Plugging into 110v trips breaker

[Borismkogan]

Hello. We have a 2021 Hurricane 29M. Came with a 50amp cable. When we try to plug into 110 receptacle at our storage facility using a 50amp to 110
Conversion cable, the 110 receptacle with a gfi breaker trips. When I plug in my neighbor’s 30Amp cable into the 110 receptacle the breaker doesn’t trip.
Am i doing something wrong? TIA

[16ACE27]

This is a common problem. You are tripping the GFCI, not the breaker. Breakers trip on overcurrent.

So the real question is: Why is the coach tripping the GFCI? Because not all the current going out the hot leg is returning on the neutral leg, some is being shunted to ground. This may be due to an actual ground fault (like a screw piercing a hot or neutral conductor) or because some ignorant person tied the ground and neutral lines together in the coach.

Opening all the breakers on your AC power distribution panel will tell you if the former is the problem if it stops the tripping. Then you just need to figure out which circuit has the fault.

Tracing connections with an ohmmeter will help you track down the latter issue.

[Borismkogan]

Originally Posted by 16ACE27

This is a common problem. You are tripping the GFCI, not the breaker. Breakers trip on overcurrent.

So the real question is: Why is the coach tripping the GFCI? Because not all the current going out the hot leg is returning on the neutral leg, some is being shunted to ground. This may be due to an actual ground fault (like a screw piercing a hot or neutral conductor) or because some ignorant person tied the ground and neutral lines together in the coach.

Opening all the breakers on your AC power distribution panel will tell you if the former is the problem if it stops the tripping. Then you just need to figure out which circuit has the fault.

Tracing connections with an ohmmeter will help you track down the latter issue.

Ok I think I follow and sounds like I got something to do tomorrow.... Thanks!

[John & Diane]

If you determine there is a specific circuit that creates your problem and your 2021 coach is still under warranty I'd have Thor fix the issue.

[Pete'sMH]

It might also just be that one of your GFCI outlets is causing the issue. Sometimes two of them trying to function at the same time will do that. Try just pushing the “test” button your onboard GFCI outlets and leaving them off. I’ll bet that does the trick.

[Borismkogan]

Originally Posted by 16ACE27

This is a common problem. You are tripping the GFCI, not the breaker. Breakers trip on overcurrent.

So the real question is: Why is the coach tripping the GFCI? Because not all the current going out the hot leg is returning on the neutral leg, some is being shunted to ground. This may be due to an actual ground fault (like a screw piercing a hot or neutral conductor) or because some ignorant person tied the ground and neutral lines together in the coach.

Opening all the breakers on your AC power distribution panel will tell you if the former is the problem if it stops the tripping. Then you just need to figure out which circuit has the fault.

Tracing connections with an ohmmeter will help you track down the latter issue.

Couldn’t wait and went back to the coach and tried your suggestion. Opened all breakers and when I plug in the 110v gfi breaker on my storage space receptacle still trips.

[Borismkogan]

Originally Posted by Pete'sMH

It might also just be that one of your GFCI outlets is causing the issue. Sometimes two of them trying to function at the same time will do that. Try just pushing the “test” button your onboard GFCI outlets and leaving them off. I’ll bet that does the trick.

Just so I follow these would be outlets inside the coach? Like in the bathroom perhaps and kitchen?

[Bob Denman]

Originally Posted by Borismkogan

Couldn’t wait and went back to the coach and tried your suggestion. Opened all breakers and when I plug in the 110v gfi breaker on my storage space receptacle still trips.

Are you plugging into a GFI outlet?

[cavie]

Originally Posted by pete'smh

it might also just be that one of your gfci outlets is causing the issue. Sometimes two of them trying to function at the same time will do that. Try just pushing the “test” button your onboard gfci outlets and leaving them off. I’ll bet that does the trick.

[paulwadley]

If the 110 outlet is protected by a gfci then that will trip your coach since it too has a gfci. It is a common issue. One gfci is fighting the other gfci.

Paul

[Borismkogan]

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

Are you plugging into a GFI outlet?

Yes the storage place provides receptacles with gfi

[Borismkogan]

Originally Posted by paulwadley

If the 110 outlet is protected by a gfci then that will trip your coach since it too has a gfci. It is a common issue. One gfci is fighting the other gfci.

Paul

How do I disable one fo the GFIs? Would I focus on disabling of the GFI(s) in my coach?

[Chance]

Originally Posted by Borismkogan

Couldn’t wait and went back to the coach and tried your suggestion. Opened all breakers and when I plug in the 110v gfi breaker on my storage space receptacle still trips.

Opening breakers doesn’t check for a grounded neutral. That’s the most common reason for your problem.

A lot of people think that opening all the circuits should prevent the problem, but it doesn’t. It took an experience electrical engineer to explain why this happens, and he was 100% correct.

First I’d check between neutral and ground at RV to confirm they are not connected in any way.



P.S. — When you opened all breakers, didn’t you kill power to all GFI in motorhome? If so, why did shore-power-source GFI trip? It shouldn’t have if that was issue. I’d confirm ground and neutral are not connected first. Just my 2 cents after going through this problem myself.

[Bob Denman]

I guess if you trip those GFI breakers: your batteries will still be able to take a charge.
I don't think that circuit should be affected.

[Pete'sMH]

Originally Posted by Borismkogan

Just so I follow these would be outlets inside the coach? Like in the bathroom perhaps and kitchen?

Yes, the ones in the coach

[cavie]

Originally Posted by Borismkogan

Just so I follow these would be outlets inside the coach? Like in the bathroom perhaps and kitchen?

yes along with the outside outlet and ground-level storage areas.

[cavie]

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

I guess if you trip those GFI breakers: your batteries will still be able to take a charge.
I don't think that circuit should be affected.

you are correct Bob.

[cavie]

Originally Posted by Borismkogan

How do I disable one fo the GFIs? Would I focus on disabling of the GFI(s) in my coach?

Either push the test button on the GFI outlet (some rigs have more then one) OR turn off the 15 amp circuit breaker in the panel box labeled GFI. Both of these will turn off any outlet within 6' of a water supply and any ground level storage area. It should allow the shore power GFI circuit to stay intact and supply power to the rest of the RV.

[Chance]

Didn’t he try that already?

Originally Posted by Borismkogan

Couldn’t wait and went back to the coach and tried your suggestion. Opened all breakers and when I plug in the 110v gfi breaker on my storage space receptacle still trips.

[Judge]

Originally Posted by Chance

Didn’t he try that already?

Sounds like he did......

To the OP..... you said your neighbors 30A doesn't cause it to trip (I assume you mean the same outlet you are trying to use). Have you tried a different 50A to 15A dogbone / adapter? Perhaps the one you are using has a problem. If all of your breakers were open and it tripped when you plugged in, sounds like you either have a problem with your adapter or the 50A cable and / or connections going to the transfer switch.