Dometic Fridge Tripping GFCI Switch -- My RV Works

[@michaelsem5199]

This guy is so precise and spot on . A rare trait indeed👍

[@cherylwmh6543]

Wow, always such a wealth of information! I feel so much more empowered trying to work on my old RV. Thanks so much!

[@NickAlati]

Thank you, makes life easer

[@johncaruana6406]

Another great presentation. You explain so well and make it easy to understand. Thank you.

[@2-old-Forthischet]

Wow, that is very helpful!

[@RvParkBuilder]

We have one that is still tripping after replacing the control board and the heating element. Very puzzling for sure. One thing you didn't rule out is the wiring between the load side of the GFCI inside the coach, the wiring to the fridge cabinet from that GFCI and the short appliance cord/plug from the cabinet outlet to the control board. Pro Troubleshooting Tip: Plug your fridge directly into an extension cord and plug the extension cord into the RV Park's pedestal 20A GCFI. If the park's pedestal trips, the RV house GFCI and wiring to the fridge cabinet can be ruled out as the root cause. This perplexing issue brought us to your video to confirm "what else could it be" after replacing both the control board and heating element. The fridge is also tripping the RV Park Pedestal's 20A (the RV is plugged into the 30A). Therefore, the only thing left to replace is the 110v power cord (it's the only thing left in the mix that hasn't been replaced).

[@captlynhall]

When my problem first began, I thought the GFCI breaker was starting to get weak, so I replaced it with a new Eaton GFCI breaker. That did not fix the problem. I then did the step by step trouble shooting Daren presented and everything checked out to be good. 120V to the receptacle , 120V across the fuse, 120V on the spade connectors for the element, 42.4 OHMS on the element, and with everything plugged in and on A/C, 2.7 amps on the element. I was stumped. Called a local DOMETIC certified tech, and he asked if anything else was on that circuit. The answer is yes. All the receptacles in the RV are on the same circuit as the fridge. He said I might be over loading the circuit. I didn’t think that was the problem because the kitty fountain and small dehumidifier I keep plugged in had been operating along with the fridge for over a year. But I decided to check everything on that circuit using a circuit tester. All receptacles showed correct for wiring and 120V. I tried to run the fridge with nothing else plugged into that circuit. It would still trip the breaker. Sometimes almost immediately, sometimes it would be an hour or two before the breaker tripped. I called the RV tech guy back, he said then it was likely that when the element got hot, it was shorting to ground. So, I replaced the element. FIXED! 😅 Thanks to Daren for such easy to understand troubleshooting tips. And just to let others know you may have to continue trying things and that if something is beginning to fail you may still get good readings until it dies completely.

[@Jeremyford1973]

Thank you for sharing this lesson.

[@gregloe7335]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge! I like to know what is going on and repair as much as I can.

[@ericfenclau159]

Very good information

[@mrmudstud5980]

Excellent discussion 👍

[@VideoByPatrick]

My Dometic cooler intermittenly trips my gfi when cooler compressor kicks on. However, when i plug cooler in another voltage leg receptacle it never trips when cooler compressor kicks on. I do see the lithium converter charger is on same voltage leg as tripping cooler. The suspect outlet gfi tester indicates correct wiring. BTW, I replaced all quick type rv outlets with home receptacles.

[@TheBuddy1939]

Thank you

[@Plekteret04]

My Nordcold can be some unstable. The freezing part can suddenly be more than 0 degree here in Norway. But works fine right now. I dont get lower than -13 degree celsius. Only the icecream get as hard as you get with -18 degree celsius (recommed standard) The cooling fridge part Will be between 0-5 degree. But I have to set the temp on th Nordcold 7-8 to get this temp. The auto between LPG and electric works fine. And I can hear the cooling vent fan behind the fridge cick in sometimes. Maybe the bouling fluid is still too hot and the vent is not properly. Has been looking insider the two vents outside. Can see a termostat on the finn for the freezing part.

