GFCI wiring

[Rabidd]

First time out with the 2021 Momentum 320G been waiting for the snow to melt. Well Tuesday night camping in Durando Colorado the temperature was dropping so decided to turn on the heater. I had plugged in the GFI circuit an ice maker, coffee maker. Tv was on fridge was on. I reached over started to scroll thru the thermostat and something popped. It was the GFI in the bathroom will not reset no matter what and has no voltage tested with a meter. All circuit breakers are in and all fuses look good. Removed all power from trailer and reset all breakers. 110 works in all outlets but nothing on the GFI side. Spoke with Grand design and they are working the issue. Spoke with lazydays and they said that it could be the the Inverter. If the inverter was bad I don't think I would have any 110 at all or should I. Lazydays said check breakers on Inverter there isn't any I can find just on and off button. Is it possible to see a wiring diagram for the GFI circuit somewhere? I hope someone can help still under warranty but have a trip planned in two weeks to Texas. GD said they can send a GFI outlet but I don't think it is the outlet but something down stream. Any advice would be great.

 

[BobLandry]

You can turn the GFI breaker off to verify, but the inverter has nothing to do with the GFI. Neither do fuses, they are only 12V. The GFI will not reset unless it has power. Reset the GFI breaker and check for voltage between the output of the GFI breaker and neutral. You have to move the circuit breaker to all the way off then to on. you can't just flip it back on.
If you have nothing at the output of the breaker, it has failed. Even a new breaker can go bad.

 

[Chewwi]

I’m confused.

Do you have a circuit fed by a GFI breaker or is it a GFI outlet fed from a standard breaker?


2020 2600RB,
2017 Silverado Crew Cab 1500, 6.2L

 

[BobLandry]

The GFI outlet is fed by a standard breaker then the downstream outlets are fed by the GFI.

 

[Rabidd]

I would think as well that the GFI circuit would have a breaker somewhere. The breaker panel is label as follows. CONVERTER, MICROWAVE, A/C, WATER HEATER, MAIN, MAIN, AC/ PREP, FIREPLACE, 3RD AC, OPT INVERT. list of fuses is as follows. 30 AMPL, 30 AMP AMPLIFIER, 15 AMP FUEL SYSTEM, 15 AMP MONITOR PANEL, 15 AMP BED/BATH, 15 AMP MAXX FAN, 15 AMP RADIO, 15 AMP GARAGE, 15 AMP REFER, 15 AMP FURANCE, 15 AMP BOX AWNING. That is everything that is listed in the trailer nothing that says anything about a GFI circuit. That is the circuit that is not listed.
It is possible that the circuit breaker if there is one is bad for the GFI system but nothing labeled that way. Is it possible to find a diagram for the wiring that would show the layout. Everything works in the trailer but the GFI system.

 

[BobLandry]

First... Forget about the fuses. They have nothing to do with AC power
There should not be any other C/B locations, so it is tied to one of the standard breakers in the panel and it will be a 15A breaker. Pull the front panel off of the electrical panel and measure the output voltage at each circuit breaker. If they are all good, pull the GFI out of the wall far enough to get to the terminal screws with your test leads. If you measure 115V there, you have a bad GFI.

 

[Rabidd]

I did check the wires at the GFI outlet in the bathroom no power there. GD said they would send me a GFI but I don't think that is the problem. it is the power to the outlet I think. It is possible that it is the 15AMP BED/ BATH BREAKER . I do have normal 110 in the bedroom.

 

[Chewwi]

I did check the wires at the GFI outlet in the bathroom no power there. GD said they would send me a GFI but I don't think that is the problem. it is the power to the outlet I think. It is possible that it is the 15AMP BED/ BATH BREAKER . I do have normal 110 in the bedroom.

If there is NO power to the supply of the GFI outlet and there IS power to the other 120V outlets, it appears to be a WIRING issue on the supply side to the GFI outlet. It’s pretty much physical circuit tracing and trial and error from here.

Any qualified electrician should be able to locate and fix it, although physical access to the wiring can be a challenge. But it no more a challenge than chasing wiring in the crawl space under a typical sticks, bricks, and mortar building.


2020 2600RB,
2017 Silverado Crew Cab 1500, 6.2L

 

[Jerryr]

I did check the wires at the GFI outlet in the bathroom no power there. GD said they would send me a GFI but I don't think that is the problem. it is the power to the outlet I think. It is possible that it is the 15AMP BED/ BATH BREAKER . I do have normal 110 in the bedroom.

Cycle all the breakers in your power panel then try to rest the GFCI in the bathroom.

 

[traveldawg]

First time out with the 2021 Momentum 320G been waiting for the snow to melt. Well Tuesday night camping in Durando Colorado the temperature was dropping so decided to turn on the heater. I had plugged in the GFI circuit an ice maker, coffee maker. Tv was on fridge was on. I reached over started to scroll thru the thermostat and something popped. It was the GFI in the bathroom will not reset no matter what and has no voltage tested with a meter. All circuit breakers are in and all fuses look good. Removed all power from trailer and reset all breakers. 110 works in all outlets but nothing on the GFI side. Spoke with Grand design and they are working the issue. Spoke with lazydays and they said that it could be the the Inverter. If the inverter was bad I don't think I would have any 110 at all or should I. Lazydays said check breakers on Inverter there isn't any I can find just on and off button. Is it possible to see a wiring diagram for the GFI circuit somewhere? I hope someone can help still under warranty but have a trip planned in two weeks to Texas. GD said they can send a GFI outlet but I don't think it is the outlet but something down stream. Any advice would be great.

