Resetting GFI

[janieD]

Ok so the next newbie question. This morning when cooking breakfast we lost power. I was using an electric griddle and the microwave at the same time, we are on a 30amps - so probably not a good idea. DH checked the power at the pole, got that started and finally checked our surge protector, it wasn't happy and it was blinking to reset, turns out that takes 2-3 min. In the process of all this DH is checking fuses etc. and the gfi. He can see the GFI test button in the fuse box but is wondering what you do if you needed to reset the GFI as there doesn't appear to be a reset button. Now everything is ok today but his engineering mind wants to know (living with an engineer is an exciting life .) I can tell you he's not impressed with PIs manual.

[Still Working "NOT"]

What he reset was the GFI breaker for the outlets that are in your slide. This is cheaper to build then to have a GFI outlet at every location plus the GFI needs to been in front of any possible electrical short. If they put a GFI outlet at every outlet, it would be very expensive. They do the same thing in a lot of houses. There is no way to test a breaker that I know of. I had one go bad when I was on the road last year. It would not reset. Went to the local hardware store bought a new one to replace it. Not a big deal.

As for the manual, most RV's don't have a very good one for some reason. Most of us learn by trial and error or by forums like this. So ask question.We have someone who knows, even SKIA can be a big help.

[Workshop]

Still is correct on the purpose of the GFI breaker rather than individual outlets. Reduces cost and covers a circuit with many outlets. On my unit, I have something like 7 outlets on the GFI circuit. All kitchen outlets, Main slide (sofa/dinette), bath and the outside outlet.

To test the breaker, simply press the test buttom, to reset the breaker...turn it fully off and then back on.

The main reason you had a problem is because of the power draw from the grille and microwave, even being on different circuits the total demand at the 'post' was to high.

Did the GFI breaker trip? Or just a question?

Here's a link I use sometimes....

The Owner manual on my 2001 is a lot thinner than the '2007 and beyond' that I've seen. So making my own.

workhorse

[KU9L]

The GFI breaker tripped for me yesterday when we were out working, nothing else running at the time except for the refrigerator. Sheila noticed the yellow LED lit on the refrigerator, then I found the tripped GFI. I had to flip the circuit breaker back and forth about 3 times before it would catch and stay on. I then pressed the test button a couple of times to make sure it would trip and reset properly. I have had GFI's do this to me in our homes often times, this was the first time it happened in our coach.

Dave

[wa8yxm]

If the GFCI test button is in the breaker box. then the breaker is a GFCI

if the outlet is a GFCI then that is where you find the test button

In fact the GFCI test button will be on one of the breakers if it is in the breaker box.. That's the GFCI. the button is part of the GFCI device, be it a breaker or an outlet.. I rather like the breaker kind.. have the outlet kind.

NOTE: the GFCI breakers I have experience with.. When the GFCI tripped. it looked just like a normal breaker trip

Reset the same way too.

[janieD]

Thanks everyone. Since it had to be GFI breaker I was dealing with (per the descriptions), I pushed the test button to see what happened. What happened was the breaker switch popped down from behind the breaker panel. The GFI breaker switch was the only one that was hidden behind the panel, so it when it was on, it looked like just a test button.
To reset it, there is a trick. The test button won't put the breaker in the full off position. To reset it, you have to force the breaker fully off, then reset it by pushing it on like you would any breaker. The GFI breaker cannot be reset directly from the "test" position; you have to push it down, then up or it won't stay up (in the on position).

[janieD]

One more post before we leave this, and an apology. My previous post was before I actually all the other posts, so it was a little redundant. In my own defense, I was on the floor poking at the breaker panel and Janie was reading from the posts, so I missed the solution to resetting them.
The missing piece to this puzzle (for me anyway) was that after we lost power at the pole from the power draw, I reset the breakers at the pole but didn't get power restored to the coach. This was because, I found out later, our SureGuard surge protector has a 2+ minute delay before automatically restoring power (so the AC compressor will have enough time to bleed off head pressure before trying to restart according to the SureGuard manual I eventually found and read). 2 minutes is enough time for me to run around like a mad man trying to find another problem. That's when I found the GFI breaker so I pushed the test button to see if anything happened. Of course, without power, nothing did. Then the power magically came on, and the rest is this thread. So thanks for the help. I'll read them all before I post next time.
The DH. (I don't mind being the designated hitter, since that's who you go to when you need a little action, but I'm not sure about johnnyD.)

[rockintom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by janieD One more post before we leave this, and an apology. My previous post was before I actually all the other posts, so it was a little redundant. In my own defense, I was on the floor poking at the breaker panel and Janie was reading from the posts, so I missed the solution to resetting them. The missing piece to this puzzle (for me anyway) was that after we lost power at the pole from the power draw, I reset the breakers at the pole but didn't get power restored to the coach. This was because, I found out later, our SureGuard surge protector has a 2+ minute delay before automatically restoring power (so the AC compressor will have enough time to bleed off head pressure before trying to restart according to the SureGuard manual I eventually found and read). 2 minutes is enough time for me to run around like a mad man trying to find another problem. That's when I found the GFI breaker so I pushed the test button to see if anything happened. Of course, without power, nothing did. Then the power magically came on, and the rest is this thread. So thanks for the help. I'll read them all before I post next time. The DH. (I don't mind being the designated hitter, since that's who you go to when you need a little action, but I'm not sure about johnnyD.)

Johnny, boy would I like to camp with you guys. After a weekend we'd all have to check in the looney bin!!!! I laughed as I read your post, cause we've ALL been there, we just happen to do all this stuff before you. Don't beat yourself up too much. Oh, BTW the TRC surge protector timer is 2 minutes 14 seconds to be exact, then another slightly over 2 minutes for the A/C compressor to kick in. Seems like forever when your waiting!!! I can almost drink an adult beverage in that time!!! Have fun and keep us up to date on all the "goof ups" cause we are easily entertained!!!