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Old 08-11-2021, 02:42 PM   #1
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GFI in bathroom keeps tripping question

We have a 2021 Grand Design 397TH which has a GFI in the main bathroom. The GFI will pop/trip when an appliance is UNPLUGGED from the receptacle. At first we thought the GFI would trip if the appliance was still on when we unplugged it, but the GFI will also trip if the appliance is turned off before unplugging. It doesn't happen all the time, but enough to be a pain. My thought is just to replace the GFI but I'd like to understand why it's happening. Is it just a bad GFI?

thanks
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Old 08-11-2021, 03:25 PM   #2
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What kind of appliance ?

If it has any kind of electronic controls, its never off.

Try Pulling the plug so the blades come out before the ground pin does.
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Old 08-11-2021, 07:29 PM   #3
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Just reset it when it happens....reset button in center of outlet

GFCI trip due to imbalance between hot & neutral
5ma (milliamp) will cause it to trip
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Old 08-12-2021, 06:27 AM   #4
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What kind of appliance ?

If it has any kind of electronic controls, its never off.

Try Pulling the plug so the blades come out before the ground pin does.
It happens when my wife unplugs her hair drier, and even sometimes when we unplug the night light.
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Old 08-12-2021, 06:30 AM   #5
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Just reset it when it happens....reset button in center of outlet

GFCI trip due to imbalance between hot & neutral
5ma (milliamp) will cause it to trip
I have been resetting the GFI, but the GFI should not trip just because my wife unplugs her hair dryer or curling iron. It seems to me there is some issue causing this.
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Old 08-12-2021, 12:20 PM   #6
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GFI is "Ground Fault Interrupter". They are designed to trip when the current in the hot leg of a circuit is not identical to the current in the neutral leg of the circuit.

It presumes if there is more current in the hot leg than in the neutral leg, the missing current is flowing through a person. The GFI then disconnects to protect the person.

If the plug and or the persons hand is wet, and contacts the plug hot or neutral pins while unplugging, that could cause a trip.

Some older GFI's were sensitive to strong near by radio emissions. The emissions could come from arcing as the appliance was disconnected while still turned "on".

The transfer switches in some RV's may emit radio frequency noise. Better GFI's do not do that.

Florescent lights would often trip older GFI's because they often emit radio noise.

Solid state control circuits may cause a radio noise trip. The curling iron may have a cheap solid state control.

Currently the National Wiring code also requires "Arc Fault Detection". Arcing any where in the circuit could cause a trip.

And of course, defective GFI's may trip when they should not.

I wish you good luck and happy trails ahead!
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Old 08-12-2021, 12:36 PM   #7
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Most likely you have several receptacles inline with the gfi. Go to each one, inside and out and make sure the wiring is tight to each receptacle. Sometimes wiring gets loose from vibrations and cause issues.
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Old 08-12-2021, 12:47 PM   #8
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I would start by replacing the GFI. I have replaced many as they simply go bad for no apparent reason. I've even had a new one bad right out of the box, but only once.
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Old 08-12-2021, 01:57 PM   #9
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I would start by replacing the GFI. I have replaced many as they simply go bad for no apparent reason. I've even had a new one bad right out of the box, but only once.



^^^ This...
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Old 08-12-2021, 04:40 PM   #10
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Originally Posted by Hittntheroad View Post
Most likely you have several receptacles inline with the gfi. Go to each one, inside and out and make sure the wiring is tight to each receptacle. Sometimes wiring gets loose from vibrations and cause issues.
Thanks, I was thinking the same thing, I'll check each receptacle
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