rchessen
Prescott, AZ
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Joined: 02/05/2008
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Hello,
Just brought my 5th wheel home to get it ready for a short trip. When I plugged in the electrical to a 20AMP plug I triped the GFI. In trying to isolate the problem I used the battery quick disconnect and shut everything off, plugged it back in and it tripped the GFI again. Connected my 2 Honda EU2000's everything worked OK. Problem is in the past I have used the house connection to start the refer and everything worked fine. Two guestions. One is how do I tell if the inverter is working and second, anyone got any ideas as to what might be the problem.
Thanks
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teb1272
Memphis
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Joined: 12/14/2006
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Sometimes the GFI in your 5er may interfere with a second GFI in some way that shuts things down. We have some really vocal electrical people on here, and I'm surprised that you haven't been given an answer. There are four of five of them, and they have five or six opposing opinions, all in disagreement. I think they may be fighting it out on another post here, so maybe you haven't been found yet-hang on, they'll be here. Meantime, try tripping the circuit breaker for the gfi circuit in the 5er and see if that solves your problem.
* This post was
edited 07/18/08 10:16pm by teb1272 *
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teb1272
Memphis
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second post by mistake-sorry.
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RJsfishin
Winston Or.
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Joined: 10/16/2007
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If I have a problem, first I find it, then I get rid of it !  
Rich
'98 Flair, 454, Onan Microlite 4k, Intel PD 9155 w/ wizard, Sta-power 1500 watt Inv, 2 6v batts, ammeters, KingDome/sat, Oly Catalytic Heat, hauling 2 Bent Bikes and sometimes towing a Tracker F&S boat.
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shadoow
South Texas
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Joined: 09/25/2007
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based on what you said about everything working with the generators, it sounds like the problem is with your shore power cord or connection at the house. Did you try plugging your power cord into another outlet at the house?? I'm not familiar with how you connect your portable generators to the trailer so can't really offer any other help on why they work, but connecting to the house doesn't.
Not sure why you're asking about an inverter as that's a device that converts DC to AC & usually used to supply power to small loads. Trailer RV's typically don't have these unless the owner has installed one. The CONverter is a device that converts AC to DC and is used to charge the battery when the trailer is connected to shore power. This is a standard device that most if not all RV's are equipped with from the factory.
It may help to give some more info on what trailer you've got and any other details of the electrical system. Maybe someone with the same or similar trailer has had the same problem & can help. Good luck
KZ 33P Toyhauler
2008 GMC 2500HD D/A
2006 Ultraclassic
1978 FLH
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RJsfishin
Winston Or.
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The converter is working if the voltage at the house battery is 13+ volts w/ the shore power plugged in.
Eliminate the GFI plug,....one way or another.
And no, I am not an electrician, but I know what works, and there ain't much I can't fix
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rchessen
Prescott, AZ
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Thanks to all who provided useful information. To clarify shadoows questions, I have a 2006 Arctis Fox. The Honda generators are hooked up together with the parallel power cable. I tried 4 different sockets and they all did the same thing. I know the GFI's are good because I use them all the time and they work fine. My big question is why if I used the battery quick disconnect does it still trip the GFI. This to me would indicate a ground/short but I'm not super electrical and don't know how to find it. Also why would it work with the generators hook up?
Thanks for the help.
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Jamesrpm
Oregon Coast
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Joined: 08/30/2003
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Turn off all of your circuit breakers then plug the RV in , if the GFCI trips then you have a cord problem , if not then turn the breakers one one at a time to see which circuit trips the GFCI. Common problems are the electric element for the water heater , or the heating element for the fridge, either of which when shorted out can cause the GFCI to trip.
___________________________________________
I plan on living forever , so far , so good
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carl66vw
Orlando, Florida, USA
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You battery disconnect has nothing to do with your Alternating Current. Your GFI is not connected to the batteries in any way. Your Converter has power going to it through the load center (AC breaker box)the converter is connected to the batteries.
As already noted, look at your shore power cord, the adapter (if one is being used) or the receptical you are plugging into. Also look for a weak GFI. Don't tell the Electrical Police, but I got rid of GFIs in my rig. Got tired of changing them. A GFI will trip if you have the load and neutral crossed in a receptical as well as if you have water intrusion or a short somewhere.Your problem is in something already mentioned. If you are not real good working with electrical systems, I recommend an electrician. Carl
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wa8yxm
Wherever I happen to park
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Joined: 07/04/2006
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Carl.. Though all my training supports what you said about the battery disconnect having nothing to do with the 120 volt side of life
Experience is a female canine
There is another member here on the forum who had a problem with his rig, Sometimes it would trip the GFCI, sometimes it would not
Turns out that his would NOT if, and only if, there was a charged battery connected.. Please do not ask me to explain that one but that's the way it was
Some converters and many inverters cause this to happen. One of these days I'm going to have to get on Xantrex Cust support and ask for a schematic for my Prosine, at least the transfer section.. Will answer a lot of questions
(Or just visit that corner of the US)
Nothin adds excitment like something that is none of your business
John is Near Kenwood TS-2000 housed in a 2005 Damon Intruder 377
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