Have you removed the GFI OUTLET and measured for 120v on the back? If there is no power there then it isn't the outlet, it power is there then remove the outlet and see if it resets without power. If you need a new outlet just go to a home supply store and pick one up.

BE CAREFUL! Disconnect power and inverter until ready to test for voltage.

 

[BobLandry]

GFIs will not reset without input power.
Also, any outlets that are fed by the GFI outlet will be marked as such. At least they are on my Reflection.
I would reset all of the 15A breakers and go from there. It's going to be on a 15A breaker because all of the outlets are wired with 14ga wire.

 

[Jerryr]

GFIs will not reset without input power.

Are you sure about this?

I believe that the GFCI outlets like the ones in our trailers can be reset without input power BUT they will not trip with the test button unless there is input power. At least every one I’ve had acts this way.

I just verified that’s the way the ones in my house works.

 

[Dakota]

Off your topic, but where did you camp in Durango? I lived there back in the 80’s up towards Purgatory. Really feeling the need to go back. Lots of great memories living in the mountains. Let me know how well you liked the campground. Thanks!

 

[Redapple63]

GFIs will not reset without input power.
Also, any outlets that are fed by the GFI outlet will be marked as such. At least they are on my Reflection.
I would reset all of the 15A breakers and go from there. It's going to be on a 15A breaker because all of the outlets are wired with 14ga wire.

Also, all outlets downstream of the initial one will also not have power until the gfi or cb is reset or subsequent issue resolved.

I say you have either tripped or bad cfi or tripped or bad circuit breaker.

It is certainly possible to have a wiring issue, but the issues I mentioned are your most likely causes.

As others have directed, check power in the distribution center before the cb and the wiring before the primary gfi outlet.

Good Luck


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[BobLandry]

Are you sure about this?

I believe that the GFCI outlets like the ones in our trailers can be reset without input power BUT they will not trip with the test button unless there is input power. At least every one I’ve had acts this way.

I just verified that’s the way the ones in my house works.

There is no difference between trailer and household GFIs. Every one I have seen works as I described. Obviously the test button is not going to work when no imput power is applied. The GFI trips on current leakage and with no power there can be no leakage.

 

[Jerryr]

There is no difference between trailer and household GFIs. Every one I have seen works as I described. Obviously the test button is not going to work when no imput power is applied. The GFI trips on current leakage and with no power there can be no leakage.

Bob,

I think it’s a matter semantics. We agree on how the test button works, sensing a ground fault and tripping, but differ on how the reset button functions.

The reset button is mechanically latched when reset either with or without input power. Sort of like a latched mouse trap. As long as there isn’t a ground fault with input power it WILL mechanically reset.

Try it out. Trip the GFCI with the test button to create a simulated ground fault, then turn off input power from the power panel or breaker box. Then push in the RESET button. It will latch and stay in. Then apply power via input breaker and the GFCI outlet will come alive.

Jerry

 

[gbkims]

The reset button is mechanically latched when reset either with or without input power. Sort of like a latched mouse trap. As long as there isn’t a ground fault with input power it WILL mechanically reset.

Try it out. Trip the GFCI with the test button to create a simulated ground fault, then turn off input power from the power panel or breaker box. Then push in the RESET button. It will latch and stay in. Then apply power via input breaker and the GFCI outlet will come alive.

Jerry

I took an unused Hubbell Autoguard GFCI out of its box. It's reset button was out in the tripped position and wouldn't reset.
Powered it up and it clicked and I could reset & trip it.
Removed its power & I could reset it.

Rather than open it up, found a cutaway youtube video: Teardown: Leviton Ground fault circuit interrupter https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyeijLvh-yI

 

[Rabidd]

I have removed the GFI from the wall no power on any side of the line going in out out even with power on the trailer. Wont reset with power on or off. Is it possible to send maybe 6 volts down the line and see if it registers on an outlet down stream? I will try all suggestions thanks.

 

[Chewwi]

I have removed the GFI from the wall no power on any side of the line going in out out even with power on the trailer. Wont reset with power on or off. Is it possible to send maybe 6 volts down the line and see if it registers on an outlet down stream? I will try all suggestions thanks.

With no power in, the problem is NOT going to be down stream.


2020 2600RB,
2017 Silverado Crew Cab 1500, 6.2L

 

[traveldawg]

I have removed the GFI from the wall no power on any side of the line going in out out even with power on the trailer. Wont reset with power on or off. Is it possible to send maybe 6 volts down the line and see if it registers on an outlet down stream? I will try all suggestions thanks.

Time to check the circuit breaker if no power at the back of the outlet. Be sure to cycle it a few time to see if something changes. Maybe swap it with another breaker and see what happens.

I don't think 6 volts is going to help much. You need 120v on the hot line going into the GFIC outlet. That's where the troubleshooting focus should be now.