slowpez
columbia, sc, usa
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Joined: 03/02/2004
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This is the second time we have had this problem. We pull into a campground, plug in, turn on the 30amp power and nothing happens and the circuit breaker trips on the campground's 30amp post. We move to another site and the same thing happens. The first time was right after we bought the 5er. We were on the phone with James trying to resolve the failure of the electrical connection when we decided that the problem must have been the campgrounds since we couldn't get anything to run off the 20amp connection either. The campground maintenance guys who came out said they could find no problem with their circuit so it had to be our RV. We left the campground (it was a military famcamp), pulled into another campground (private) and had no problems. Since then we have most likely been in 20 different campgrounds without a problem. On our way home this past week, we decided to revisit a campground we had been to last year in our old TT (2000 model). Guess what, everytime we hooked up to the 30amp outlet, the circuit breaker blew. We tried using a 30 to 20amp adapter and that didn't help. Also turned off all the power in the 5er and that made no difference. The campgrounds maintenance man came buy and tried to help and finally suggested we go to a sister campground that had their utilities updated. Off we went and we hooked up without any problems. The guy said that newer trailers sometimes have issues with ground fault protectors causing conflicts between the RV and the campgrounds power. Anyone else run into this problem?
Thanks, Susan
Ray and Susan
2007 HitchHiker II 29.5 LKTG LS
2007 SD Ford F-250 Lariat 4x2 Supercab
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Mandalay Parr
Phoenix, AZ
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Call me. I can explain it all.
Jerry Parr
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Cox89XJ
Tennessee
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It sure would be helpful if you could type it here.
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Mandalay Parr
Phoenix, AZ
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Cox89XJ wrote:It sure would be helpful if you could type it here.
I agree, but I don't type that well. I have to ask some questions too.
Here is a summmary version.
GFI's trip because of a ground fault. That happens if (1)the Ground and Neutral touch each other, or (2)if the hot wire touches the ground. GFI's are very sensitive.
You may have an abnormal condition, or your RV may be wired wrong with the ground and neutral tied together.
Try using an adapter and plugging into the 50 amp. No GFI's there.
Take a good OHM meter and check your power cord (unplugged) from Hot to Ground, and Neutral to Ground. Both should be Open.
Jerry
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slowpez
columbia, sc, usa
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Jerry, thanks for your reply. If there was a problem with our rig wouldn't you think that it would show up more often? We have camped at over 20 CG with this unit and it has only happened twice and both were in older CG's. The first time was back in November of last year and than this past week. The CG we were at didn't have 50amp but we did try plugging into 20amp as I said earlier. OHM meters I know not - am electrically challenged. We will be taking the unit in for some warranty work this month so will have them check it out. I almost hope it is a fixable problem with the rig as I hate the thought that we could pull into a CG and not be able to use the electricity. I like dry camping but not at 100 degrees.
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Cox89XJ
Tennessee
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Thanks Jerry. See there, you did it. Neutral and ground being tied together explained it for me.
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wa8yxm
Wherever I happen to park
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Joined: 07/04/2006
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Try this.. Get a 15/30 round adapter (The kind that lets you plug a 15 amp cord into a 30 amp outlet) and a 3-light Outlet tester (Ask at any hardware store)
I have an inkling you will see red
(The red light means "Trouble")
This means you have a black/white reverse on the outelt
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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VernM
Marion County, AR
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Joined: 06/21/2006
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GFI devices don't actually trip because there is a grounded wire. They have two sensors, one on each of the black and white wires, that link them to the grounded wire. If one side or the other pulls more current than the other, they trip. So you CAN have a problem that dosen't show as a simple ground. It still needs to be resolved, but it mmight not be all that simple to see.
VernM
GMC Conversion van/Wells Cargo MiniWagon trailer
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lightguy48
Tulsa, OK
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Joined: 03/18/2006
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GFI's do not have two sensors, they use what is called a differential current transformer. Basically if the outgoing current does not match the returning current the unit will trip. And yes by having a connection to a ground can cause it to trip because some of the current would be flowing through the neutral and through the ground thus the current through the transformer would not be belanced.
That being said, I have never seen a 30amp GFI breaker in an RV pedestal. The 20amp is almost always a GFI unless it's a really old park.
Here is a link to everything you would ever want to know about GFI's GFCI Breaker
R. Brett Gilbert Tulsa, OK
2005 Fleetwood 27' Wilderness Limited
2005 Ford F-250 6.0L PSD Crew Cab
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Mandalay Parr
Phoenix, AZ
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wa8yxm wrote:Try this.. Get a 15/30 round adapter (The kind that lets you plug a 15 amp cord into a 30 amp outlet) and a 3-light Outlet tester (Ask at any hardware store)
I have an inkling you will see red
(The red light means "Trouble")
This means you have a black/white reverse on the outelt
Slowpez.......this a real possibility too.
Are the regular breakers tripping as well as the GFI's?
Jerry..............Why don't you call me.
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