for winterizing and thought I had the switch off but I did not. The element failed of course. The GFCI on the shore power tripped to alert me. I went ahead and installed a new element, but alas, the GFCI tripped again after a few hours. I went ahead replaced the converter thinking that that may have been damaged in the element failure but still, the GFCI tripped. At this point, I isolated it down to the "GEN" circuit. When this one is in the "off" position, the GFCI at the shore is not tripping. I have a 30 amp to 15 amp plug adapter for the power source and have been using this for the last 3 months with no issue until the element failure, for information sake. If someone has some words of wisdom that would be super. Thanks!!

[CA_Traveler]

enblethen wrote:
How long is your extension cord?
If short and you can live with 25 foot, I would get a standard RV 30 amp extension cord not only for home but to carry on the road. Sometime the connected shore power cord is not long enough.

X2 Or 2x25'.

[enblethen]

How long is your extension cord?
If short and you can live with 25 foot, I would get a standard RV 30 amp extension cord not only for home but to carry on the road. Sometime the connected shore power cord is not long enough.

[drummer2020]

I will definitely check the existing power cord. Thanks!!

[ktmrfs]

on the trailer power cord make sure that there is NO continuity between the neutral and ground. If there is continuity (<10Kohm or so) GFCI will trip because in addition to looking for hot neutral imbalance they check for ground neutral short. either will trip the GFCI

[drummer2020]

Found my multi meter. There is no continuity between the pins on the shore power cord (disconnected from house and adapter removed) as well as I tested the adapter and there is no continuity there either. That being said, I just discovered that the extension cord from shore power is a 14 gauge extension cord. From my knowledge, I should be using a 12 or 10 gauge. Don't know if that is the issue but it needs to be corrected anyway. I am going to get a new cord and dog bone style adapter and then continue trying to isolate. If I am unable to pinpoint the issue at that point, I am going to take it in for servicing. I will keep you posted. Thanks for everyone's help!

[enblethen]

That sounds better, converter!
When you find meter, shut off all breakers in your rig, measure between pins on rig's shore power cord disconnected from house and with adapter removed. There should be no continuity between any of the pins. Test adapter in same way.

[drummer2020]

Erg. I mean converter. I should have waited a little bit after breakfast to post this. Sorry for the confusion. The converter is a WFCO 55 AMP, model # WF8955PECB. Everyone on here has given me plenty to look in to so I will do some poking around today. I do have a multimeter.

[enblethen]

Another weak spot in the circuit is the refer. Unplug the 120 volt refer cord in the outside access.
You said you replaced "inverter". Do you mean converter or inverter? make and model?
Don't throw more parts to situation. This can cause confusion!

[enblethen]

Do you have a multi meter to test circuit?

[drummer2020]

Oops. I meant 120 volts. Not enough coffee yet. 🙂 I will try a dogbone style adapter.

[enblethen]

Your rig is 120 volts!
If they gave you a small hockey puck style adapter(Hockey puck) get a dog bone style.
Dogbone adapter

[drummer2020]

Also, I did plug it into another power source at home and it tripped that GFCI too.

[drummer2020]

I do happen to have another known good adapter so I will try that as well. Thanks for the suggestions!!

[drummer2020]

It is a 30 amp RV. The adapter plug is 30 amp to 15 amp adapter. The trailer is parked at my house and I keep it plugged in while not in use in case we want to use the lights or radio in the trailer when working on the trailer. I will try and do some testing today once I find my multimeter and get back to you guys. Thanks for the input.

[CA_Traveler]

Bud,

Good clarification. I interpted his post to mean a 20/50 adapter or 20 M to 50 F. But 20/30 plus 30/50 adapters is another solution.

Good suggestion to further isolate the HW.