Community Forums

themeowers · 08-05-2011, 03:56 PM

89 Safari Serengeti. The outside GFI outlet and the bathroom GFI outlet suddenly stopped working. It may have been related to a storm with lightening....but not certain. I have checked breakers and fuses and all are fine.

Did they just become old and stop working? Is there something else I should be checking? If I replace them myself, is there anything else i can do to prevent becoming electricuted.....besides uplugging the 30 amp plug and turning off all the breaker switches?

I would like to add that these GFI outlets do not have the reset or test buttons on them like the ones that were in my home. Is there a reset button located somewhere else on these older GFI outlets?.....they say GFI on them, but no buttons.
thank you.

AFChap · 08-05-2011, 04:09 PM

Are all other outlets dead? ...normally if the GFI outlet goes bad it will cut power to the others.

GFI outlets can be damaged/wear out. I had to replace one after a lightning strike. I bought a replacement at Lowes. Just turn off the breaker to the outlets and then you can replace the outlet.

themeowers · 08-05-2011, 04:14 PM

thank you for your help. All the other outlets are working,.....except the bathroom and outside the rig outlet. I added to my post that there are no reset or test buttons on these outlets, but there is a GFI tag on the outlet.

AFChap · 08-05-2011, 04:41 PM

Quote:

I added to my post that there are no reset or test buttons on these outlets, but there is a GFI tag on the outlet.

Ah ...so they are not "GFI outlets" but rather "GFI protected outlets" ...meaning, there is a GFI (normally a GFI outlet, although a GFI can also be incorporated in the breaker box) somewhere in the circuit. It is unusual in my experience that one outlet would be dead and the others live, as if the GFI is tripped it should kill all outlets downline in that circuit.

I would find the outlet on the circuit(s) in question that DOES have the test and reset buttons and see if the buttons work as they should. If they will not reset, it is likely THAT/THOSE outlets that need to be replaced rather than the ones without the reset buttons that are dead.

Luv2go · 08-05-2011, 04:43 PM

There will be a GFI outlet somewhere in the coach that controls the outlets that are labeled GFI. Maybe another owner can point you in the right direction.

On edit it looks like afchap beat me to the punch.

Monaco38 · 08-05-2011, 05:06 PM

To second what Paul just said. The plugs that have a GFI tag on the outlet are "GFI protected." They are all "down stream" from the one GFI outlet that has the trip/reset button on it. There will be one. It is just a matter of finding it. My guess is that for any number of reasons it has tripped. Once you find it more than likely you will be able to reset it and everything will be fine. Unless something catastrophic happened it is unlikely that any of the "dead" plug ins or the reset GFI would actually have to be replaced. Had several of our plug ins "go dead" a while back and had never seen a plug in with the reset. Finally found it on the edge of a cabinet in the bedroom somewhat out of view. There it was with a reset button. Good hunting.

themeowers · 08-05-2011, 06:02 PM

Wow, you guys are right on the money. The bathroom outlet.....attached underneath the upper cupboard......difficult to see, let alone use.....had an actual GFI outlet with a reset button (vs. the outside one that did not....and I could see easily

). I reset the button and now BOTH are functional......what a relief.
Thanks again for great advice.....now, if you could help resolve my other posting....all would be fairly well in the RV life for me.......other than the cracked head gasket that I can't afford to repair.

ronspradley · 08-05-2011, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by themeowers

Thanks again for great advice.....now, if you could help resolve my other posting....all would be fairly well in the RV life for me.......other than the cracked head gasket that I can't afford to repair.

I saw on one of the forums here in the last day or two about using some product that kept a motorhome running with a cracked head gasket. Sorry, I am not very good at searching here yet..........maybe some help here from others that are better at it...................ronspradley

Dobroman · 08-05-2011, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by themeowers

89 Safari Serengeti. The outside GFI outlet and the bathroom GFI outlet suddenly stopped working. It may have been related to a storm with lightening....but not certain. I have checked breakers and fuses and all are fine.

Did they just become old and stop working? Is there something else I should be checking? If I replace them myself, is there anything else i can do to prevent becoming electricuted.....besides uplugging the 30 amp plug and turning off all the breaker switches?

I would like to add that these GFI outlets do not have the reset or test buttons on them like the ones that were in my home. Is there a reset button located somewhere else on these older GFI outlets?.....they say GFI on them, but no buttons.
thank you.

Look for a reset button thats needs to he pushed in on the inverter!

Jon from WI · 08-08-2011, 05:44 PM

I can't help with you on the safety question other than to recommend you have someone else qualified do it. I have the same issues in my 96 Serengetti, and understand that the gfci's were natorious for going bad. I plan to replace all of them. Dont forget the one in the basement close to your door (assuming you have a side entry like mine)