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marlene18014's avatar
marlene18014
Explorer
Aug 03, 2014

Please help/ outlet question

Hi all. I have been dealing with an issue awhile now involving my newly purchased rv. I bought my rv second hand and the previous owner had an issue with an outlet in the rv. There is an outlet located in the kitchen that has the cover of, wires exposed and I cannot seem to find any info on replacing this. First, I am not even sure if it is supposed to be a GFCI or just a regular outlet. There are two sets of wires coming from the wall. Each have 3 diferent colored wires attached within a covering. One each of black, white, and a third with some type of tanish paper covering. The one set is attched to the hanging bad outlet. The other set is just loose. Someone told me that it might be a regular outet type on a gfci receptacle, if that makes any sense?!? Could someone tell me if this sounds familiar to any certain type of outlet? I am so confused. I have a gfi in the bathroom so should there be another. Another issue is my outside outlets that once worked now do not and my microwave that also worked once now trips the breaker within 30 seconds. I have an 02 sprinter 5th wheel.
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Aug 04, 2014
    It being an outlet in kitchen it should have a GFCI outlet installed.
    IF you have a regular outlet....check AC circuit breaker panel for a GFCI circuit breaker. IF NO GFCI circuit breakers then you should install a GFCI outlet there in kitchen

    The 2 sets of wiring.....romex wire with 'white', 'black' and paper wrapped 'ground'

    One cable feeds power to outlet..then other cable when connected will feed power to other outlets downstream of that GFCI outlet.

    GFCI outlet.....Front view


    GFCI outlet.....Backside view


    GFCI outlet....wiring


    You need to test each cable wires to see which one is 'hot' (AC circuit breaker ON)
    Test between black & white wires from one cable.
    When you find the set that is powered that will be the black (hot) and white you connect to GFCI LINE. (AC circuit breaker OFF)
    Then other cable black and white connect to GFCI LOAD

    The paper wrapped wire is ground and they connect together with one connected to 'green' screw on outlet.

    IF you have a GFCI circuit breaker..then you can use a regular outlet..wire it the same
  • MEXICOWANDERER's avatar
    MEXICOWANDERER
    Explorer
    Aug 03, 2014
    Marlene can you take a photo of this and post it here? It would be of immense help. Two images from different angles.
  • enblethen's avatar
    enblethen
    Nomad
    Aug 03, 2014
    Welcome to rv.net!
    Odds are that it should be a GFCI receptacle. The third wire should be bare, but someone might have put tape on it.
    If you have a 120 volt test light or a meter, check the wires to see if they are hot, then trip the GFCI in the bath.
    Outside should be either a GFCI or fed from GFCI.

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