12VoltInstalls
life passes by too quickly to not live in freedom
I have a weird thing with a long explanation post. If you don’t want the challenge in this problem just skip the post and move along. Solution is done but my posting here is for entertainment.
Because technically this is a camper trailer (RV). 99.44% stationary, offgrid solar, “improved” for winter use I posted here.
I’ve lived in this RV like five summers but 2021/22 was the very first winter. Working great. No really, I’m pleased.
I have a 20A GFCI outlet between a 1012LV-MK and the OEM breaker panel. Originally inverter was a Giandel 1200W PSW, and I’ve also used with a 2000W QZRELB PSW and a 2500W Giandel.
Over the years the GFCI has tripped maybe 5 or 6 times for unexplained reasons. No biggie- it’s working, right?
The other day I was just installing an outlet, nothing unusual, and had disconnected 120VAC. When I plugged the 1012LV back in the fans roared a moment which I thought was the fridge surge, but they kept running for 10 seconds until suddenly the GFCI tripped. I reset and the 1012 error-coded “Output Shorted”
I diagnosed by shutting off breakers etc but couldn’t stop the GFCI tripping and the 1012 reporting shorted output.
Eventually I discovered (I thought) the fridge was causing the tripping on Circuit2 so I plugged it into the pre-breaker-panel GFCI. No problems. But also discovered Circuit2 tripped the GFCI with -nothing- plugged in.
Turned off Circuit2 breaker. Reset GFCI. Discovered the GFCI would still trip with the breaker off if I plugged anything in that drew power. I could plug coffeemaker in but the GFCI instantly tripped if I switched it on.
Hmmm
So I went to tuck the wires into the JB on Circuit3 and the GFCI tripped. Uggh. Got out the meter again and discovered- after restoring GFCI- that the circuit only had power to the first outlet; the other outlets were fed by that first outlet. Turning power off I discovered that H was grounded, had no continuity between the source outlet and itself, and neutral was open.
? hmmm. ?
I determined that I should just cut the feeder wire at the source outlet and in the JB because I cannot replace that without major destruction but I do have access to feed from the end outlet… the wire was already disconnected at the feeder outlet except the bare Ground which I left for safety cuz I didn’t think it would matter, but when I pulled the wires to separate out the H and N to be sure I would cut the correct white and black the GFCI tripped with both black and white disconnected. No power there. What?!!!
I can only think a mouse or maybe something legacy like a nick in a wire installed at the factory in 1978?! or a staple somewhere finally shorted and ?somehow? shorted out and burnt a wire or wires in the other circuit, too? Dunno. Very weird.
The inverter is 1000W- that’s why my 15A breakers didn’t trip fyi- the MPP shuts itself down at 8.3A.
But how does a disconnected circuit trip a GFCI? And with no continuity to anything else except its own ground. A confusing thing to me. Or hidden/illegal/buried junction box?
What do you think? I don’t need a solution (I’m rewiring the two faulty circuits) but my head wants to know what the heck is going on.
Because technically this is a camper trailer (RV). 99.44% stationary, offgrid solar, “improved” for winter use I posted here.
I’ve lived in this RV like five summers but 2021/22 was the very first winter. Working great. No really, I’m pleased.
I have a 20A GFCI outlet between a 1012LV-MK and the OEM breaker panel. Originally inverter was a Giandel 1200W PSW, and I’ve also used with a 2000W QZRELB PSW and a 2500W Giandel.
Over the years the GFCI has tripped maybe 5 or 6 times for unexplained reasons. No biggie- it’s working, right?
The other day I was just installing an outlet, nothing unusual, and had disconnected 120VAC. When I plugged the 1012LV back in the fans roared a moment which I thought was the fridge surge, but they kept running for 10 seconds until suddenly the GFCI tripped. I reset and the 1012 error-coded “Output Shorted”
I diagnosed by shutting off breakers etc but couldn’t stop the GFCI tripping and the 1012 reporting shorted output.
Eventually I discovered (I thought) the fridge was causing the tripping on Circuit2 so I plugged it into the pre-breaker-panel GFCI. No problems. But also discovered Circuit2 tripped the GFCI with -nothing- plugged in.
Turned off Circuit2 breaker. Reset GFCI. Discovered the GFCI would still trip with the breaker off if I plugged anything in that drew power. I could plug coffeemaker in but the GFCI instantly tripped if I switched it on.
Hmmm
So I went to tuck the wires into the JB on Circuit3 and the GFCI tripped. Uggh. Got out the meter again and discovered- after restoring GFCI- that the circuit only had power to the first outlet; the other outlets were fed by that first outlet. Turning power off I discovered that H was grounded, had no continuity between the source outlet and itself, and neutral was open.
? hmmm. ?
I determined that I should just cut the feeder wire at the source outlet and in the JB because I cannot replace that without major destruction but I do have access to feed from the end outlet… the wire was already disconnected at the feeder outlet except the bare Ground which I left for safety cuz I didn’t think it would matter, but when I pulled the wires to separate out the H and N to be sure I would cut the correct white and black the GFCI tripped with both black and white disconnected. No power there. What?!!!
HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?!
I also discovered if I check Circuit2 - with the breaker off mind you- for continuity the GFCI trips.
I can only think a mouse or maybe something legacy like a nick in a wire installed at the factory in 1978?! or a staple somewhere finally shorted and ?somehow? shorted out and burnt a wire or wires in the other circuit, too? Dunno. Very weird.
The inverter is 1000W- that’s why my 15A breakers didn’t trip fyi- the MPP shuts itself down at 8.3A.
But how does a disconnected circuit trip a GFCI? And with no continuity to anything else except its own ground. A confusing thing to me. Or hidden/illegal/buried junction box?
What do you think? I don’t need a solution (I’m rewiring the two faulty circuits) but my head wants to know what the heck is going on.