GFCI'S

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GFCI'S

Postby CHUCKLEHEAD69 » Wed Oct 18, 2006 7:10 pm

IF U DONT HAVE WATER IN YOUR TRAILER IS IT REQUIRED FOR U TO HAVE GFCI'S, crap I'm not yelling sorry. don't most the campgrounds have gfci's at the pole. if it is required I'm thinking of gfci's breakers instead of outlets.thanks in advance
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Postby Gerdo » Wed Oct 18, 2006 8:47 pm

A GFCI could save you from a shock. I plan on using a cord mounted GFCI. Or the first outlet on each circuit will be a GFCI and the rest will flow thru it. I would rather have redundantcy than get a shock, but that is the electrican in me. I run big lights in the rain w/o GFCI all the time but I'm always waiting for that shock.
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Postby CHUCKLEHEAD69 » Wed Oct 18, 2006 9:11 pm

are the gfci's breakers any good figure that will protect anything after them?
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Postby Dale M. » Wed Oct 18, 2006 10:01 pm

I personally would not trust any power system in any camp area I have to plug into(shore power)... Even if it has a GFI receptacle.... You never know the level of maintenance the camp is doing on electrical, and you never know what the person that was plugged in before you was up to.....

If nothing else spend a few extra dollars and put GFI breakers in your breaker panel and know whatever camp system is, YOUR system has you protected...

Also suggest you use receptacle tester to test shore power before you plug in your tear.... There have been cases of receptacle being dead or improperly wired....

Also like idea of having receptacle tester "on line" while you are plugged in to monitor shore power, like somebody engineered into their power panel in a thread in this message board....

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Postby Endo » Thu Oct 19, 2006 5:34 am

At the very least use one of these.
It is a "plug in" GFCI adapter.
This would be a simple solution for anyone that did not install a GFCI in their trailer.
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Postby Gerdo » Thu Oct 19, 2006 9:24 am

GFI breakers are expensive so that is why most houses have a GFI outlet be the first on a circuit that protects the whole circuit. My house, and probably yours, has a GFI outlet in one bathroom that feeds the an outlet outside and in my garage. 200' of wire instead of more GFI outlets.
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Postby asianflava » Thu Oct 19, 2006 1:52 pm

Gerdo wrote:GFI breakers are expensive so that is why most houses have a GFI outlet be the first on a circuit that protects the whole circuit. My house, and probably yours, has a GFI outlet in one bathroom that feeds the an outlet outside and in my garage. 200' of wire instead of more GFI outlets.


That's how I wired my trailer, the first one is GFCI but the other 2 (Galley and Cabin) are regular outlets. Considering that regular outlets are sooo much cheaper, it was the economical way to go.
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Postby CHUCKLEHEAD69 » Thu Oct 19, 2006 3:05 pm

i have a friend that work in a supply warehouse and get my gfci breakers for cost(i think something like 13 bucks each
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Postby Gerdo » Thu Oct 19, 2006 3:15 pm

$13 Great price. I would do it.
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Postby angib » Thu Oct 19, 2006 5:53 pm

International perspective: in all new houses and rewires here, all socket outlet circuits must be fed through a ELCB (Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker, = GFCI) in the distribution panel.

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GFCI or Not

Postby jdjernigan » Mon Oct 23, 2006 7:52 pm

My power inlet is wired directly to a power strip with a built in circuit breaker. From this strip, I am plugging in my battery charger and a small PC fan for battery box venting and cooling. I am not wiring my trailer for AC beyond this. All accessories are DC. Do I need a GFCI for this power strip??

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Postby Dale M. » Mon Oct 23, 2006 10:04 pm

Well.......... IF..... If there is any chance AC voltage can come in contact with any metallic component of trailer, and if there is a chance you can come in contact with that metallic component and ground (earth) there is possible potential for electrocution.... GFI may prevent you from dying...

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Postby Miriam C. » Tue Oct 24, 2006 10:21 pm

Dale M. wrote:Well.......... IF..... If there is any chance AC voltage can come in contact with any metallic component of trailer, and if there is a chance you can come in contact with that metallic component and ground (earth) there is possible potential for electrocution.... GFI may prevent you from dying...

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Why is it that people only think about water when looking into GFCI's. They really could save your life or the life of someone who touches your trailer at the wrong time.

Even if you only use a drop cord to your camper, it should be GFCI with a built in breaker. They make them with multiple plugs.
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Postby Dale M. » Tue Oct 24, 2006 10:57 pm

Because most "exposure" to GFI outlets for most people is kitchens or bathroom of conventional construction homes... Both rooms have a abundant supply of water....

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Re: GFCI'S

Postby Chuck Craven » Thu Oct 26, 2006 7:29 pm

CHUCKLEHEAD69 wrote:IF U DONT HAVE WATER IN YOUR TRAILER IS IT REQUIRED FOR U TO HAVE GFCI'S, crap I'm not yelling sorry. don't most the campgrounds have gfci's at the pole. if it is required I'm thinking of gfci's breakers instead of outlets.thanks in advance


Your trailer is out side and it’s raining! Do you need a GFCI? YEP! :shock: :?

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