Dave Solberg

RV Outlets Not Working: Troubleshooting Tips and Precautions

Dave Solberg
Sign in
Duration:   4  mins

If you’ve ever encountered a shorted series of electrical outlets on your RV and felt completely stumped for a solution, trust us, you’re not alone. But rest easy, the source of the problem is common, and the fix is simple. In this lesson, RV expert Dave Solberg teaches you what to do when you discover several RV outlets not working.

To help you figure out what’s going on with your faulty RV outlets, Dave walks you through a quick explanation of circuits and standard RV electrical wiring. He introduces an inexpensive tool you should use to detect which outlets are malfunctioning, and demonstrates the proper way to pinpoint the source. You’ll learn why the ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) on your rig might be giving you issues, and discover easy ways to avoid a sensitive GFCI. With Dave’s help, you’ll be up and running again in no time!

Share tips, start a discussion or ask one of our experts or other students a question.

Make a comment:
500 characters remaining

33 Responses to “RV Outlets Not Working: Troubleshooting Tips and Precautions”

  1. Brian

    Can you replace the RV GFCI outlet with a "standard" GFCI outlet from a home improvement store, if it will fit in the same space?

  2. Kevin Aurora

    have a 2006 Starcraft 28 ft bumper pull . never had a issue . Now only the outlets on do not work but the GFI plug does . Any Suggestions ? Thank you

  3. Stephen Warren

    I had same problem there was a junction box behind wall in storage area wires came loose reason for j-box they were to cheap and lazy to put in a longer piece of wire

  4. Diana

    The outlet behind my couch, my fireplace's outlet, the outlet under my kitchen table and my hot water heater are all not working. All other outlets are working. Both GFCI outlets have been reset and are working. I have a 2021 Keystone Cougar 25RDSWE. I am plugged in and all other outlets have power (microwave works). I live 3 hours from a dealer, so I can’t easily take it in for a diagnosis, and I have currently been living in the RV for 2 months now. Any tips or help you could provide would be greatly appreciated!

  5. John Stokes

    If the GFCI is bad can it be replaced with a regular outlet

  6. tho sua dien lanh 24h

    I would like to thnkx for the efforts you have put in writing this website. I'm hoping the same high-grade site post from you in the upcoming also. In fact your creative writing abilities has inspired me to get my own blog now. Actually the blogging is spreading its wings rapidly. Your write up is a good example of it.

  7. Mark wallace

    Lights work in rv outlets do not work

  8. Alex

    Thank you, great advice - I had exactly that case, like you said - unplugging from live shore power tripped GFCI plug in the bathroom.

  9. JARED RHYNE

    My rv has all these symptoms even with the gfci outlet working. Surge protector reads full power coming into rv. Im lost in this issue.

  10. Robert J Orgeron

    I have 4 Lower wall Outs not working .The 2 GFI are working. Also the outlet on the exterior next to the water tank isn't working

Get exclusive premium content! Sign up for a membership now!