May have problem with GFI too

[DMcGalliard]

When I have my teton plugged into shore power 30or 50 amp I get a strange voltage reading on the side of the breaker that the gfi is on. When a load is plugged in down the line, from the gfi the voltage up the line from the gfi will show a higher by 3 to 4 volts than what is shown at the load. I have two digital meters, one at the load and one up the line from the gfi. I noticed it after I started using a digital meter. For example with a electric heater down the line the voltage at the heater will be 115 but up the line from the gfi the voltage will be 118. With no load or load after the gfi the voltage is normal(readings the same).



Is it a bad gfi?



Help?



Thanks, Dave Mc

 

[AKAMAC]

Try cleaning the prongs and bending them slightly. You may just have a bad connection.

On three prong (dryer type) cord caps the contact is made by the width of the prongs. On twist-lock recepticals the connection is made by binding the cord-cap into the receptical.

You will get voltage drop depending on length of run and line resistance.

Hope this helps, Mike

 

[DMcGalliard]

Thanks for the reply. I know I will get a voltage drop, my problem is why the voltage increase on the up side of the gfi. Because it is a long run to my trailer I do get about a 4 to 5 volt drop with a 1500 watt heater. I worry about the fact that at the heater the voltage is 115 and in front of the gfi (toward the panel) it is 118 to 119. On the side without the gfi the drop is the same on all the plugs on that side and it show 115 volts with the heater on that side. It is strange to me

Dave Mc

 

[AKAMAC]

Are you seeing a voltage increase from the GFI?

I'm confused, "I worry about the fact that at the heater the voltage is 115 and in front of the gfi (toward the panel) it is 118 to 119"

Are you pluged into a GFI or are you asking about a GFI pluged into a non-protected circuit?

 

[DMcGalliard]

I am confused too, I have the meter at the GFI plug and a meter down the gfi line where I am using the heater as a load. If there is no load on the gfi circuit the voltage is the same at all the outlets on the gfi, usually between 120-122 volts. My understanding is that the heater load will cause a voltage drop where ever you check the line. What is happening is that at the heater the voltage drops to 115, back at the gfi the voltage is 117 to 118. I noticed the first when I started using the meter at the gfi and using the toaster on the gfi circuit. My concern is there any danger of a electrical fire. On the other side of the panel the voltage is the same , 115 with load at all the outlets on that side of the panel. By side of the panel I mean the left or right bars in the panel. Hope the helps to explain the problem, it does not seem right to me.

Thanks for your effort, Dave Mc