circuit tripped and will mot normalize

[FFEJANDIRAB]

Hi all,

I have a 2014 Airstream 30' International. The breaker panel circuit to the gfi, bath, galley, refer, tv, dinette, outside, aft bedroom is tripped. i cannot trip it back. this also hosts the gfci test. i think this is the gfi? i cannot find an outlet, am i missing something? or is this a bad breaker? if so, how hard is it to do the fix?

thank you so much for the help,
Jeff and Bari

[n2916s]

It probably won't reset because the the condition that tripped it still exists. Unplug everything you can find that plugs into this circuit and then try resetting the breaker. If it resets, go back and start reconnecting things until it trips again and you will have isolated the problem. If it won't reset, you either missed something or the breaker is bad (unlikely but it happens).

Mike

[HowieE]

GFIs will trip if anything plugged into it has a capacitor across the line before the transformer. Not a common problem now days but because things have been designed around this. Do you have any OLD audio equipment plugged into the circuit? Try the unplugging sequence as a first.

Remove the cover from the breaker panel, while unplugged from shore power, and remove the the wire from the GFI. Now plug into shore power and see if you can reset the breaker. If not unplug shore power again and replace the breaker.

[Drathaar]

There's a chance that one of GFI plugs has tripped, and the CB isn't resetting because of that plug. You might check each of the GFI plugs (push in on the button) to see if one has popped, then try a reset on the CB.

[4RXLA]

My GFCI breaker was doing the same thing and had to be replaced...but it was 38 years old.

[FFEJANDIRAB]

n2916s! you are the winner! that was the fix! so far so good, i will do as you suggest and find the culprit. probably the space heater was the one that pulled the power. i unplugged everything and the breaker normalized. thank you thank you thank you! i love this forum! especially while full timing in the winter you are all so very helpful in such a timely manner!

[HowieE]

What is the wattage on the space heater? Odds are you will blow any breaker while using it.

[TBRich]

Just as a point of information, don;t forget about the exterior outlet when checking things...chances are it is also be on the GFI circuit. That's bee the culprit a couple of times for us.

[HCR]

I've had a breaker go back when trailer was only 5 years old--so it CAN happen. Great set of replies here, per usual! Thanks amigos!

[n2916s]

Can't tell you how many times this Forum has bailed me out so it is nice that I could help.

Mike

[dkottum]

A tripped GFCI indicates a ground fault in the circuit, a tripped circuit breaker indicates an overloaded circuit, which may also be a short.

So you may have overloaded the circuit with the heater, but probably only if there are other high wattage items operating at the same time on that circuit (or a very low voltage supply). Otherwise the heater may have a short within itself or its power cord.

[guskmg]

As simple as it sounds, on GFI breakers, to reset them you have to physically move the lever to the off position first, and then back to on, to reenergize the circuit. If tripped the lever will appear to be off, but it will not be all the way off. Then run a trip test with the yellow button. If it trips OK, reset the breaker and you are good to go. I believe I bought my last Square D at Home Depot for around $65. Not cheap.
guskmg

[FFEJANDIRAB]

So with further investigation, the electric heater was not to blame. it was the exterior outlet where the heat tape for the hose is plugged in. I will have to replace that hose. Now this becomes a winter living question but has anyone had any luck with the heated hoses?

[HowieE]

You can't plug in 2 heating units at the same time and not expect the breaker blow. That includes heater, toaster, tape heater, hair dryer, and electric hot water heater.

Plug your hose heater directly into the shoe power post.