Resetting A Gfci Outlet In Your Camper: A Quick Guide

Resetting a GFCI outlet in a camper can be a little tricky, especially if you're not sure what you're doing. GFCI outlets are an important safety feature, designed to prevent electrical shocks and fires by detecting electrical imbalances and shutting off the power when necessary. When a GFCI outlet won't reset, it could be due to a number of issues, such as a tripped breaker, an overload, a blown fuse, faulty wiring, or a faulty GFCI. To reset your GFCI outlet, you can try a few things: check for tripped breakers or blown fuses and reset them if necessary; unplug any appliances connected to the GFCI outlet and then press the reset button; or, if the GFCI outlet is old, you may need to replace it with a new one. If these steps don't work, it's best to consult a professional electrician to avoid causing any damage or injury.

Check for a tripped breaker, an overload, or a blown-up fuse

To reset a GFCI outlet in a camper, you should first check for a tripped breaker, an overload, or a blown-up fuse.

A tripped breaker is a safety measure to prevent a potentially dangerous electrical problem from worsening. It could be caused by too many appliances being connected to the breaker running simultaneously, an improper wiring issue, a short circuit on a wire, or a malfunctioning appliance. To identify a tripped breaker, locate your circuit breaker box. This is usually a thick metal box with a door, in olive green or grey, mounted to a wall in the basement, utility room, or garage. Look for a breaker that is in the off position or displaying red or orange. If you're struggling to identify the tripped breaker, step back and look at the column or row of breakers as a whole – the tripped breaker will likely look slightly different from the others. Once you've found it, reset the breaker by switching it to the off position, waiting a minute, and then flipping it back on. If the breaker trips again, you may have a larger electrical issue and should call an electrician.

To check for an overload in your camper, refer to the load ratings on the certification tags inside or outside your RV. The way you load your supplies can impact the vehicle's handling and the durability of your tires, so it's important to distribute weight as equally as possible on the left and right sides of your RV.

To check for a blown-up fuse, locate your fuse panel, which could be inside or outside your camper. If one of your electrical components stops working, you may be able to spot a blown fuse by looking for a severed wire inside one of the colourful translucent squares, tabs, or cartridges in the fuse box. Alternatively, you can use a test light or a multimeter to check if there's a current running through the fuse. If the fuse is blown, simply replace it with a working one.

Toggle the reset and test button

If your GFCI outlet in your camper won't reset, there are a few things you can try. Firstly, make sure you have located the correct outlet. The GFCI outlet will have two small buttons on the front, usually labelled 'TEST' and 'RESET'. The 'RESET' button is typically red, while the 'TEST' button is black.

To reset the GFCI outlet, start by unplugging any appliances that are connected to the same circuit as the GFCI outlet. Then, press the 'RESET' button. You should hear a click, which indicates that the outlet has been reset. If this doesn't work, try pressing the 'RESET' button a few times. You can also try toggling both the 'TEST' and 'RESET' buttons simultaneously until you hear a sound.

If the GFCI outlet still won't reset, there may be an issue with the power supply to the receptacle. In this case, try turning the main breaker on and off again. If that doesn't work, check the wiring to ensure all connections are secure and none of the wires are loose or damaged. If you find any loose wires, strip the copper wires from the connector and cut them to a three-quarter-inch length before reattaching the connector and closing the outlet box.

If the GFCI outlet still won't reset, it may be faulty or incorrectly installed. In this case, you may need to replace the outlet or call an electrician for assistance.

Check for a faulty GFCI

If your GFCI outlet won't reset, it's important to identify the source of the issue. GFCIs detect ground faults and shorts in electricity and shut off as soon as they sense them. They prevent themselves from resetting when they sense an overload or surge, which may happen due to a lack of power supply, a tripped breaker, a blown-up fuse, or faulty wiring. Here are some steps to check for a faulty GFCI:

• Check if the GFCI has power. If your devices work with the non-resetting outlet, your line or load may have reversed.
• Check if you've pushed the button enough to get the current flowing. If it doesn't click, your GFCI may be defective.
• Check for an underlying ground fault that may have caused the reset button to pop, or perhaps an incorrectly wired GFCI.
• Check if the reset button is staying put. An incorrectly wired GFCI or a ground fault may be causing the issue.
• Check if your GFCI is working even when the reset button is pressed. It could be miswired, faulty, or underpowered.
• Identify and reattach any loose or faulty connections. Turn off the circuit, open the outlet box, and check for any corrosion or loose wires.

If you're unable to identify the issue, it's best to call an electrician to fix your GFCI outlet.

Identify and reattach loose or faulty connections

If you've determined that loose or faulty connections are causing your GFCI outlet issues, you'll need to take the following steps to identify and reattach them:

Firstly, turn off the circuit. It's important to ensure that the circuit is off before proceeding, as electricity can be dangerous. Once that's done, open the outlet box and inspect the wires and connectors for any signs of corrosion or looseness.

If you find a loose wire, unplug it and strip all the copper wires from the connector. Cut the wires to a length of half an inch to three-quarters of an inch. Then, reattach the connector to the wire and close the outlet box.

If you notice corrosion, it's important to clean or replace the affected parts before reattaching any wires. Corrosion can cause electrical resistance to increase, generating heat and potentially leading to fires. It can also result in voltage drops, affecting the performance of your electrical devices.

If you're unsure about handling electrical connections, it's best to consult a professional electrician. They will have the necessary skills and tools to address the issue safely and effectively.

Check the wiring

If your GFCI outlet in your camper won't reset, there could be a few things wrong with the wiring. Here are some steps you can take to check the wiring:

• Check if there are any other dead outlets in your camper. If you find any, turn the lights on and off to see if they're working. You can also use a voltage tester to simplify this process.
• Unplug any devices that are plugged into dead outlets. This will help you rule out overloads or shorts from those outlets.
• Tape over the dead outlets to make them easier to locate when the power is turned off.
• Check for tripped circuits or blown fuses. Circuit breakers trip when their maximum amperage is exceeded, which can happen due to an overload, a short, or faulty wiring. If you find a tripped circuit, flip it off and back on. If the outlet still won't reset, look for a blown fuse and replace it if necessary.
• Toggle the reset and test buttons on the GFCI outlet. The test button is typically black, while the reset button is usually red. Turn off all appliances connected to the outlet and unplug them before pushing the reset button. You should hear a click when you press the button, and the outlet should start working again. If it doesn't work the first time, try pressing the reset button a few more times.
• Check for a faulty GFCI. This could be due to a lack of power, a defective GFCI, an underlying ground fault, or incorrect wiring. If your devices work with the non-resetting outlet, your line or load may be reversed.
• Identify and reattach any loose or faulty connections. Turn off the circuit, open the outlet box, and check for corrosion or loose wires. Unplug any loose wires, strip the copper wires from the connector, and cut the wires to half or three-quarter-inch lengths. Then, attach the connector to the wire and close the outlet box.

If you're unable to identify and fix the issue with the wiring, it's best to call an electrician to help you troubleshoot the problem.

Frequently asked questions