Wiring a GFCI Tutorial

[Miriam C.]

I found this and decided it would be very useful to a lot of us.
http://www.easy2diy.com/cm_mvc/GenericI ... ent2=Brand

Edited to put a tutorial back. Seems over the years they removed the old one.

[Mary K]

Great Find!!! Make sure Steve gets this for his sdtripper2's Index.

Mk

[wlooper89]

That is very good. It is also important to note that the GFCI only protects what is downstream or "load side" of the GFCI device. In a home this would be the GFCI outlet itself and any other outlets connected on the load side.

I my case the electrical compartment is on the trailer tongue and shore power plugs into this metal compartment. A/C wires then go underneath the trailer into the tail light area where I located my first GFCI. Only later did I realize that all the wiring in my tongue box and to the trailer tail was unprotected. I have recently installed another GFCI directly to the shore power inlet.

Bill

[kyacker]

That is very good. It is also important to note that the GFCI only protects what is downstream or "load side" of the GFCI device. In a home this would be the GFCI outlet itself and any other outlets connected on the load side.

I my case the electrical compartment is on the trailer tongue and shore power plugs into this metal compartment. A/C wires then go underneath the trailer into the tail light area where I located my first GFCI. Only later did I realize that all the wiring in my tongue box and to the trailer tail was unprotected. I have recently installed another GFCI directly to the shore power inlet.

Bill

Good advice, Bill. It is always a good general rule of thumb to put the circuit protection device, be it a fuse or GFI, as close to the power supply as possible. This will cut down on overloading any of your wiring and avoid fire.

[hurricaner]

Another good GFI article. A bit more technical but worth a read by everyone.

http://www.rhtubs.com/GFCI/GFCI.htm

Sam

[artfd]

It is not necessary for a GFCI to come with its own outlet. Home supply & electrical supply stores also sell a plain GFCI, which just contains the GFCI electronics, on/off switch and reset button. These are installed in the usual outlet boxes and protect everything wired "downstream" from them. I discovered them when I was wiring a GFCI circuit in my basement & just wanted a plain ol' GFCI switch on the ceiling where I would never plug anything into. I have found it difficult to test or reset a fully-plugged-in GFCI with outlets, and I have skinny fingers. Costs only slightly more than a GFCI combined with outlets.

[wlooper89]

It is not necessary for a GFCI to come with its own outlet. Home supply & electrical supply stores also sell a plain GFCI, which just contains the GFCI electronics, on/off switch and reset button. These are installed in the usual outlet boxes and protect everything wired "downstream" from them. I discovered them when I was wiring a GFCI circuit in my basement & just wanted a plain ol' GFCI switch on the ceiling where I would never plug anything into. I have found it difficult to test or reset a fully-plugged-in GFCI with outlets, and I have skinny fingers. Costs only slightly more than a GFCI combined with outlets.

This is a photo of one of those, mounted at the tail light compartment of my trailer. It protects the outlets in the galley and sleeping area but not the wiring in my tongue box where the converter and switches are located. More recently I added a GFCI there close to the shore power inlet.

Bill

[Ron Dickey]

you might look at this it is worth reading if you do not understand electricity or think you do but have little experience with this monster.

DC no problem unless you get between a spark plug and the wire ZAPPPP! and it you are grounded oh the pain in my heart.
AC you've heard many a story depending on the voltage.

http://www.noshockzone.org/15/
shows a survey and in the upper right are the chapters.

This was put out by RvTravel.com
I am not a subscriber to RvTravel I just was looking for trailers and GFCI's

Ron

[cpinetree]

you might look at this it is worth reading if you do not understand electricity or think you do but have little experience with this monster.

DC no problem unless you get between a spark plug and the wire ZAPPPP! and it you are grounded oh the pain in my heart.
AC you've heard many a story depending on the voltage.

http://www.noshockzone.org/15/
shows a survey and in the upper right are the chapters.

This was put out by RvTravel.com
I am not a subscriber to RvTravel I just was looking for trailers and GFCI's

Ron

The author; Mike Sokol http://www.tnttt.com/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=18053 is a member of this forum. His articles are very informative and should be the first things you read before using any electrical outlet in any campground.
start at his link to the RV section: http://www.noshockzone.org/category/rv-safety/

This link should be stickied at the top of this forum- Hot trailer skin: http://www.noshockzone.org/rv-electrical-safety-part-iv-%E2%80%93-hot-skin/

[jmsokol]

Thanks for posting my NoShockZone.org links here. For information on how a GFCI works, please read my NSZ article at: http://www.noshockzone.org/rv-electrica ... viii-gfci/

[low277]

There are also GFCI cord ends available. This would protect everything downstream.

http://www.amazon.com/Leviton-16693-120 ... m_sbs_lg_1

[H.A.]

[Kaz]

If your trailer has shore power ALWAYS install GFCI protection, and make sure you ground your trailer frame and all metal surface's. Aluminum skin can become energized by a fault condition and if it is not grounded and you are It may be too late when you find out!