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GFCI at shore power tripping

drummer2020
Explorer
Explorer
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!!
Drummer for Life
35 REPLIES 35

enblethen
Nomad
Nomad
Bad adapter could also cause issues. Neutral damaged?

Bud
USAF Retired
Pace Arrow


2003 Chev Ice Road Tracker

CA_Traveler
Explorer III
Explorer III
Understood but don't discount changing conditions. Turn off all CBs except the one for the Gen circuit. Do you still have the problem?

GFCI tripping can be difficult to isolate. A ground fault from the hot line to ground is one and turning off CBs can help to isolate that type.

GFCIs can also detect on a turned off circuit a potential leak from neutral to ground. Isolation of this fault involves disconnecting the circuits neutral wire.

Refers involve moisture and are another possible source.
2009 Holiday Rambler 42' Scepter with ISL 400 Cummins
750 Watts Solar Morningstar MPPT 60 Controller
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland

Bob

enblethen
Nomad
Nomad
You do not have a 220 adapter or at least you better not have!
If your rig is equipped with a fifty amp four prong cord, you rig is 120/240.
If you have a 30 amp three prong cord it is 120 volts.
First, your water heater element burnt and went to ground. Disconnect all the 120 volt wires going to the water heater. it is possible more then the element was damaged.
Verify that the shore power cord has no continuity between the neutral pin and the ground pin.

Bud
USAF Retired
Pace Arrow


2003 Chev Ice Road Tracker

Dick_B
Explorer
Explorer
Can you plug into another post as a test or is the campground full?
Dick_B
2003 SunnyBrook 27FKS
2011 3/4 T Chevrolet Suburban
Equal-i-zer Hitch
One wife, two electric bikes (both Currie Tech Path+ models)

drummer2020
Explorer
Explorer
Thanks for the reply! You have a good point there but the connections at the adapter and at the plug in source are out of the way of moisture. It has rained a bunch here the last couple months and haven't had an issue previous to the water heater element failure.
Drummer for Life

CA_Traveler
Explorer III
Explorer III
Wondering if the current problem could be related to the rain in the area vs the repaired HW. Moisture is a common cause of a tripped GFCI. Is the 20/50 adapter exposed to the weather as one possible source? Outside plugs are susceptible to moisture. Moisture can be almost anywhere.
2009 Holiday Rambler 42' Scepter with ISL 400 Cummins
750 Watts Solar Morningstar MPPT 60 Controller
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland

Bob