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Storage Bay GFI

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Edward Buker:
I started having my GFI in the storage bay trip. It would reset fine and last for awhile. I thought this problem would be fixed by replacing the GFI outlet, thinking that I had one that had become defective with age. The new one that I installed is also tripping, perhaps more often in the same random manner. Before I start the witch hunt I was wondering what the experience base has been with this problem.

I had pulled my transfer switch to modify it and quiet the hum. While it was out I verified that the contacts were in good shape, lightly burnished them, and that all the wiring was tight and correct. That was several months before this problem started. I also have been through the AC panel tightening all the grounds, neutrals, and hot wires as part of my own coach scrutinity after the purchase.

My coach is connected at home here to the same source that it has been connected to with no past problems. I know the AC source wiring is correct that the coach plugs into.

Bill Sprague:
My storage bay GFCI was giving me fits a couple years ago.  It seemed it would trip occasionally and randomly when I changed power sources.  (shore to inverter or generator to inverter, etc)

I would usually not catch it until it was cold, dark, rainy or windy.  Then I would have to go outside.  I cussed Beaver for putting it in the storage bay when most of the stuff on that circuit was inside and necessary.  

I chased it for awhile and couldn't find a cause.  I finally decided that GFCIs might be made for places like stick houses where the power source is more steady.  When I remembered I spent the first half of my life without them I decided I would eliminate the frustration by replacing the GFCI with a standard heavy duty outlet.  

I've had no problem since.  I get to stay where it is warm.  I do think I see my dear wife "spark" a little more when she is holding here hair dryer.  But, that might be from other causes.

Edward Buker:
Bill,
That is something I am considering also if all else fails. I have no recording device to determine when the hot and neutral lines do not get the same current flow and trip the GFI. It only takes 5 milliamps and a couple of hundreths of a second difference between the neutral and the hot line current flow to trip them. Not a lot of tolerence for an RV environment.

I'm wondering how many others have had this issue and have also eliminated that GFI? My coach is just sitting without any varying loads except for the charger, microwave clock, and minor electronic component memory loads. Trips while the coach is seeing stable electrical conditions....hate these transient problems.

Later Ed

LarryNCarolynShirk:
Today I just located the source of a problem ground fault circuit in my home.  I traced it to a loose ground wire on one of the receptacles in that circuit.  The screw was loose about 3 turns.  After tightening the screw, the problem disappeared.  The house does not move going down the road, so it was either earthquakes or the guy who installed it when the house was built.  We have had several electrical issues, and 10 years later another developed.  After I called the electrical contractor out to show him some of thel problems, he fired the installer.

This is just to offer another possible source of the problem.  Try tightening all connections in all receptacles in the ground fault circuit.  You just never know what will work.

Larry

Gerald Farris:
I was having the GFI in the basement trip for no apparent reason last year. After a lot of looking, I made the connection that it usually tripped on laundry day even though the washer was not on that circuit. I finally found that the pump on the washer was leaking, and getting the wiring wet in the holding tank area below the washer and causing the GFI to trip.

Gerald    

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