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AnotherMike · 02-20-2021, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harleyjt

I'd appreciate suggestions from the electricians here on where to go next.

You've seen the abbreviation IANAL ? I Am Not A Lawyer... ?

Well, IANAE... I Am Not An Electrician... however...

I had a similar issue and an electrician friend told be to get a wiring diagram of my Fleetwood. I called and got a diagram emailed to me... very detailed PDF. I took the file on a thumb drive to a blueprint shop and had them print the appropriate page on their roll feed printer. A few dollars later I had quite readable laser print 2 feet tall and 3 feet wide. He looked at the diagram and pointed out the circuit that was faulting... then told me to remove the first outlet and disconnect the downstream side. If that stopped the problem, then obviously the fault is in the disconnected part. Reconnect it and go repeat the process at the next outlet. Continue until you find the fault. I found an outlet that looked fine, was an open circuit for the low voltage of my multimeter, but apparently had an internal leak that only showed up under 120 volts.

He also pointed out that neutral and ground have to be separated everywhere.

Mike

cavie · 02-21-2021, 03:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harleyjt

...In fact, most modern coaches will cause a GFI trip with the way they're wired and can't be used anyway.

That seems to be truth. My coach does not like to be plugged into a 20A GFCI circuit. I found that if I throw the breaker for the bedroom/bathroom receptacles, the problem goes away. Ok, good. Now I know where to look for the problem. Problem is, I find no issue with that circuit when checking for a short from the hot to the neutral. I'm using an ohmmeter at the lowest setting and there is no continuity detected. So, its awfully hard to fix something that isn't broke. Currently, when I plug the coach in at my storage facility, I just throw that breaker and all is good. Would love to be able to fix the problem, but can't see it. I'd appreciate suggestions from the electricians here on where to go next.

jt

That is because there is no short that you can measure. The GFI trips at 5 MA of voltage loss in the circuit. It is a mini-computer. . You are not gonna see that. It can be anywhere in the circuit. The outside outlet is the first place to look. Moisture will do it. Note I said moisture. It does not take a lot of water to do it. As I see you are not an electrician and do not understand GFI's I suggest you find a good journeyman or master electrician.

As stated many times on different forums and also in this thread, The problem can be that some GFI brands just do not work in series with another GFI. If the problem only happens in your storage lot then just do as you are now. Turn off the GFI circuit in the RV and get on with life. The RV will be GFI protected by the storage GFI.

cavie · 02-21-2021, 03:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnotherMike

You've seen the abbreviation IANAL ? I Am Not A Lawyer... ?

Well, IANAE... I Am Not An Electrician... however...

I had a similar issue and an electrician friend told be to get a wiring diagram of my Fleetwood. I called and got a diagram emailed to me... very detailed PDF. I took the file on a thumb drive to a blueprint shop and had them print the appropriate page on their roll feed printer. A few dollars later I had quite readable laser print 2 feet tall and 3 feet wide. He looked at the diagram and pointed out the circuit that was faulting... then told me to remove the first outlet and disconnect the downstream side. If that stopped the problem, then obviously the fault is in the disconnected part. Reconnect it and go repeat the process at the next outlet. Continue until you find the fault. I found an outlet that looked fine, was an open circuit for the low voltage of my multimeter, but apparently had an internal leak that only showed up under 120 volts.

He also pointed out that neutral and ground have to be separated everywhere.

Mike

Also note that GFI does no measure neutral to ground. It measures Neutral to Hot leakage. It does not have to be a direct short. Moisture will do it.

GFI outlets and breakers are installed in old two-wire circuits all the time by code. (No Ground wire involved.)