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2Champs · 06-11-2014, 11:32 AM

Hey everyone,
The hubby and I traded in our 2012 Keystone Vantage for an 2005 Keystone Challenger back in december and have been remodeling it to make it ours.
We have some bad electrical outlets we need to replace, can we just use a normal residential outlet? and if we wanted to update to GFCI plugs is that possible? None of the plugs in the entire RV are GFCI.
I will post some pics of our project when I get the chance

Any advice is much appreciated!

Thanks,
Aubre and Robert

myshaggydog · 06-11-2014, 11:40 AM

Welcome to the Forum and I am sure you will enjoy your RV. I don't see any reason why you couldn't replace your old plugs with new one from the home depot or Lowe's as long as the old RV plugs have a ground wire. Normally, a GFCI plug is installed near a sink or where you draw water per Stick and Brick codes in some cities/States. I wouldn't replace all your plugs with GFCI's.

Hopefully someone with more knowledge will also comment.

Best of luck.

BFlinn181 · 06-11-2014, 12:54 PM

Outlets from Lowes or Home Depot might even be superior to what you had. Many RV outlets are cheap with only push connections instead of screw terminals. Any UL approved GFI can replace a bad/missing one in your RV. Most RVs are wired with a GFI as the first step directly wired from service panel, then one or two more outlets wired 'piggy back' on the GFI so they are also protected. It's not necessary to locate GFI outlet at a sink just so the outlet near sink is protected 'upstream' by the GFI.

hondavalk · 06-11-2014, 01:07 PM

There probably isn't an electrical box that your GFI is mounted in. Typically there self contained units that are also shallower then a standard outlet.

BFlinn181 · 06-11-2014, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hondavalk

There probably isn't an electrical box that your GFI is mounted in. Typically there self contained units that are also shallower then a standard outlet.

I believe that RVIA standards require outlets and 120 v switches be inclosed in boxes, just like house building codes. The boxes might be shallower, but still all connections are to be enclosed, just as in a home.

Medico · 06-11-2014, 06:55 PM

Welcome and glad to meet you!

I would be shocked if you don't already have GFI protection. They would most likely be located in an electrical panel somewhere just like in a house. As stated already, except for shallower boxes, the receptacles themselves are interchangeable.

bdickson · 06-11-2014, 07:01 PM

Nuclear · 06-11-2014, 07:26 PM

Welcome! I'm sure you will get your questions answered.

homeless · 06-11-2014, 07:29 PM

howdy

Gadget63 · 06-11-2014, 07:48 PM

Howdy from SC and welcome to the forums. Congrats on the new RV too

TonyDi · 06-11-2014, 08:11 PM

Glad to have you here with us. The GFI plug in my coach is in the bathroom by the sink. I'd be very surprised if you don't have a GFI anywhere.

Hudgens · 06-11-2014, 08:44 PM

Welcome to the irv2 gang! I know this may be something you've already tried, but thought I'd toss it out there if it helps. I haven't tried putting a link in my posting before, so if the link below does not work, just try keystonerv.com and look under contacts (menu at upper right of page). They have an owner relations call center open from 10 AM to 4 PM EST. Their customer service folks might be able to mail or email you a wiring diagram and answer some questions.

http://www.keystonerv.com/mobile/contact/contact-us

Otherwise, there are a lot of folks in these forums that know more than I'll ever learn about remodeling and electrical "how to." Good luck and enjoy your travels when you can hit the road!