RV Outlets Not Working: Troubleshooting Tips and Precautions
Dave SolbergIf 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!
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?
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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
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Thanks!
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
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!
Hi Diana,
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If the GFCI is bad can it be replaced with a regular outlet
Hello,
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Thanks!
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Lights work in rv outlets do not work
Thank you, great advice – I had exactly that case, like you said – unplugging from live shore power tripped GFCI plug in the bathroom.
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.
Hello Jared,
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What is the year, make, and model or your RV?
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Lindsay
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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
Hi Robert,
That’s a great question!
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Shelley
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So in my 1999 fleetwood avion savanna fifth wheel my gfci outlet flipped and when I try to reset it nothing happens. I’m pretty sure it’s time to replace it my question is if I can replace it with a gfci outlet from Home Depot or Lowe’s or do I need one specifically for an RV?
Is no one gona answer my question?
Hi Edward,
I apologize for the wait. I will reach out to our experts to see where that answer is.
Sincerely,
Shelley
RV Repair Club Video Membership
It can be replaced with any GFCI. There isn’t a specific one for RV’s so any one you would find at local hardware stores would work just fine.
Sincerely,
Dan
RV Repair Club Technical Expert
Ok so the gfci outlet in my 1999 fleetwood avion savanna quit working so all but 3 of my outlets stopped working with it. Can I replace the gfci outlet with one from Home Depot or a similar store or do I need a “RV” one from an RV part store?
Thanks in advance
Ok so the gfci outlet in my 1999 fleetwood avion savanna quit working so all but 3 of my outlets stopped working with it. Can I replace the gfci outlet with one from Home Depot or a similar store or do I need a “RV” one from an RV part store?
Thanks in advance
Hello Kristina,
That’s a great question!
The ‘Ask an Expert’ section is currently for members to our online community. We do have a promotional offer if you are interested. This would include access to expert advice (like this), plus discounts, hours of Premium videos, etc. Please feel free to take a look. You can message us right back with your question if you decide to become a member and you will have a response within 1-2 business days from our experts!
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Joan
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Gavin troublemaker
Hi,
We have a 2006 Monaco motorhome. Most of the outlets won’t work so we replaced the GFCI and nothing changed. Any ideas of what the issue could be. A little background, we had too much plugged in this morning and the outlets stopped working. We reduced our load and reset the breakers and tried to reset the GFCI with no luck. The GFCI wouldn’t reset so we followed your advice and replaced it. That didn’t work either. Any idea what might be the problem? Any advice would help.
Mike
Hi Mike,
That’s a great question!
The ‘Ask an Expert’ section is currently for members to our online community. We do have a promotional offer if you are interested. This would include access to expert advice (like this), plus discounts, hours of Premium videos, etc. Please feel free to take a look. You can message us right back with your question if you decide to become a member and you will have a response within 1-2 business days from our experts!
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Shelley
RV Repair Club Video Membership”
Gfi outlet not working on my 2017 Salem cruiselite
Hello Alfred,
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We will plug in the 110 outlet on the power source at the campground to run the back AC. Last week, it wouldn’t come on. I checked the switches in the camper, made sure the switch at the source was on, still nothing. Then I noticed the receptacle was a GSRI type. I reset it and it worked.
Hi there Elias!
Wonderful question!
The ‘Ask an Expert’ section is currently for members to our online community. We do have a promotional offer if you are interested. This would include access to expert advice (like this), plus discounts, hours of Premium videos, etc. Please feel free to take a look. You can message us right back with your question if you decide to become a member and you will have a response within 1-2 business days from our experts!
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Jessica
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For my 110V outlet to work, do I need a battery so the micro controller on the power converter is on?
Hello Elena!
That’s a great question!
The ‘Ask an Expert’ section is currently for members to our online community. We do have a promotional offer if you are interested. This would include access to expert advice (like this), plus discounts, hours of Premium videos, etc. Please feel free to take a look. You can message us right back with your question if you decide to become a member and you will have a response within 1-2 business days from our experts!
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Jessica
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outlets on passanger side for rv not working where is the default plug for them
Hey Jill!
That’s a great question and we’d love to help you out! Would you be able to provide the year, make, and model of your RV and we’d be more than happy to assist!
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Jessica
RV Repair Club Video Membership
Have outlets not working
Hi Judy. Can we please get the year, make and model?
Thanks
Jean-RV Repair Club Video Membership
Can I simply just say what a relief to uncover somebody who actually
understands what they are talking about on the web. You actually understand how to bring
a problem to light and make it important. A lot more people should read this and understand this side of your story.
It’s surprising you are not more popular given that you definitely possess the gift.
All the outlets have electricity coming through, but when a fan in plugged in it does not work. We took the fan in the garage to see if the fan (new) was faulty, but it was not. What should we do? Help. We bought our RV used and are having lots of trouble :( We have a Forest River Salem LE 2002.
