110 wiring ?

[Jim Uran]

I just bought a cheap cheap camper, the only problem is the 110 wiring. I bought it for $600, it's a 17 footer, brand new tires and roof. Thing pulls like a champ but the only problem is everytime you plug it in it trips the breaker. The lights will come on for a second and pop, lights out. I had it plugged into my outlet ouside and I'd have to go hit the reset button and bam the same thing. I knew of the problem when I bought it, I'm just wondering where to start? i suppose hiring an electrician is about it, I have minimal experience with 110 wiring, but really how hard could it be? lol!!

Oh I should have added, it trips my house's GFCI outlet breaker and doesn't pop the fuses in the camper?!?!?!?

[BobT]

Does the camper have a main panel with a main circuit breaker or fuse? If so, do any of the circuit breakers trip in the camper or only the supply circuit breaker (at the house)?

[JohnMickish]

Bob, sounds like it's just tripping the GFCI and not the breaker in the house. If that's the case I'm going to go with a bad cord.

[Jim Uran]

Yes sir, it's two 15 amp plug fuses, they are both looking good. It trips the GFCI on my porch, which is functional. I'm using an extension cord to plug the camper in, that may be the problem right there???

[eyebjim]

In the camper turn off all the breakers then plug in. If the breaker does not trip in the house start turning on each breaker in the camper until it trips. Now you have narrowed it down some. If there is only one breaker in the camper that limits you on narrowing your search. In that case turn off all appliances especially air conditioning if it has it until you can plug in without tripping the house breaker. If it has air your house breakers may not be enough to handle the load.

If you had more than one breaker in the camper and have narrowed the problem to one of them find out what it powers then check that.

Some campers have ac-dc converters/battery chargers that can draw a lot if a battery is shorted. I've had the ac-dc converter fail and short also.

Good luck.

[Jim Uran]

This thing is old, it only has the one panel in it with two 15 amp fuses. So there is no way to narrow it down. Well, I guess I could try to take one fuse out at a time and do it that way. It runs a refrigerator, and lights, and that's it. No A/C to contend with. I'll try that out and see if it works.

[jeffreyd]

if you pull the two fuses and then plug it in if it pops the gfi on the house then you know it is between the house plug and the fuse panel. if it does not, put one in try it if ok pull the first fuse the try the second if it is good then try together, then you have to isolate what is being run off both legs, on that old from what you say no a/c i am guess a mouse might have gotten into it.

[Jim Uran]

ok maybe it's the fridge, I pulled the right fuse and the back lights and kitchen lights worked fine, the other side that I'm assuming runs the fridge and the lights by the table kept blowing the GFCI but the fuses are just fine! hmmmm, I'll have to disconnect the fridge and try that out I guess.

It's old, but the interior is in GREAT shape, the cabinets, beds, and table are all perfect!! All the windows are perfect too! That's why I bought it I guess! I'm going to put what money I need to in it, but it isn't far off I tell ya!

[timjones]

Is there someplace you can plug it in without going through a GFCI. If the frig is real old the compressor could be tripping the GFCI even if the frig is OK. GFCI's don't like to be connected to some of the real old appliances.

[BobT]

One thought occurred to me. How many times can a circuit breaker trip before it should be replaced? Using the circuit breaker to isolate the problem this way means it is being forced to handle repeated overloads. Would it be a good idea to replace the circuit breaker when this problem has been put to bed just to be sure its integrity hasn't been compromised?

[Surface Tension]

Turn the fridge off and try it.

There should be a heavy duty cord on the trailer. That gets plugged into a receptacle close to the camper. You'll note that power cord is considerably larger then your extension cord. If you need an extension cord, in your case a couple lights and a fridge, it should be at least 12 gauge and as short as possible. If you start using lights, fridge, microwave, AC and so on you can't get by with a 12 gauge cord.

I'm not surprised the GFCI is tripping either. I would try another receptacle but and keep the extension cord as short as possible.