Fridge and GFCI

[kenefick]

We just bought a 2008 Jay 806 and took it on a one-night trial run. In the course of prepping, I plugged the AC power in to a 20amp circuiit at home to check interior lights, water pump and refrigerator. Lights and pump - OK. Refrigerator - no cooling. Checked and there was no voltage to the plug in the back panel. Went to check fuses/breakers, and noticed the little red light glowing on the GFCI outlet. Reset it, and had power to the fridge. Came back about ten minutes later, and the GFCI is tripped again. Reset it, and about 5 minutes later it trips again. Well, we can use an ice chest for a one night stay. At the CG, plugged into 30amp. Again, after a short time, the GFCI trips. I'm thinking ahead to no coffee in the morning, since all outlets are dead. Unplugged the power cord for the refrigerator, reset the GFCI, and no more trips.
Now the question - should the refrigerator be on the GFCI circuit? And if it is, how do I find the problem?
All help appreciated.

[cfrazierski]

Had same problem with Chalet camper plugged fridge into regular outlet, no more problems. Was told my 2014 x213 fridge is not on gfi outlet.

[Threebutchers]

It's probably a bad GFCI outlet. My outlet is right behind the fridge exterior vent...a potentially wet location.

I'd have the fridge tested to make sure it's OK then replace the GFCI

Good Luck

[3'senough]

Originally Posted by Threebutchers

It's probably a bad GFCI outlet. My outlet is right behind the fridge exterior vent...a potentially wet location.

I'd have the fridge tested to make sure it's OK then replace the GFCI

Good Luck

x2. Did you try the outlet without the fridge plugged in? Perhaps another item like a radio you can hear until it trips.

[kenefick]

Thanks for the replies.
New GFCI seems to have solved the problem.

[Threebutchers]

..

[Heady]

Awesome! Glad it was a quick and relativity cheap fix.

[gh6gh6]

I don't know how to start a new thread so I am posting this here hoping someone will see it and steer me in the correct direction.

2015 Eagle 5th wheel touring 28.5RKDS
Shortly after accepting delivery the 120V outlets labelled GFCI went dead. These outlets are not real GFCI outlets the way I know them because there is no TEST/RESET buttons on them. This means that cleverly hidden somewhere in the trailer is a master GFCI TEST/RESET panel. Page 6-3 in the manual hints that this is the case. Can someone tell me where the master GFCI TEST RESET buttons are?
Thanks
gh6gh6

[mnebinger]

There has to be an outlet with test/reset buttons or a circuit breaker with a test button. When you put in a gfci outlet, it protects that outlet and all the "downstream" outlets.

So look all around for the gfci outlet. And if you still can't find it call the dealer and ask them where it is.

[gh6gh6]

Look harder. Did that already but I'll keep doing it.
Ask the dealer. The dealer doesn't know either but is confident they can find it if I am willing to drag the trailer 10 hours one way for them to take a look.
Does anyone actually know where the darn thing is?
We really like this trailer and expect to like it even more when I figure out how to make everything work.

[mnebinger]

I just looked at the manual. You're right, nothing but the most basic information there.

Other than the outlets, what else is not working? Fridge, water heater? On my Jayco the outlets are on the same circuit as the fridge. Maybe yours is the same. Look behind the outside fridge panel and see if the gfci outlet is there. Or if the breaker in the panel is a gfci breaker.

[gh6gh6]

Just the outlets with the GFCI labels are not working. All other 120V outlets, fridge, microwave, ceiling fan, vent fans, pop outs, forward and aft jacks and all lights work.

Taking your advice to just look harder I found another 120V GFCI outlet. This one in the bathroom and it has the TEST/RESET buttons. It won't TEST, it won't RESET its dead. If your theory that one GFCI outlet is the master then this is the master CFCI. Since it is dead then I should have breaker on the 120V panel open also. Unfortunately all breakers on the 120V panel are closed.

My 120V panel is labelled showing the outlets on the same circuit as the fridge same as yours. Thats what the label says. In reality all the none GFCI 120V outlets are powered through the breaker labeled POWER CONVERTER. I have no way of figuring out which breaker powers the GFCI outlets.

I looked behind the fridge. No joy. Just a simple 120V outlet powering the fridge.

Keep trying your helping me.

[norty1]

Any way to check voltage into the master GFCI. Loose connection. Or a bad receptacle. The others likely are fed from this one. The panel breaker does not have to be tripped.

[Kellys]

That gfci in bath that not responding may be on same circuit as the master gfci also having more than one gfci on same circuit will cause false tripping also look on the out side of camper or possibly storage areas

[Kellys]

You might need to get a voltage tester and pull out that gfci in the bath to see if it has voltage to it that could be the master gfci

[gh6gh6]

You guys are the best and I'm sold on this forum.
Here's the deal.
Following Kelly's direction I pulled the bathroom GFCI and put a meter on it. No power. There are two 120V cables going into the bathroom GFCI outlet so obviously this GFCI is the master feeding the others in series.
The 28.5 RKDS has a 50 Amp shore cable. At the feeder end of the cable are 2 blue LED lights. Plugged into 50amps both LED lights illuminate. Plugged into 15 or 30 Amps using an adapter only one of the 2 blue LED lights illuminates. I am at home plugged into 15 amps. Page 6-6 of the manual says the system is designed to operate on 2 legs of 120 V power. Using my handy dandy Camco 50 Amp Female to 15 Amp Male and 30 Amp Male
http://www.etrailer.com/Motorhome-Ac.../CAM55025.html
I plugged both the 30 amp and 15 amp male ends into the house 15 amp power. This tricked the second blue LED light into illuminating providing power to the 2nd leg. Back in the bathroom I was able to reset the master GFCI, all GFCI outlets work and I'm a happy camper.
I conclude that one of the 2 legs powers the GFCI circuit which is powered through the same breaker as the fridge as the panel label indicates. I lied earlier, the fridge was working on gas not 120V. The non GFCI outlets are powered through the POWER CONVERTER breaker and the panel label does not indicate this. Thanks again.
Ian

[mnebinger]

All your outlets are powered through the power converter.

[namusmc65]

Mine has always either been in the bathroom sink area, kitchen sink area, or basement water line input area. Sometimes they are extremely hard to find. Seems like I even had one onetime behind the refrigerator access panel on the outside skin.

[namusmc65]

Aha, once when I was plugged into 50 amp service with double switches, one switch did not go all the way home when I turned on the breaker. My gif circuits were not working either. After much head scratching and checking I finally disconnected the power cord, turned off the breaker, and turned them back on. This time both sides seated so both circuits were active and whallaaaaaa, everything worked! LIve and learn.

[Canadian couple 1983]

Mine is in the bathroom, I had lost all power to my outlets on that circuit once I hit the reset it worked but turned out it was the bathroom outlet that caused the issues....