Community Forums

momoflots21 · 09-20-2011, 11:34 AM

Our MH has an outside electrical outlet however it isn't GCFI. Which is odd to me since the bathroom and kitchen have GCFI's. I'd like to change it out for a GCFI, but I'd like to put it on my DH's honeydo list.

How difficult would it be for someone to replace it themselves? Also need to replace the bathroom one as it pops when it is used. Our owners manual makes it sound like we shouldn't try to replace it ourselves. Dh has tons of experience replacing and installing home outlets and GCIF outlets how different would it be for the MH? I'd prefer him to do it, but not at the chance that he might damage our MH.

njs42 · 09-20-2011, 11:44 AM

You may find the outside outlet is on the same circuit as the bath or kitchen or both. If so it would be redundant to place one outside. I have a regular outlet (RV type) outside same with my stick house---the GFCI's are inside on the same circuit. Unless the GFCI outlet is different, in shape or some other manner in a 1995 MH then it is no problem to replace one----the new goes in just the same as the old that you remove. Black to Black, White to White and so on. It is not uncommon for them to get more sensitive as they grow older.

tmar10 · 09-20-2011, 11:45 AM

The outside outlet runs off of one of your GFI's. Probably the bathroom.

njs42 · 09-20-2011, 11:45 AM

With the electricity turned off--of course.

MrIguana · 09-20-2011, 11:59 AM

Hit the "test" button on the kitchen and/or bathroom GFI and see if the outside outlet still has power. If it does, you'll need to wire one in. Don't forget to hit "reset" when you are done.

RickO · 09-20-2011, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by njs42

You may find the outside outlet is on the same circuit as the bath or kitchen or both. If so it would be redundant to place one outside. I have a regular outlet (RV type) outside same with my stick house---the GFCI's are inside on the same circuit. Unless the GFCI outlet is different, in shape or some other manner in a 1995 MH then it is no problem to replace one----the new goes in just the same as the old that you remove. Black to Black, White to White and so on. It is not uncommon for them to get more sensitive as they grow older.

Ditto. I would suspect that your outside switch is protected by one of your inside GCFI switches although it appears to be a regular outlet. At any rate, replacing outlets with GCFI in a MH should be a snap.

BTW, putting the year, make and model of your rig in your signature line can help others help you without them having to go to your profile to get the information.

Good luck...

Rick

RELHUB · 09-20-2011, 12:00 PM

If the outside outlet receives power from a GFI on the inside then you are protected and do not need to have another GFI outside.

If you want to find the circuit it is on then plug a radio or a light in your outside power and trip your GFI inside the MH to see which one controls the power outside.

tvman44 · 09-20-2011, 06:35 PM

I would be willing to bet that if you checked, the outside receptacle is hooked to a GFCI receptacle inside the rig and is protected by that.

wa8yxm · 09-20-2011, 06:41 PM

The outside outlet is GFCI, Likely the one in the bathroom powers both it and the kitchen. (However it could be the other one)

IF your RV is new enough to have GFCI outelts, then the code requires it for the outside.. However the oulet itself need not be a GFCI unit..

Breaker box======GFCI-Outelet======GFCI-Protected-outelet====GFCI Protected outelet

And so on I have One GFCI in my rig but FIVE outlets are GFCI Protected, You trip the one and all five go dead.