Ground Fault Interrupt Outlet

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If some or all of the 120 volt AC outlets in your RV are dead and you have checked the circuit breakers and they seem to be fine it’s time to check the GFI outlet to see if it has been tripped.

GFI stands for Ground Fault Interrupt. It may also be called a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupt (GFCI) outlet

A GFI outlet is designed to provide protection from electrocution. In most RVs you will find a GFI outlet on the circuit that provides power to the kitchen, bathroom and outside outlets. Only one GFI outlet is needed to protect an entire circuit. Your RV may have all the outlets on one circuit or there may be two or more circuits. If you have multiple circuits you may have more that one GFI outlet… one on each circuit.

GFI outlets work by measuring the flow of electricity in both the hot (black) and neutral (white) wire. If the two are not equal, then there is a ground fault and the breaker inside the outlet disconnects the power.

There are two buttons on a GFI outlet. They may be colored but not always. One button is a TEST button. As you may have guessed, pressing the test button checks the outlet for proper function. If the outlet is working properly the breaker will trip and all outlets on the circuit will be dead.

The other button on the GFI outlet is the RESET and pressing it will, of course, reset the outlet’s breaker and restore power to all outlets on the circuit.

Keep in mind that while the GFI outlet reduces the chance of electrocution it does not guarantee it. All precautions should still be taken.
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