GFI house breaker
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Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7663
Printed Date: 22 Jun 2025 at 4:45am
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Topic: GFI house breaker
Posted By: mesamie
Subject: GFI house breaker
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2016 at 10:17am
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After de-winterizing, and reconnecting the battery, when plugged into the house power, the POD trips the GFI breaker. It did not do this last year. NOTHING is even on in the R-pod. We took it camping and on power at the state park, all was well. Could I have connected the battery incorrectly, ie. ground wire, or do I have an adapter problem....or something more serious ? |
Replies:
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2016 at 10:23am
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If it doesn't have an issue elsewhere, then the issue is probably with the house GFCI. They do malfunction/get weak. The battery is on the 12v side and other then being charged by the converter, has nothing to do with AC side. ------------- |
Posted By: Retroactive
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2016 at 10:36am
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As Furpod said the GFCI have a limited lifespan, I have run into some weird cases. In my master bath I had one that only had and electric toothbrush plugged in, and if I plugged in a 3w nightlight in it the GFCI tripped (whaaa???). If you are handy with house electrical, I would replace that before troubleshooting the Rpod (takes 15 minutes and costs ~$10). Then you can also upgrade to a 20amp GFCI, you might have a 15amp at your house - since that is the cheaper "contractor grade" used in most construction.
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Posted By: mesamie
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2016 at 10:38am
| can I purchase these at Lowes ? |
Posted By: Retroactive
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2016 at 10:41am
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Yes. Any hardware store should have them. Just make sure to find at least a 20amp rated one, since that is what the RV shore power adapter is rated for. ------------- |
Posted By: mesamie
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2016 at 10:44am
| wonderful. I don't think it will reach, but should I try a different house outlet to see if it pops that ? |
Posted By: Retroactive
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2016 at 10:47am
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Only if the different outlet is a GFCI too. Otherwise you will not have an "apples to apples comparison". ------------- |
Posted By: mesamie
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2016 at 10:48am
| thanks so much, off to the hardware store...wish me luck !! |
Posted By: JandL
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2016 at 10:55am
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If you replace the GFCI make sure it's a Spec or Contractor grade and Weather Resistant. My personal preference is to try find one that does not have the Tamper Resistant option. Most outlets come with the Tamper Resistant due to changes in the NEC. ------------- JandL 2013 Honda Ridgeline 2012 177 2 Paynes in a Pod |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2016 at 10:55am
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How are you plugging in? are you using just the adapter puck on the 30A shore power cord, or are you using a standard extension cord also? ------------- |
Posted By: mesamie
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2016 at 11:11am
| the power cord that came with the Pod and the small adaptor straight to the outlet, no extension cords |
Posted By: JohnBG
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2016 at 1:37pm
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Check the ground at your pedestal or power connection. If you have a surge suppressor with the ground indicator lights, this will help. ------------- 2010 R-Pod RP-171 2010 Honda Ridgeline TV |
Posted By: mesamie
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2016 at 1:45pm
| what is the power pedestal, the battery ground ? |
Posted By: mesamie
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2016 at 1:47pm
| luckily a cheap try, but it is NOT the GFCI breaker. It popped the new one immediately. |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2016 at 7:52pm
The shore power plug is rated for 30 amps. If the current circuit breaker is rated for 15 amps, stick with a 15 amp outlet. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2016 at 7:57pm
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First unplug the fridge (from the outside access panel), it may be the culprit. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: JandL
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2016 at 8:09pm
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The things that can cause a GFCI to trip
Ground current is flowing Neutral is grounded on load side of GFCI Open neutral is present on the line side of the GFCI Load neutral is not connected to correct terminals Ground current exceeding 6 mA You might also want to check your electrical heating element in the water heater. You can flip all the breakers off in the power panel and then turn them on one at a time and see what area is causing it to trip ------------- JandL 2013 Honda Ridgeline 2012 177 2 Paynes in a Pod |
Posted By: mesamie
Date Posted: 30 Mar 2016 at 8:19am
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thanks, I am going to try this today. I didn't mention this before, don't know if it matters...I am actually plugging the Pod into a "regular" outlet, but a GFCI breaker on the same circuit trips. |
Posted By: unlblkrubi
Date Posted: 30 Mar 2016 at 9:37am
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Mine has done the same thing. Been using the same outlet on the house for 5 years and this year it started tripping the GFI. Did all the turning off breakers in the Pod, unplugging frig and microwave. The breaker it was tripping was the TV/battery charger one. Replaced the GFI on the house and back to working. On the same note and on a separate circuit in the house my wife's cell phone started tripping a GFI every time she plugged it in to be charged and I replaced it also. ------------- Squatchpod 2011 171 2013 Jeep JKUR |
Posted By: mesamie
Date Posted: 30 Mar 2016 at 9:42am
| were any of those outlets not the actual GFCI breaker outlet, even though tripping a GFI ? and if so did replacing it solve the problem ? I replaced the GFCI outlet but did the same thing when plugged into an outlet on the same circuit. |
Posted By: Retroactive
Date Posted: 30 Mar 2016 at 10:09am
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Have you checked to make sure you do not have any wiring issues in your house? I have owned a few houses that have had some previous remodeling, that there were mistakes in the wiring which were not obvious - until weird things like plugging in a satellite receiver for the TV. The older the house, the weirder it can get. A nice thing to have handy is a an outlet circuit tester: http://www.amazon.com/Amprobe-ST-102B-Socket-Tester-GFCI/dp/B008E07HM2/ref=sr_1_3?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1459346862&sr=1-3&keywords=outlet+circuit+tester - http://www.amazon.com/Amprobe-ST-102B-Socket-Tester-GFCI/dp/B008E07HM2/ref=sr_1_3?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1459346862&sr=1-3&keywords=outlet+circuit+tester
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Posted By: Retroactive
Date Posted: 30 Mar 2016 at 10:12am
Good point, I didn't think about the house circuit breaker rating. ------------- |
Posted By: JandL
Date Posted: 30 Mar 2016 at 10:54am
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I would check the duplex outlet on the exterior of the trailer and make sure it doesn't have mosture in it. Also in my trailer the cabinet under the sink has 2 electrical connectors. They are flat plugs. You should check and make sure they are dry and clean ------------- JandL 2013 Honda Ridgeline 2012 177 2 Paynes in a Pod |
Posted By: mesamie
Date Posted: 30 Mar 2016 at 12:02pm
| seems, so far, the culprit is the $2 adapter !! Swapped it out, no trip. Turned on electric Fridg., no trip |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 30 Mar 2016 at 12:35pm
Good. was it the little yellow puck style? we have seen issues with them.. ------------- |
Posted By: mesamie
Date Posted: 30 Mar 2016 at 3:07pm
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no, it was the little black triangular that the dealership thru in...now I know why !! Ran up to Camping World and got a circular one..who knows what the difference is. |
Posted By: mesamie
Date Posted: 30 Mar 2016 at 3:09pm
| thanks for all of the tips from everyone !! |