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GFCI tripping at storage lot

May 21, 2017, 10:26:15 am

Unsure why the GFCI outlet trips from time to time while plugged in at the covered storage lot.  Does not appear to be weather related.  Consequence is the house batteries are drawing way down when I check on the coach on a weekly basis.  I have the stepwell switch turned off and as far as I know the Inverter/charger is the only draw.  Shall I just unplug and turn off the Inverter/charger and just check on the battery levels from time to time?  The storage lot people have at least once changed out the outlet;  and I have also plugged into the outlet on the other side of the pole with the same results.    As far as I know there is no other power draws that would cause the trip.  Puzzled.

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Re: GFCI tripping at storage lot

Reply #1 – May 21, 2017, 10:41:27 am

Don't know if it would make a difference or not but what is your power share set at? Bringing the setting down to 10 amps might make a difference.

Roland

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Re: GFCI tripping at storage lot

Reply #2 – May 21, 2017, 10:43:15 am

This seems to be a fairly common issue with GFCI outlets.  RVs do not share common and ground.

GFCI Hook up tripping

If all you want to do is maintain the batteries a much smaller smart charger would do fine for both the house and start batteries.  Turn off the charger/inverter completely.  There are lots of things still on even with the main 12 volt switch off.

Here is a really nice charger, many sizes available, three seperate outputs, all battery types and charge profiles.  Plug it in to an extension cord to the post.  Charger output to the output sides of your isolator.

Sterling ProCharge Ultra 10 Amp Boat Battery Charger

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Re: GFCI tripping at storage lot

Reply #3 – May 21, 2017, 09:47:10 pm

A gfi receptacle trips because it is seeing an imbalance of 5ma or greater between the neutral and the hot wires. It does not trip on an overload. That is for the breaker to handle.  So question is why is it tripping. Is your coach the only thing on the outlet?  I have seen where electric water heater and residential refrigerators will cause a gfi to trip. I am assuming that it does not trip right away, but trips after a time.  You said not weather related but is the temps going from cold to warm where the outlet could get condensation on it?

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Re: GFCI tripping at storage lot

Reply #4 – May 21, 2017, 10:07:45 pm

As Roger said, turn off inverter/ charger,  unplug shore power cord and run extension cord into compartment and use small battery charger to keep batteries topped off.

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Re: GFCI tripping at storage lot

Reply #5 – May 22, 2017, 10:42:30 am

Fiddler,
If you want to chase the problem you can unplug every plug you can find in the coach. Any of those items can leak to ground and trip the gfi. If the problem goes away plug in one item at a time until the problem comes back.
In my coach it was the washing machine, sometimes. It depended on the position of the wash selector.

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Re: GFCI tripping at storage lot

Reply #6 – May 22, 2017, 02:22:08 pm

Along John's idea to isolate, turning off 120v breakers can also aid in isolating what is causing GFCI trip.

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Re: GFCI tripping at storage lot

Reply #7 – May 22, 2017, 02:46:39 pm

You could just disconnect the batteries to remove the parasitic draw or get a solar panel to keep them up.  I put a 4 amp unit on the roof for the starting batteries and two larger ones for the house batteries.  Problem solved.

Keith

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