Electrical outlets

[kmarvel]

Weird. I have only two of my elec outlets working. And the GFI reset button won't work either.

Is this something I can fix myself??

 

[Quahog]

You have checked the breakers, right? If they are ok then I would suggest getting the dealer to troubleshoot... especially if your TT is under warranty.

 

[Usmc616]

I only have a handful of outlets in my TT, but if the gfci trips they all go down. With what you are describing it appears your GFCI is on a different breaker than your other 2 outlets. In that case I would check the breakers, if all breakers are not tripped you may want to pull the GFCI out and look for a loose wire/connection. The next step may be to replace the CGCI.

 

[David472]

I have a similar TT to yours, and the GFI affects only 2 recepticle locations, the bathroom and the kitchen counter. If the GFI reset doesn't fix it, then you likely have a bad GFI. For mine, that's the one in the bathroom, which controls both. In other words, the kitchen counter is a regular outlet wired to be a slave to the GFI in the bathroom.

P.S. come to think of it, I forgot about the outlet on the outside of the TT. It's labelled as GFI protected as well, and is also slaved to the GFI in the bathroom.

 

[nylyon]

Turn off and on all the breakers one by one, then try to reset the GFI. On my last camper, the GFI was also connected to the refrigerator just something to check.

 

[RoyBraddy]

My trailer has three different locations for GFCI breakers... Usually anywhere there is a sink you should find a GFCI breaker nearby. I have two sink areas inside and of course the outside 120VAC plug is also a GFCI cirucit. It will trip my kitchen sink area GFCI receptacle

Unplug any and all things from your 120VAC wall sockets...

Some follks that have tried to use an external INVERTER (Not CONVERTER) has run into this problem as well. If you have one of those make sure it is switched out of the loop.

Just unplug everything that is plugged in and then try another RESET... Find the other two GFCI units as well and make they have not been tripped.

Sometimes if you are connected to your home garage 120VAC circuit using an extension cord and RV30A-15/20A adapter and all three wires are not being used this may trip on you as well...

Usually this always points back to something you all have done recently electrical wise... Added something new...

GFCI are tricky little things...

These GFCI receptacles are known to go bad as well...

 

[kmarvel]

Thank you for all the responses so far.

Since this is an electrical issue and I am still under warranty, I am taking it in this morning to have the pros look at it.

I think it may be the gfci in the kitchen. I cannot push the button in or reset it. Might be jammed.

The kitchen outlet, bathroom outlet and outdoor outlet will not work. And also the fridge is not cooling. I am wondering if they are all connected somehow.

I will let you all know the results when it comes back.

 

[tlhdoc]

It sounds like they are all on the same circuit. All of those outlets need to be on a ground fault outlet. I have one GFCI in my trailer and it is located in the bathroom. The outlets near the sink and the outdoor outlet are all connected to that gfci.

 

[Chakara]

Very typical in both home and RV installs - one GFI outlet controls multiple outlets. In my house, the same GFI runs the front and back yard outlets. Considering GFI outlets price it seems unlikely they saved money doing it that way.

All that said, it's not hard to troubleshoot with a little electrical know how. The easiest thing to do is probably to pick up a new GFI outlet and replace the one where the button is. Should it continue to pop - then you likely have a problem. The RV AC system is the same as your homes in most cases, so take a look at this stie for some ideas.

I'd also consider looking at the wiring and see how hard it would be to give the fridge it's own GFI. As the outlet is somewhat exposed in most cases it should have a GFI, but I personally would rather it have its own rather than being shared with the rest of the trailer.

-Chak

 

[kmarvel]

Very typical in both home and RV installs - one GFI outlet controls multiple outlets. In my house, the same GFI runs the front and back yard outlets. Considering GFI outlets price it seems unlikely they saved money doing it that way.

All that said, it's not hard to troubleshoot with a little electrical know how. The easiest thing to do is probably to pick up a new GFI outlet and replace the one where the button is. Should it continue to pop - then you likely have a problem. The RV AC system is the same as your homes in most cases, so take a look at this stie for some ideas.

I'd also consider looking at the wiring and see how hard it would be to give the fridge it's own GFI. As the outlet is somewhat exposed in most cases it should have a GFI, but I personally would rather it have its own rather than being shared with the rest of the trailer.

-Chak

Chak, thank you for the response. I was wondering if the fridge problem is somehow connected to my elec problem.
I will let you know hopefully by Friday.

 

[kmarvel]

Just got my TT back and it was a loose wire in the back of the breaker box. It came loose and effected some of the outlets and the fridge.

Works great now and didn't cost anything!! WOOT.

Kathie

 

[Crabman]

Glad to hear it was a simple fix...........

 

[squidmotion]

i think one of the reasons they run multiple outlets off of just one GFCI at least in residential use, as it doesn't really require more, and you won't have to run around checking every room if one trips. i have a small house, and it only has two... well, maybe three now that i think... but if one trips, i usually know which one... (teenager with a 'straightening iron', whatever the **** that is)...

funny i haven't had that problem since she went to college... i have an entirely different problem(s) now!

 

[Quantum-JAY]

The reason they only use 1 GFCI instead of multiple is because of cost. You can the same safe protection from 1 GFCI outlet that is used to protect multiple outlets. A regular receptacle costs abou $1.50 while a GFCI costs around $8.00

 

[Murphie]

With the price of copper now, it may be cheaper to install another GFCI than make a long run from one side of your house to the other. It would also depends on where your panel is located.