Community Forums

Motorhead-54 · 11-22-2021, 06:48 PM

On my 2012 Aspire whenever I first plug into shore power it frequently trips the GFI breaker for the microwave oven. After a quick reset it works fine indefinitely. This is just an annoyance but I would like to eliminate that annoyance. A couple of questions for you electrical gurus.

1. Any explanation of why this breaker trips in this scenario?
2. Should I replace this breaker?
3. Any reason this needs to be a GFI breaker? It is the only GFI breaker in the two panels.
4. Any reason I should not replace it with a standard non-GFI breaker?

Thanks in advance for the wisdom 👍

Ray,IN · 11-22-2021, 07:46 PM

Be sure to turn off the pedestal breaker before plugging in your RV. This will prevent the gfci breaker from tripping, and it will be much less stress on your other electronics.

What happens when the breaker is not turned off is, if all the prongs of your electrical cord do not make contact at the same time the gfci senses it as a voltage leak.

AnotherMike · 11-22-2021, 08:17 PM

The GFI protection is code required for any outlet within 6 feet of a water source (i.e. your sink). On my RV the builder went cheap... rather than put in multiple GFI outlets he used one GFI device... that breaker services all the kitchen outlets...

Swapping the breaker for a standard one and swapping the kitchen outlets and the adjacent bathroom sink outlet for true GFI outlets is one of the items on the to-do list.

Mike

brobox · 11-23-2021, 05:13 AM

It was just posted here a week or so ago, on a newer Entegra, that the GFI was doing some weird things, such as yours. Changing the GFI breaker solved the problem.

Also check the connections to the breaker. A loose wire could cause just enough variation in power to trip a weak breaker.

Motorhead-54 · 11-23-2021, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray,IN

Be sure to turn off the pedestal breaker before plugging in your RV. This will prevent the gfci breaker from tripping, and it will be much less stress on your other electronics.

What happens when the breaker is not turned off is, if all the prongs of your electrical cord do not make contact at the same time the gfci senses it as a voltage leak.

I always plug in with pedestal breaker off and disconnect with pedestal breaker in the off position. BUT....just for a second...lets pull on that thread. I have a Hughes PowerWatchDog which is the first device in the chain. It never immediately sends power downstream. There is always a 1-2 second delay before it closes the circuit. And then, there is the automatic transfer switch delay that is another second or two. So, I understand what you are saying but even if I were leaving the pedestal power on (which I don't) and plugging in, there are several seconds of delay before power ever gets to that breaker I believe. So to carry your thought a little further, the simultaneous contact delay would have to be either in the WatchDog or in the transfer switch right?

Motorhead-54 · 11-23-2021, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnotherMike

The GFI protection is code required for any outlet within 6 feet of a water source (i.e. your sink). On my RV the builder went cheap... rather than put in multiple GFI outlets he used one GFI device... that breaker services all the kitchen outlets...

Swapping the breaker for a standard one and swapping the kitchen outlets and the adjacent bathroom sink outlet for true GFI outlets is one of the items on the to-do list.

Mike

Got it! Now I understand the "why". In my RBQ floorplan, the fridge is well within 6' of the sink and actually plugs in under the sink. It is not on a GFI breaker...hmm

Motorhead-54 · 11-23-2021, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brobox

It was just posted here a week or so ago, on a newer Entegra, that the GFI was doing some weird things, such as yours. Changing the GFI breaker solved the problem.

Also check the connections to the breaker. A loose wire could cause just enough variation in power to trip a weak breaker.

I am convinced the breaker is going to be swapped out. It is 10 years old. Easy job if I can locate one without any churn....have not tried yet. I am just trying to understand the "why GFI" and whether putting in a GFI breaker is necessary or not...thanks

brobox · 11-23-2021, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Motorhead-54

I am convinced the breaker is going to be swapped out. It is 10 years old. Easy job if I can locate one without any churn....have not tried yet. I am just trying to understand the "why GFI" and whether putting in a GFI breaker is necessary or not...thanks

I can't find that post but I believe it stated he purchased it at Home Depot for $15. I found that hard to believe and was going to look the next time I am at HD.

Turbojack · 11-23-2021, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brobox

I can't find that post but I believe it stated he purchased it at Home Depot for $15. I found that hard to believe and was going to look the next time I am at HD.

More like $50.00

https://www.homedepot.com/s/gfi%2520breaker?NCNI-5

Turbojack · 11-23-2021, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Motorhead-54

Got it! Now I understand the "why". In my RBQ floorplan, the fridge is well within 6' of the sink and actually plugs in under the sink. It is not on a GFI breaker...hmm

In the past the fridge was not included in having to be GFI protected and the plug under the sink was not considered within 6' of the sink if behind a door.

brobox · 11-23-2021, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turbojack

More like $50.00

https://www.homedepot.com/s/gfi%2520breaker?NCNI-5

That does sound more like it, I paid $45. for a replacement in the S&B.

Motorhead-54 · 11-23-2021, 06:53 AM

While I am on the subject of my microwave oven…this coach has a Whirlpool microwave that works fine but has really crappy interior and below unit incandescent lights. Swapped those bulbs out for these yesterday…..what a huge difference they make! Now I can actually see my morning oatmeal boil over! 🤣$8.00 for the pair at Amazon!

Turbojack · 11-23-2021, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Motorhead-54

I always plug in with pedestal breaker off and disconnect with pedestal breaker in the off position. BUT....just for a second...lets pull on that thread. I have a Hughes PowerWatchDog which is the first device in the chain. It never immediately sends power downstream. There is always a 1-2 second delay before it closes the circuit. And then, there is the automatic transfer switch delay that is another second or two. So, I understand what you are saying but even if I were leaving the pedestal power on (which I don't) and plugging in, there are several seconds of delay before power ever gets to that breaker I believe. So to carry your thought a little further, the simultaneous contact delay would have to be either in the WatchDog or in the transfer switch right?

It is possible a bad breaker, I think this would be the easiest thing to try first. If not the breaker, then problem could be either the transfer switch.

Motorhead-54 · 11-23-2021, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turbojack

It is possible a bad breaker, I think this would be the easiest thing to try first. If not the breaker, then problem could be either the transfer switch.

Rgr that. I'll pull it this week and get a part number and see if it is available locally. What's another $50.00 with these rigs right?

If the breaker does not resolve the annoyance, we'll just live with it. Not ready to possibly replace a transfer switch just for an intermittent annoyance like this.