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GFCI won't reset

Evanford1992
Explorer
Explorer
Last night my wife was using the blow dryer plugged into the GFCI in the bathroom as she heated tea in the microwave. We think the GFCI has blown as it will not reset and most all outlets are down in the 2010 Keystone Outback.

We do not have any blown fuses or any tripped breakers.

The ground is very wet and doesnt look like we will be abke to get it out to the shop for several weeks or more.

Ideas and problem solving?
33 REPLIES 33

Jayco254
Explorer
Explorer
Sounds like your CFCI went bad and needs to be replaced. It happened to my T.T. a few years ago it seemed to go bad for no reason. But it's inexpensive and easy to replace I'd just make sure your 120v line is disconnected.
Tom, Kathy, Nikki, & Kelly
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_1Flyboy
Explorer
Explorer
... Where did evanford go? Problem resolved? Or not?...?????...

pianotuna
Nomad III
Nomad III
Hi,

I was able to retrofit boxes in all but one location. I did add some boxes, too.

SidecarFlip wrote:
beemerphile1 wrote:
Any receptacle replaced in an RV should be an RV/mobile home type. Typical residential/commercial receptacles must be in an electrical box and RVs generally do not have electrical boxes.


Mine does......
Regards, Don
My ride is a 28 foot Class C, 256 watts solar, 556 amp-hours of Telcom jars, 3000 watt Magnum hybrid inverter, Sola Basic Autoformer, Microair Easy Start.

SidecarFlip
Explorer III
Explorer III
beemerphile1 wrote:
Any receptacle replaced in an RV should be an RV/mobile home type. Typical residential/commercial receptacles must be in an electrical box and RVs generally do not have electrical boxes.


Mine does......
2015 Backpack SS1500
1997 Ford 7.3 OBS 4x4 CC LB

BurbMan
Explorer II
Explorer II
If you have no power at all to the trailer, then you probably tripped the house power. If you are plugged into a regular outside outlet at your home, then either THAT GFCI tripped or the breaker that outlet is on has tripped. Likely not the GFCI in the trailer if you have no electric at all.

bguy
Explorer
Explorer
My question is does the GFI trip again as you try to reset it ( same as when you push the test button ) or is the electricity not coming on?
---------------------------------------
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beemerphile1
Explorer
Explorer
Any receptacle replaced in an RV should be an RV/mobile home type. Typical residential/commercial receptacles must be in an electrical box and RVs generally do not have electrical boxes.
Build a life you don't need a vacation from.

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Ed_Gee
Explorer II
Explorer II
#1Flyboy wrote:
... Do you have an inverter in your RV? I had the SAME problem; had to reset 1 of the 2 circuit breakers on the inverter to get the outlet to work...For some reason they ran the outlets thru the inverter, and yes, I was plugged into 50A at the time... Your setup might be different than mine, but after spending a day trying to resolve the problem, this was a easy solution to my problem!!! Good luck...


The OP has an Outback trailer, which according to my review, does not have an Inverter with AC power wired through it. He REALLY NEEDS TO START with an examination to see if his shore power is even working.
Ed - on the Central Oregon coast
2018 Winnebago Fuse 23A
Scion xA toad

jimlj
Explorer
Explorer
If you have no power to any outlet in your trailer, more than likely it is NOT your GFCI outlet tripped. In fact if you were using the Microwave and a hair dryer at the same time, I'd be willing to bet it is the breaker feeding the outlet your trailer is plugged into. If it is at your house and you don't have a dedicated circuit to plug into, I'd also be willing to bet it is plugged into a 15 or 20 amp circuit that would have tripped with that load on it.

_1Flyboy
Explorer
Explorer
... Do you have an inverter in your RV? I had the SAME problem; had to reset 1 of the 2 circuit breakers on the inverter to get the outlet to work...For some reason they ran the outlets thru the inverter, and yes, I was plugged into 50A at the time... Your setup might be different than mine, but after spending a day trying to resolve the problem, this was a easy solution to my problem!!! Good luck...

budwich
Explorer
Explorer
get a 30amp to 15/20 converter block and get a lamp.... plug it in and see if you get a light at the outlet of the house.... since some on here don't want people to use a multimeter to check things when the operator don't work so good on electrical problems... 🙂

ktmrfs
Explorer
Explorer
Evanford1992 wrote:
ktmrfs wrote:
Evanford1992 wrote:
Replying to ScottG, I am not very good with electrical problems so how would I determine if it was an exterior outlet that got wet and tripped versus the GFCI just going bad?

She was using the blow dryer amd microwave as it blew which makes me think it was something going bad rather than water outside the rv although it was raining last night.


microwave in 99%+ cases is NOT tied to the GFI circuit. If it is the microwave is wired against NEC code. Microwave should be on it's own dedicated circuit.

So, the only load on the GFI outlet was the hair dryer.

Now GFI are known to fail, have had them fail before. but with it being wet outside, could also be the outside outlet. I don't know of an easy way to detmine if it is the GFI or outside outlet being wet.


I have never opened, nor have I used the outside outlet so I am going to work on determining power from the house as well as disconnecting the GFCI.


even if you have never used or opened the cover on the outside outlet doesn't mean it doesn't have moisture.

If you were getting power from the house, my guess is you popped a breaker in the house. Max current allowed under NEC code to a duplex outlet is 20A, many are wired to 15A circuit with a hair dryer and microwave running you are definitely over 20A, So unless you are hooked to a dedicated 30A outlet in the house, check your house breaker panel.
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midnightsadie
Explorer II
Explorer II
please call a mobil tech , if you can,t figure this out, or some one would is close and understands power.

Ed_Gee
Explorer II
Explorer II
Evanford, I note that you are not electrically knowledgeable, so I will try to give you some starting ideas, despite my chest cold induced stupor! ??. From your description, you have no AC at any outlet in the trailer. Logic would dictate you start at the starting point.....your shore power. I wish you had and could use a Voltmeter, or at least an AC socket tester, but since you don’t we’ll proceed this way. First check your house breaker. Just because a breaker doesn’t look tripped doesn’t mean it isn’t. Manually trip the breaker and then put back ON. You don’t say what you are using for shore power outlet, but if possible plug some known good device into it in place of your trailer cord and confirm you do have AC at that point. I don’t know what your connection to the trailer is, either. If not hardwired, can you check for electricity at the other end of the cord? Can you access whatever interface you have at that end to test? Inside your trailer manually trip ALL AC breakers and reset them.
Given the limitations you are working with, and lack of specifics for me, this is about all I can suggest at the moment.
Ed - on the Central Oregon coast
2018 Winnebago Fuse 23A
Scion xA toad