Dear Rita,
Thank you for your patience. In response to your question-
There could be an open neutral or ground in the system. If it happens at all of the outlets you will have to check the voltage at the hot buss bar at the distribution center and the neutral bar, also checking to make sure the connections are tight. You want to inspect the ground wire as well. There could even be a problem with the shore cord coming into the RV. I would get a circuit tester and test the outlets to see what it reads, you can pick them up for a few dollars and it will give you a better idea of what to troubleshoot. Most likely the problem is at the distribution center since it is happen at all of your outlets.
We’d love to have you be a part of our community. We are convinced you will enjoy the benefits of becoming a member and having access to the best instructional how to videos and professional tips. We would like to offer you a special promotion for your first-year membership.
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Sincerely,
Dan
RV Repair Club Technical Expert
Half of the plugs on my RV does not work. I tried to trip the GFCI and it would not work. So I brought a new one. It still does not work. When i work up a voltmeter the plug has a third of the voltage as the other plugs?
Dear David,
Thank you for your patience. In response to your question-
It sounds like a loose connection or bad wires. If you are getting low voltage this is usually an indicator of a loose wire or a break in the wire somewhere. Since there is voltage, it is connected in the system but there is a bad connection somewhere. Most outlets just jump to another one in the circuit, they don’t all go back to the breaker. I would take try to trace where the wires are coming from and check the outlets they might be getting the power off of. It is possible there is just a bad output connection on one of the outlets and it is causing the ones further in line to not work or have little voltage. Make sure to check all connections at the breaker panel too though. It is possible there is a loose power, neutral or ground causing the issue as well. I hope this helps!
We’d love to have you be a part of our community. We are convinced you will enjoy the benefits of becoming a member and having access to the best instructional how to videos and professional tips. We would like to offer you a special promotion for your first-year membership.
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Dan
RV Repair Club Technical Expert
I’m at my wits end trying to figure out why most outlets aren’t working. I’m plugged into my moms house using a 12 gauge construction cord. I’ve checked the outlet in her house and both ends of my cord. All read correct. My GFCI was tripped in the bathroom. I tried to reset it to no avail. I went to the breaker box and nothing was tripped. Just for experimentation I flipped both switches off on the double 15 amp breaker. I then reset the GFCI. I can flip the left side breaker on but when I switch the right side on the GFCI trips again. The only outlet working is the one to the microwave. I replaced the GFCI and double 15 amp breaker. This didn’t fix the issue. I tested all the outlets with a tester and got nothing except “open ground” reading on 1 outlet. All the lights are working just not getting 110 to the GFCI or outlets. Stumped here please help.
Carol
Hello,
It sounds like there is a short in the system or bad wiring. It can be a very small short to cause the GFCI to trip. If the wiring in an outlet are touching each other, it can trip the GFCI. Really the only way to find it is to trace the wiring and see what may be causing it. I would start with the outlet that says “open ground”. You have to check the wiring on the outlet. The other outlets could be run off of that one and if the first outlet in line is not working, the rest won’t work. There could be something plugged into the outlets that are causing the GFCI to trip as well. I have seen this from coffee makers and phone chargers often. If the fridge is connected to the same circuit of outlets and there is an internal short in the board or heating element, it can cause this too. Try unplugging the fridge from the outlet and see if this helps. Things like the microwave, water heater and AC are going to be on separate circuits so if those work and it is just the outlets you would have to pull the outlets out and see if the connections are bad and wires possibly touching causing a short. Check all of the ground and neutral wires at the distribution bars, some may have come loose. I’m sorry I can’t pin point the problem, checking the wiring from the breaker to the outlets and then the outlet connections themselves are really the only options.
I hope this was helpful!
Dan
RV Repair Club Video Membership
Need your nelp
Hi
We have a RExhall Aerex (1994)
We are getting ready for our first trip of the year, and are testing everything…we have our RV plugged into our house.
All of the front outlets are NOT working…the ones in our bedroom do work!
Any ideas??
Thanks!!
Hello Mike,
Unfortunately there is no “Easy Way” redo floors and interior walls and if you are not a “good mechanic” as you stated, or have experience with flooring and remodeling, it’s not a DIY project that I would suggest! The walls are a sandwiched design with interior paneling laminated to block foam insulation with integrated aluminum framework or wood in less expensive model. Then a thin luaun wood panel and fiberglass outer skin laminated so a “redo” for the walls in pretty intensive! If your are looking to just change the color, I would suggest painting or applying wallpaper as the covering you have now is a wallpaper applied to a panel just like you would find at a home improvement store. You can’t just cover with new paneling as the thickness would create issues at the windows and other areas.
As for the floor, you probably have carpet and want to either replace it with other carpet, or another material. The challenge is getting a covering that will withstand the tremendous push of your slideroom and not tear or bunch up. Also, you will have twists in the chassis when driving which will create an issue with wood or tile flooring as well as huge temperature changes which will make the material expand and contract.
We just completed a renovation of a 2002 Winnebago that had carpet and 2 slide and installed a Luxury Woven Vinyl product from Infinnity which will be posted on the site next month. Look for the videos coming soon.
Thanks,
David
RV Repair Club Video Membership
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Thank you for this video. Solved my issue in about thirty seconds. Cheers.
I replaced my Driving battery and now my outlets and Ac do not work and I am plugged into 110.