[@simonlawrence227]

Great straight forward video!!!!

[@Mnfish22]

Great video this really helps. Your manuals are a great source of knowledge also. But I have a Dometic 2452 and its a 3 way fridge. It's not powering up on anything. At first it tripped the GFI so I ohmed out the ac heating element and I got 79 ohms which is within the range of the plus or minus 10 percent of 83 ohms. But I also have a DC heating element. I don't see anyplace what it's suppose to ohm out at? Can you point me in the right direction? I'm hoping my board isn't bad also. I haven't checked it out yet according to your diagnostic videos. Thank you

[@tyrichter1711]

what if the electric and gas make heat, but the unit still doesn't cool? GREAT VIDEOS!!

[@keithwynnauprospectingthen5389]

Really enjoy your videos, always very informative, I am in Spokane so a little bit from your area. Quextion, I see that you break into propane systems , do you need a special permitt in Washington to work on propane, if so, which agency handles that? Thank Keith.

[@MyRVWorks]

Hi Keith, Washington State does not require a license to work on propane. However, that is not our endorsement - we recommend getting licensed if you are going to work on propane systems.

[@danopureblood7066]

Great video's! I thought for sure it was my heating element but it checks within range! When my RV (old 1999) is connected to shore power and I turn my Dometic RM2552 2-way manual to A/C it clicks off the GFI on my shore power outlet? When connected to a NON-GFI outlet the refrigerator works fine on A/C? It also works fine when on gas. I disconnected the heating element from the board and it still clicks off the GFI any ideas on what to ck next or wear the ground fault could be? It did the same when connected to others GFI outlets. Thanks in advance for any help you can offer! Dan

[@sagharsaghar5014]

Good evening I see your many videos and I learn about RV thank you I am in saudi Arab how I work here with you it's possible thank you sir

[@toddmacy7056]

I had a similar problem only mine was blowing the 10 amp fuse in the distribution box. I didn’t see anything wrong until I went to remove the circuit board. My thermocouple wire had broken at the terminal and the wire had moved over and was touching the heating element terminal next to it.

[@robertherndon8543]

How Far East do you travel? Do you know tech’s in Everett Marysville area? You have great videos that have helped us out. Sometimes you need a real tech like yourself

[@MyRVWorks]

Hi Robert, here is our service area: myrvworks.com/service-area/

[@claudius622]

Great video. I have a 2021 Norcold 2118 that seems to trip the 20amp 120 vac gfci house outlet. I discovered 1.7 vac between the neutral and the ground at the fridge outlet only when it is working ? Any idea what can be the cause ?

[@KevinCoop1]

Darren, I have a question. We have a 2018 Jayco Alante with a Nautilus P3 water control system. We bought it in December and we’re not able to de-winterize it until May. Cold Spring. There was a leak when filling the tank otherwise no leak. Took it to dealer and they worked on it. Then took it camping. Water leak on city water settings. Can you advise on best thing to do to have less leaking fittings in the future? The fittings are all plastic. Change to brass, change some parts, or what?

[@MyRVWorks]

Hi Kevin, we have chosen this question for our latest Q & A session: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nIbOdnenodx2l9E. Thanks for your question!

[@srk3424]

We runs CPAP machine at night not connected to shore power, and in about 2 hours the GFI kicks out. It’s a new issue. Could you advise? Thanks. Enjoy your site!

[@MyRVWorks]

Hi S/R/K, your question has been chosen for this weeks Q & A. You can watch it at: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q4mZpGehndqWmsk. Thanks for your question!

[@bigoldal2436]

Great 👍 video except no Romeo. 🙂

[@charlescho]

I had a 2020 Winnebago Intent. The 2 slides, awning, automatic steps, and loft bed all stopped working. I finally found that one of the fuses under the steering wheel blew. I replaced it and everything worked again. We drove to our next campsite and the fuse had blown again. I’ve watched enough of your videos to have an idea of what it was. I have since sold that MH, but I’m curious to see what you think was happening.