GFIC (GFI) Outlet Replacement?

[apackoftwo]

Yes the extension cord was plugged into my camper's outside outlet and then the extension cord was plugged into my truck and its an old diesel

Originally Posted by mainah

That is most likely your problem if I'm reading you right. The truck cord is plugged into the camper yes? GFI are not real fond of electric heating elements particularly older ones. All of the outside outlets are connected to the GFI If you are determined to replace the GFI if you have seen one you have seen them all they all are the same they follow the national electrical code (NEMA). Now depending on how the box is mounted it maybe too deep I have seen some interesting mounting with boxes too deep and cock eyed You may have to loosen the outlet mounting screws just enough to get the cover on. Bottom line if it ain't broke don't fix it! Your camper should have a 30 amp plug plugged it into that it will free up a 20 amp on the post, plug the truck into that beware the truck may also trip that.

[Tinstaafl]

Originally Posted by apackoftwo

Its weird to me as someone who knows virtually zero about electrical systems why the outside plug would trip the bathroom GFIC when its farther away from it? The kitchen is very close to the location and on the same side as the outside outlet

Also weird, when I would turn my over the bed bedroom lights on usually it would interfere with my antenna and I would loose my channels??

Outside receptacles are required by code to be GFCI-protected. Odd as it seems (because I assume you have a GFCI in the kitchen), they probably wired it that way just to save a few cents. In a residence, that wouldn't fly--bathrooms have to have their own dedicated circuits.

The TV thing is a whole other subject, perhaps worthy of a new thread.

[JohnB]

Originally Posted by apackoftwo

Looks like to replace the outside outlets you have to remove the cover and therefor the caulk. Another job

Its weird to me as someone who knows virtually zero about electrical systems why the outside plug would trip the bathroom GFIC when its farther away from it? The kitchen is very close to the location and on the same side as the outside outlet

I think you found your problem with the truck, not sure you need to open up the outside outlet behind the caulk.

Now to the outside outlet "not" being on the kitchen GFI, that one I may have an explanation for it.

The galley/kitchen outlet has it's own GFI and it's own circuit breaker on purpose. First, since the kitchen outlet is near water, it needs the GFI part. The next part, Sunline did load balancing as best they could from a 30 amp supply. They know that in the kitchen, that one handy outlet will get a toaster, a coffee pot if you have an electric one, or some other heat creating higher power kitchen gizmo that plugs in. They on purpose did not load that outlet up with a lot of other outlets so you would not trip that 15 amp breaker they call the "Appliance" circuit.

Your second GFI is near the bathroom. Again water is near, so the GFI need. That outlet also has other outlets up and down stream of it. Again load balancing as this bath area GFI is a separate 15 amp circuit from the kitchen circuit. Sunline calls this bath area the "General Purpose" circuit. And since the outside outlet needs a GFI, due to the weather outside, they have to run the cable all the way to the bathroom to hook up to that GFI and not the kitchen which in your floor plan is about 3 feet away.

That make more sense?

[mainah]

Ok here is the deal water, and ground they are conductive that is what a GFI is for that is why they are situated near sinks and outside stuff all of that is down stream of the GFI. It keeps people from becoming conductors to ground not a good thing.

[apackoftwo]

Yes, thanks. But why does my antenna reception go on the fritz when I turn my overhead bed lights on on?

[mainah]

Standard camper lights or led replacements?

[krazedave]

When I still had my Sunline I would have the same problem with the TV losing reception with more than one or two lights on. They were drawing power from the antenna booster. I changed all my lights to LED. Problem solved.