Hello Jeanne,
I would assume you have connected something wrong as your driving battery has nothing to do with your 120-volt system? When you are plugged into shoreline power, the 120-volt power comes into the rig at the distribution center just like your home. In this you have 120-volt breakers for the appliance such as the Air Conditioner, outlets, microwave etc. You will also have a converter/charger which charges your house batteries. There will typically be 12-volt automotive style fuses here as well with protect the items like interior lights, water pump, vents etc. Check your main breaker in the distribution center and you might need to take a multimeter and verify power coming in?
Thanks,
David
RV Repair Club Video Membership
I have a problem with my GFI that I cannot figure out. The outlet will trip and I cannot reset it after multiple attempts. Then at a later time, maybe the next day it will work fine. I cannot rely on the outlets connected to the GFI. I have replaced the GFI and have the same issue. Any idea on how I can track and solve the problem?
Sometimes the GFI in my motorhome works and sometimes it does not. It will trip and not reset after multiple attempts. Then the next day it works fine. I have replaced the GFI outlet and have the same issues with the new one. Any ideas what the problem is. I cannot rely on the outlets connected to the GFI since I don’t know when it will trip.
Hello Ronald,
I would start by checking the quality of the GFCI you replaced as there
are some very cheap brands on the market? Next you need to check the
incoming and outgoing outlets connected to that circuit. Somewhere
you have something that is overloading the circuit and causing the GFCI to
trip? Check all wiring as well to make sure there is not a loose
connection.
Thanks,
David RVRC Video Membership
Hi there,
While back ago my mother in law was inside the rv (we have a 99 safari zanzibar) running the generator until we coulf get hooked up to shore power. Well when the shore power was hooked up shortly later I lost power to my rv. The park hookup was apparently running “hot” well next thing I know I lost power all together. We changed out the transfer box and my ac runs on shore power until my batteries die because Im assuming mu battery charger runs off of 110. And none of my 110 outlets are working. We are currently running an extension cord through the slide out to distribute power until we can figure out whats wrong with it. Any ideas?
Hello Kelli,
Several things could have happened when you had the electrical issue. First you need to have your distribution center checked out, just changing the transfer switch is not enough. The distribution center has the circuit breakers for all 120-volt appliances, 12-volt fuses for the lights, roof vents and other applications powered by the house batteries, and a converter that does operate on 120-volt power to charge the batteries. It could just be a circuit breaker tripped or could be a shorted distribution center? One question? You state; “my ac runs on shore power until my batteries die because Im assuming mu battery charger runs off of 110”
Are you referring to the 12-volt DC systems such as the lights, roof vents, and appliance on LP mode? What do you have the extension cord connected to inside the rig? I would also suggest checking your GFCI outlet either in the kitchen or bathroom as it may have shorted out as well and several other outlets are “ganged” to that one so they will not work as well. If you are handy with a multimeter, you should be able to check 120-volts coming into the distribution center and going out through each of the circuit breakers. There should also be one for the converter and you can check at the batteries for a charge coming to the batteries when plugged into shore power? It should read about 13.5-14 volts
Thanks,
David RVRC Video Membership
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Does it negatively affect the electrical outlets if you start the engine while the RV is plugged in?
Hello Rob,
It should not affect the 120-volt outlets of the rig starting the engine as the engine alternator is protected by a Battery Isolator Management (BIM) solenoid and is 12-volts. The 120-volt outlets in your coach are wired to the distribution center and protected with a circuit breaker and isolated from the 12-volt system as well.
Thanks,
David RVRC Video Membership
Can’t say I tried that. Do you have a specific idea as to the cause?
I took my Bounder diesel to Quinn Cat to have some work done. An apparently inexperienced “mechanic” burnt out a board on my Xantrex Freedom 458 inverter and completely discharged and ruined all 6 batteries. After some discussion, Quinn reimbursed me for the inverter repair and batteries. Now I’ve discovered that some of the outlets on the 20A circuit won’t work with the inverter, but do work on shore or generator power. The microwave is on the 20A circuit and will work with all 3 power sources. The non-contact power indicator shows power coming out of the inverter on both the 15A & 20A circuits. Maybe he also burned out a breaker or something in the power switching unit? But the microwave does work on the 20A circuit using the inverter. Any suggestions for what I should check next?
Hello James,
If the outlets work when plugged into shoreline power, than it could be another fuse or breaker in-line from the inverter? Who did the repair to the inverter? Might want to get that checked out again, should be easy to tell 120-volt power coming out of the inverter and follow it to the outlets.
Thanks,
David RVRC Video Membership
Mark Snyder Electric did the repair. He’s the factory repair facility near San Diego. I have confidence that he knows his stuff. From a brief description over the phone he told me that 1 of 2 wires had a short. It was the thermistor wire that the “mechanic” took upon himself to “fix” that was the problem. The RV is in in storage now so I can’t check, but I may have misstated which circuit the microwave is on. I can tell power is coming out of the inverter through both the 15A & 20A breakers by using a non-contact tester and operating the breaker off & on. I was trying to follow the wires through the walls with the tester, but knowing the path would sure help.