GFI circuit drawing down whole camper.

[djpetrou]

I need some suggestions here.
2004 Trailhauler toyhauler.
One circuit has gfi receptacles at the kitchen sink, the bathroom sink and at the cook top.
When this circuit is on it draws the battery down an will drain it. This happens even when hooked to shore power. It is a considerable drain when turning the breaker on and off.
I am suspecting a GFI maybe or with the age of the unit maybe the converter.
Any suggestions on finding the problem?
D.J.

[CA_Traveler]

A clampon ammeter that measures AC/DC voltage and AC/DC amps could be very useful. For example how much AC current is the GFCI circuit drawing and how much DC discharge.

And this is a very useful tool for RVers with basic electrical experience besides this thread. An inexpensive one which will be accurate enough is about $50.

Be safe if you open AC circuit areas to measure AC voltage or amps.

[djpetrou]

myredracer wrote:
What about the voltage level on your shore power? Is it possible that if that is already low and then when you plug into your GFCI recept., you are dragging the voltage down low enough that the converter can't charge or trips out?

Are you plugged into a pedestal at a CG with a 30A cord or at home and connected with a 15A extension cord?

This is when plugged into a 30A Ped.
Also the GFCI plugs have nothing plugged into them when this is happening. So. IMO there should be no draw.

[myredracer]

What about the voltage level on your shore power? Is it possible that if that is already low and then when you plug into your GFCI recept., you are dragging the voltage down low enough that the converter can't charge or trips out?

Are you plugged into a pedestal at a CG with a 30A cord or at home and connected with a 15A extension cord?

[CA_Traveler]

Disconnect the charger AC input and see what happens.

Buy a wire tracer/sniffer and trace the GFCI wiring to see where it goes and connects to.

Is this a recent problem or from 2004? Blue Sky thinking maybe something is miswired on the GFCI circuit?

Identify and check all equipment that uses both AC and DC: For example refer, HW, charger, AC's, etc.

Could you have a second battery/charger just for the garage part?

Any new or unique mods to the unit?

[djpetrou]

Ok, Let me clear up a few things.Obviously the GFCI circuit is 120v.

IF I am plugged into shore power it works, If I am unplugged it does not work. (non of the 120v circuits obviously will work)
I am the only owner and this does not have an inverter.

If I am plugged in the shore power and the GFCI circuit breaker switch on the Power dist panel is turned "ON" over a short time the lights go dim, the fans slow down and the battery is also drained.

IF I turn off the circuit breaker (at the power dist panel) for the GFCI's then everything returns to normal. The battery charges back up and the camper runs like normal.

Also, if I remove the battery and charge it in the garage it will charge fully and hold a charge.

Does the clarify the situation?

[MNtundraRet]

I missed on thing on my last reply.

The GFI reset outlets may have been effected by this setup and may need replacing as you suspect.

[MNtundraRet]

djpetrou wrote:
Battery checked out fine and charges on a stand alone unit just fine.
I'm kind of expecting the converter to finally be bad. No inverter.

From your first post and this reply, your converter/charger is hooked up to this circuit (and circuit breaker). Poor choice on the manufacturer's part. Also; you do not even have an inverter installed.

Too many repliers confused about this.

The converter/charger is going bad and cannot recharge the battery(s). It might be just a bad ground or other connections since you seem to think you had charging. Turning off the circuit-breaker on this circuit takes the converter/charger "off-line" with no battery charging. The fast discharge shows the battery is going "belly up".

I really do not think your battery is "fine". Your posted symptoms point to a highly sulfated battery that can no longer hold much of it's original capacity. Can you see at least 12.6 volts when reading voltage at the battery-terminals at least 24 hours after leaving the RV unplugged?

It looks like you need both a new converter/charger, all connections, grounds, checked and cleaned, along with a new house-battery.

[YC_1]

Old-biscuit is on the trail.

1.
IF that GFI has 120V AC power when you aren't connected to AC power source then it HAS to be powered by an inverter drawing from battery

If you are not the original owner there could be a modification you are unaware of. Such as a hidden Inverter. Look under and in cabinets for something about the size of a large thick book.

[queenie2]

The GFI is not meant to be a switch. Do you go around and shut them all off and on? Why? Should also occur if not connected to shore power. In which case it probably is the converter. And you have an inverter but do not know it.

[Old-Biscuit]

djpetrou wrote:
One circuit has gfi receptacles at the kitchen sink, the bathroom sink and at the cook top.
When this circuit is on it draws the battery down an will drain it. This happens even when hooked to shore power.

:H

You state you don't have an inverter but you also say this happens when hooked to shore power.......

IF that GFI has 120V AC power when you aren't connected to AC power source then it HAS to be powered by an inverter drawing from battery.

The inverter draw on a battery can draw the 12V DC voltage down fairly quickly when using high amp items.

And when on AC power source the converter maybe failing and can't keep up with the drain on battery and battery is probably shot from excessive low voltages (Can be charged OK but doesn't hold a charge)

But an AC GFI Circuit would not draw a battery down UNLESS it is feed via an inverter tied to battery.........two separate system AC & DC

[westend]

djpetrou wrote:
Battery checked out fine and charges on a stand alone unit just fine.
I'm kind of expecting the converter to finally be bad. No inverter.

What voltages did you measure? Did you measure without the converter powered, too?

[TucsonJim]

This was the exact same symptom I had when my converter went out. I replaced it with a new one from Camping World. About 10 months later, the exact same symptoms. I called the converter manufacturer and they sent me a free replacement. Each time I installed the new converter it solved the problem instantly.

[djpetrou]

Battery checked out fine and charges on a stand alone unit just fine.
I'm kind of expecting the converter to finally be bad. No inverter.

[westend]

Sounds like a combination of bad converter and low battery. Do you have an inverter in that rig?

[djpetrou]

Ok, so when I turn on the 120v GFCI circuit all the 12v lights dim and the battery gets drawn down. leave it like this and in 30 min the battery is dead.