Casita 120v Outlets Not Working

[GatorCasita]

The last time we went camping, I found that the circuit that includes the outside receptacles, the receptacles on the rear side of the sink cabinet, and the receptacles on the rear ceiling (above TV stand were not working) on my 2008 Casita 17 FD. I assumed that it was just a matter of the GFI in the sink cabinet having failed. So I just replaced it. None of the receptacles worked after replacing it. Of course I flicked all the circuit breakers on the off and on on converter, but that did not help. None of the breakers seem to have gone to the opened position.

Now I am at a loss to figure out what to do. One thing that is puzzling to me is that the new GFI receptacle (Levitron) has a green light that is illuminated. Thus there must be power getting to the GFI.

Does anybody have any ideas? The only one I have is that perhaps the replacement GFI is faulty. However, according to Levitron, it would not be showing the green light if it was not working.

Please illuminate me, if you can.

Gator

[gordon2]

You have a broken connection. The GFIC is the the first outlet with other ground fault protected outlets wired after it (I'm going to assume that you wired the new one correctly, as the line side needs to be "power in" and load side goes to the other protected outlets). Somewhere at or after the GFIC the connection is broken. If you can determine which outlet is "downstream" of the GFIC then check it next. Too often the back stabs in outlets are used. Thats where the wire is stuck in the back instead of wrapped around the screw terminal. They fail often from vibration and would be my first suspect. They also partially fail and then overheat under heavy loads.

[GatorCasita]

Originally Posted by gordon2

You have a broken connection. The GFIC is the the first outlet with other ground fault protected outlets wired after it (I'm going to assume that you wired the new one correctly, as the line side needs to be "power in" and load side goes to the other protected outlets). Somewhere at or after the GFIC the connection is broken. If you can determine which outlet is "downstream" of the GFIC then check it next. Too often the back stabs in outlets are used. Thats where the wire is stuck in the back instead of wrapped around the screw terminal. They fail often from vibration and would be my first suspect. They also partially fail and then overheat under heavy loads.

Thanks, that sounds reasonable. The circuit failed after some heavy rain. I will check the outside outlets on the side of the Casita next. Perhaps moisture/corrosion interrupted the circuit.

However, with the green light showing on the GFI, wouldn't that receptacle work, even if the downstream circuit is open somewhere. Just asking??

And yes I did very carefully rewire the new GFI....one wire at a time...

Thanks for the reply

[gordon2]

Originally Posted by GatorCasita

..
However, with the green light showing on the GFI, wouldn't that receptacle work, even if the downstream circuit is open somewhere. Just asking??
...

Seems like it should although a bad connection (before or at the GFIC) might let enough current pass to light an LED but not do much more. Put a voltmeter on one of the two GCIC outlets. If it reads about 120 +/- then plug something else into the other outlet and watch the voltage.

[Casita Greg]

First thing I would check is the outside convenience outlet just aft of the lower exterior fridge vent. That one often is guilty of failing due to corroded terminals. Generally, replacing the exterior outlet, along with a new weather-tight cover plate gasket will cure the problem most times.

[GatorCasita]

I looked at the outdoor receptacles. It looked totally clean, copper wire still shiny. I did not pull it out, because Casita put silicone sealer around the receptacle tabs and the box and trailer shell. I checked the voltage at the inside (sink cabinet) and found that the top pair (black & white) had 120 v, but the bottom pair nothing. The green LED was on. Plugged a lamp into each receptacle, but no power. I am now thinking that the second GFI I put in was defective (it was something I picked up at a bargain store...but looked new). Have ordered a new GFI and will try that.

Does the fact that there was no voltage at the bottom pair of wires confirm that the GFI is defective?

[Casita Greg]

If your duplex GFCI receptacle has power to one plug-in and not the other, I'd say you need a new GFCI receptacle. Something is definitely not right with the one you currently have.

[Kenny Strong]

What if you wire around the GFCI to see if you have power to the following outlets. Is the wire hot going to the GFCI ?

[Dan Meyer]

If the GFI is wired incorrectly, the GFI outlet could have power while still protecting downstream devices; this might explain the green light on the GFI outlet being on. Double-check the wiring at the GFI.



--Dan Meyer

[GatorCasita]

Update...Yes it was just a matter of my GFI failing, and then the second one being defective too. I ordered and installed an new one, making sure to know which pair of wires was the power, and which was the load that followed that receptacle (power and load are clearly marked on the new receptacle). I found that one cannot always just look at the face of the receptacle (ground plug/up or down) and rewire that way. My old one was opposite from the new one, but once I tested the voltage and found the power pair, and installed as shown on the receptacle, the problem was solved.

Thanks for the comments

Gator (sad Gator, but losing to #1 Bama by only 2 points is not all that bad),

[Lloyd (aka Santa) Coltman]

Another thing you can run into: In Canada outlets are installed Line and Neutral UP Ground down. This creates problems finding an adapter that allows the RV-30 cord to 'Hang', rather than 'Loop'

[Jon Vermilye]

For your Canadian experience, I suspect you found some improperly installed 30 amp receptacles. All the Canadian ones (including the one I'm currently plugged into here in Niagara Falls) have been wired in the standard direction - ground pin up.

I have occasionally run into an upside down receptacle both in the US & Canada, but it is the exception, not the rule.

[Lloyd (aka Santa) Coltman]

Quite right John, the RV-30 receptacle should be mounted ground pin up (so any moisture that lands on the cord is drained to earth. As well, the box door works as a 'roof'). The problem is a lot of the 15A-30A adapters out there (especially the triangular ones) force the 30A cord to 'Loop' (when placed in a Canadian standard installed 15A outlet- ground pin down). One known exception is the Camco 55223 adapter.

[Moyza Frank]

I also lost power to that string of outlets connected to the GFI along side the stove (2020 Casita 17 D). The confusing part for me was that the GFI was lit so I thought it was working. But no, the orange led means it is tripped, and there is no led light when it is working.