GFI not re-setting

[mom2mastiffs]

Hi, we are at a dogshow and I was making a wonderful breakfast but messed up Had expresso maker going, fry pan cooking and duh--pressed toaster down whammo--everything went off. We checked circuit breakers and turned off and on, tried to re-set GFI and it didn't seem to want to re-set.

2 receptacles in bedroom still work, microwave fine, A/C units fine but no other receptacles work.

any suggestions or do we need new GFI? Will any GFI do or do you have to go to RV dealer to get one? We have a 2004 Monaco Dip.

AND why do these things happen when we don't bring the toadThank goodness we have the bicycles!

Karen

[tom49]

Did you try to reset the breaker on the inverter?

[Diplomat Don]

mom2mastiffs....tom49 is going to win the booby prize....the first thing to trip is the inverter circuit breaker, then the GFI and if you're on the generator, the circuit breaker on the face of the generator. I check mine in the above order. Sometimes though I do check the GFI first hoping that I don't have to run outside in my underwear to reset the inverter....it never is. :-)

[mom2mastiffs]

Dip DOn,

We were running the generator. IF the circuit breaker on the generator had gone off--wouldn't the microwave, A/C not work? They were still working.

Karen

[Diplomat Don]

Above info incorrect (system went down and couldn't correct it, maybe MonacoMama can delete the above post)(deleted above post)

Karen...Sorry, I wasn't clear, the generator circuit breaker is one of the things I check when I have an issue while using the generator and I lose power on certain items.

Electrical items in your coach, like outlets, microwave, TV and some other things all run through your inverter. Which means you can power them for short periods of time with your batteries. Your A/C, electric water heater and refrigerartor ARE not wired through the inverter. They draw too much power and you're inverter would not work. Soooo....your A/C, refrigerator and electric water heater (and possibly a couple of outlets) will continue to work if the inverter circuit breakers blow and the generator is running or you're plugged into shore power.

You still need to check the inverter. There are two circuit breakers on it. Some of your stuff is on one of the inverter's circuit breakers, like the bathroom and microwave, while your TV and other outlets are on the other inverter circuit breaker.

Did you get a chance to look at the inverter. It should be in the bay behind you're right rear wheel and in front of the battery bay. There are two small push pin looking breakers on the side facing you. Pull them out and then push them in.

Something else for your mental memory banks.....When you look at the converter, the front (or the part facing tpward the front of the coach) you'll see two phone cord looking phone lines going into it. This is how it communicates. Every once in awhile my inverter display inside the coach will go crazy with jumbled numbers (many others have had this issue). If this occurs, unplug the two phone lines (just like a plug on your home phone), wait a couple of minutes and plug them back in. It will cure the display issue.

[NALSO]

mom2mastiffs.

If the GFI gets overloaded too many times then it will have to be replaced. There is a by-metal contact when overheated it will bend out of shape and not re-set.

You can get a replacement at any electrical supply store such as Lowes or The Home Depot, just check for the right size (15Amps) and make sure the power is off when you change it.

Good Luck,

Henry.

[hdossett]

And....

If you replace the GFI, make sure you install it correctly. There is a gaszinta and a gasouta.

I changed one in the kitchen without paying attention and later when I wanted to use my outside outlet, it did not work. Took me forever to figure the GFI was in backward.

Harold

[MonacoMama]

Karen...
You did not say if you got it working. I have learned exactly where these breakers are and I have had to go out in a robe or similar attire before to reset them myself.
I posted a photo last year of the breakers on the inverter. The reset buttons mentioned before are at the bottom left side of the inverter. You will see them under the "Output 1" & "Output 2" label. Here it is...


Let us know what it was!

[Sixpack98]

GFCI tripping is one of the many mysteries of a MH. They can trip due to overload, they can trip because of a faulty GFCI, the refer heating element can cause them to trip, the inverter can cause them to trip, a ground wire touching a neutral can cause them to trip. Ours has tripped several times in a row over a day or so and then settle down and not trip for months. Any leakage current from neutal to ground will cause them to trip. The way Monaco has them installed in their coaches certainly contributes to them tripping. Virtually all of the coach 120 v receptacles are run thru the GFCI. Try unplugging anything you can to help isolate the misbehaving appliance. Remove the vent panel on the outside of the coach and unplug the refer. Some coaches have a receptacle and the refer has a plug. Try tightening the grounds and neutrals in the breaker box but make sure you are not connected to shore power and the genset is off. The GFCI Monaco installs is a standard household model and a replacement can be bought at Lowe's or Home Depot. I have read that some GFCI's are way too sensitive and false trip a lot. I can't remember which brands fall into that lot.

[wa8yxm]

Generators often have two circuit breakers.. Mine does, some stuff is on one, some on the other.

There are only three things that will prevent a GFCI from resetting and I'm not sure of one of them

1: A short, down line from the GFCI.. This may be plugged into the GFCI or it may be plugged into a downline outlet or it may even be inside the outlet box.. A common issue is water in the exterior outlet compartment.

2: A faulty GFCI

3: (The one I'm not sure of) I do not know if they need POWER to reset.

There is also another possible issue

You might have a 2nd GFCI

Also check all circuit breakers.. The kitchen outlet in my rig has three breakers between it and shore power, 4 between it and the generator

Starting with the outhet (Which is inverter-backed up) I have the sub panel breaker...15 amp. Then the inverter-power breaker, 30 amp (there is no breaker on my inverter) then the main, then (optionally) the generator.. I don't count the shore power breaker in the park box as it's external to the rig.

Now... As someone who is interested in things electrical and electronic (One of my sig files says "Radio Active as WA8YXM") I know the location of every breaker, GFCI and fuse in my rig.

You should too

Oh, one other issue... (Actually 2, an a and b part)

A: A screw loose,,, I find many RVers have a screw loose, when I had a problem much like yours,,, I found a screw loose, I re-tightened and it worked, Common locations are the screws that connect wires to breakers (In my case it was really a wire nut in the inverter power distribution compartment)

B: Bad connection on the outlets.. The way they wire outlets in RV's is one step short of criminal, the connections are really not all that great.. I kind of worry about them when I plug in big loads and am amazed when they work.. To fix this you'd need to open every box on the daisy chain, one at a time, and find the bad connection. It will likely make itself very clear when you find it.

[Toby]

Karen

How are you doing? The very first thing you do when the GFI clicks off is to try and reset it. The second thing you do is UN-PLUG EVERYTHING, then reset. If it resets, then one by one plug everything back in to see which one is broke. The advice MM gave is also helpful. Make sure these fuses are pushed in. s/Toby

[EngineerMike]

This thread reminds me- I need a GFCI outlet in my collection of spare junk.