Refrigerator issue

[ksitte]

Need a little help, post-Osoyoos.

The refer worked just fine on shore power from Nk'Mip Campground. Upon plugging back into shore power at home, our house GFI tripped.

After some checking, the GFI does not trip if I turn off the trailer fridge circuit breaker. It works just fine on propane. The light inside the fridge apparently is on a separate circuit, since it still comes on. And all other circuits inside the trailer work fine as well.

Now, I'm trying to diagnose the problem. Should I be concentrating my efforts on the heating element? Other ideas?

Klaus

[C&G in FL]

Originally Posted by ksitte

Need a little help, post-Osoyoos.

The refer worked just fine on shore power from Nk'Mip Campground. Upon plugging back into shore power at home, our house GFI tripped.

After some checking, the GFI does not trip if I turn off the trailer fridge circuit breaker. It works just fine on propane. The light inside the fridge apparently is on a separate circuit, since it still comes on. And all other circuits inside the trailer work fine as well.

Now, I'm trying to diagnose the problem. Should I be concentrating my efforts on the heating element? Other ideas?

Klaus

I believe that the refrigerator lights are 12v and only the heating element is 120v. GFIs can get weak and can trip. Try running an extension cord from a non GFI outlet and turn on the refrigerator to see if it operates properly. I have had GFI breakers trip for no apparent reason, replaced them, and everything started working normally.

[Kountrykamper]

Agree, try a different outlet that you know is on a different circuit.

[steve dunham]

If all the other 120 VAC circuits in your trailer work ( Receptacles , A/C , microwave , converter etc, and do not trip the GFCI , then the problem is probably the refrigerator . Unplug the refrigerator and turn on the refrigerator circuit breaker and see if the GFCI trips.
If the GFCI does not trip then the refrigerator is the problem.
I would suspect the 120 VAC heating element or associated wiring.
If the GFCI does trip with the refrigerator unplugged then the issue is with the circuit wiring or some other load on that circuit.

A GFCI only needs .005 Amps of leakage current to cause a trip. If you were. plugged into a 30 amp non GFCI protected receptacle at the campgrounds , the 30 amp breaker protecting the receptacle will not sense and trip from a high resistance Incidental ground fault.

[ksitte]

Great ideas. I will try them as soon as I get home from work this evening.

Klaus

[ksitte]

Just to let you know, it WAS the GFI! Who have thought? Not me, obviously.

Thanks for the fast response and help.