We have a 2013 176t. I am trying to diagnose an intermittent issue with the GFCI. The problem is that it trips periodically. I'll make a long story short, but hopefully not leave out important details. I think I am dealing with a lot of red-herrings and coincidences that are throwing me off from diagnosing the issue.

The GFCI has only ever tripped while "camping" at Disney (ft wilderness). 

The first time it happened, we were plugged into the 30amp with the AC blowing (Florida...) and the fridge on ac, and lights on the exterior plug. I reset it, good for a short time, then tripped again. I unplugged the fridge then reset the GFCI and it was fine for two days (before going home). I dropped the Rpod at lazydays dealer on the way home. They tried to figure out the problem, decided to replace the board in the fridge, and we hoped everything would be good.

This weekend we were once again at Disney in a full campground (always proud to be the smallest camper in a sea of monster RVs). The GFCI tripped again with no ac running but with the fridge running and lights connected to the exterior outlet. I unplugged the fridge, and could not reset the GFCI. Unplugged everything from the outside outlet and still could not reset the GFCI. Tried several time. Also tried unplugging the 30amp, still no luck. 

Now it gets weird or red-herring territory - the next day, after many of the monster RVs moved out around us, the GFCI could be reset and stayed that way for a day before we left.

So, what do you think the problem is here:

1. Problem with the power in the campground (remember this is Disney).

2. Problem with the GFCI - are there actually good and bad GFCIs?

3. Could it be a problem with one of the outlets attached to the GFCI - maybe the exterior outlet was damp the first day and then dried out after that?

4. Other thoughts?

This is perplexing, so any advice is appreciated.

Cheers

http://www.amazon.com/Fluke-1AC-A1-II-VoltAlert-Non-Contact-Voltage/dp/B000EJ332O - http://www.amazon.com/Fluke-1AC-A1-II-VoltAlert-Non-Contact-Voltage/dp/B000EJ332O

fred

My second thought is a loose wire on the GFCI or on one of the downstream outlets.

Finally, I suppose it could be a wonky GFCI.  If it's frustrated you enough, the price of a new one might be worth replacing it.  Personally, I'd swap it with one from my house.

Second, order the NCVT that fwunder linked to.  Also buy a plug-in outlet tester (that has the 3 lights).  The later will cost about $10.  Then see the link in my signature.  The first item in the list that pops up will explain how to use the NCVT and plug-in tester.  USE THEM EVERY SINGLE TIME YOU PLUG IN - anywhere, even at home.  I almost killed my kids before I started doing this.

My hypothesis is not low voltage, but either a problem with the wiring at Disney, OR a problem with wiring of one of the other RVs at Disney.  Yes, a wiring problem with another RV can cause problems with your RV.  The other possibility is normal current leakage from things you have plugged into the GFCI circuit.  If your phone charger is leaking 3 ma (normal), and your laptop power supply is leaking 2 ma (normal), then you are just at the 5 ma trip limit and anything else that leaks a bit will cause it to trip.

Question - is there any type of device that we can use to protect from voltage issues if the problem is indeed at the campground? You say that problems with nearby RVs could be a problem for us. If this it true then what can we do about it? Any thoughts?

BTW - I still plan to check out the downstream outlets in the rpod to make sure there are no problems there. Complicating matters is the fact that we park the rpod at a storage facility to avoid the tight squeeze we have had trying to park in our small urban lot. This makes troubleshooting that much less convenient.

Thanks

Camping at the Disney Ft Wilderness is an interesting experience - our little rpod with spacious rdome is surrounded by massive trailers and RVs with people watching 42" or larger flat screens outside. Sometimes it can be surreal...

As for wiring issues in other RVs causing a problem in yours, that is one of the things Mike Sokol talks about in his videos (in the thread I mentioned earlier).  For example, let's say an entire row of power poles has a bad earth ground connection at the utility panel.  The grounds between the power poles are still connected.  This is a problem I found this past summer at a campground near Great Sand Dunes because I tested my site when we pulled in.  So far not a safe condition but not deadly, and not caused by another RV.  Now the microwave in your neighbor's RV malfunctions from one too many bumps in the road, and its cabinet is electrified.  Normally this current would be diverted to ground because it is connected to the microwave cabinet, and back at the utility panel it would be connected to the ground rod which would prevent your neighbor from being shocked.  However, in this case the ground is electrified because of the problem at the utility panel - which means everything else on the ground is live.  Your microwave, your camper frame.  It was raining, the ground is wet, and you walk up and grab the door handle (like I did in my story in that other thread).  Zap.  Same thing could happen if your neighbor's RV has an outlet wired with reverse polarity.  This problem would be immediately identified if you use the NCVT to test your camper's frame.

Neither of them will detect the special condition that Mike mentions.  Off the top of my head I think it is a reverse-polarity outlet with a bootleg ground connection (tied to neutral and not a proper ground).  That will electrify your frame (and everyone elses) as well, but all plug-in testers will report that its completely normal.  Only the NCVT test will catch this!

1. The exterior outlet and "weatherproof cover" is a piece of crap. You cannot avoid getting water inside the darn outlet - which leads to tripping the GFI.  Do you have any suggestions for a better quality exterior outlet and a more weatherproof cover?

2. Simply unbelievable - although I don't know if this is an issue of factory or dealer incompetence - underneath the sink drain (the most likely place water might be found) there were two 110v quick connections attached. I found them after hearing the sizzling sound electricity makes when it is wet. I fixed the problem by installing a box with proper wiring and connections. Funny thing is that there was plenty of room and wire slack to mount those connections in a safer place - why the heck mount them there? unbelievable