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RV-Dreams.com Home -> RV-Dreams Community Forum -> RV Maintenance and Technical Tips -> engine block heater popping circuit breakers & GFCI
Post Info TOPIC: engine block heater popping circuit breakers & GFCI
tincanman


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engine block heater popping circuit breakers & GFCI
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Does anyone know why plugging my engine block heater into either my outdoor 15A GFCI or indoor 15A plugs - pops the circuit? Truck is a new 2015 Ram 3500, RV is a 2014 Keystone Laredo. thanks



-- Edited by tincanman on Monday 14th of December 2015 09:49:39 AM

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Terry and Jo


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I think that the electrical boxes at the pedestal are 20 amp.  You might try plugging into that to see if it also trips the breaker at the pedestal.  I have no idea how many amps those block heaters draw, but the one on our F450 works fine when plugged into our outside GFCI plug.

Terry



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ticat900


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tincanman wrote:

Does anyone know why plugging my engine block heater into either my outdoor 15A GFCI or indoor 15A plugs - pops the circuit? Truck is a new 2015 Ram 3500, RV is a 2014 Keystone Laredo. thanks



-- Edited by tincanman on Monday 14th of December 2015 09:49:39 AM

it would have to have a short in the cord or the block heater  I have seen where the manufacturer has pinched the cord  (example) between the engine mount and the block



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tincanman


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I tried 3 different extension cords (which worked fine for other uses).  So you're saying this pinching could happen in a brand new vehicle? I'll have to trace it and see. thanks



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ticat900


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tincanman wrote:

I tried 3 different extension cords (which worked fine for other uses).  So you're saying this pinching could happen in a brand new vehicle? I'll have to trace it and see. thanks

the "cord" iam referring to is the factory installed block heater cord.  I forgot to mention I have seen lots of them burned through via hot manifolds etc. as in too close or touching

 



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tincanman


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Thanks Terry for the pedestal suggestion. Plugged it in there last night & no pop. Good thing, it got down to 3 degrees here last night.



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Bill and Linda


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Terry and Jo wrote:

I have no idea how many amps those block heaters draw, but the one on our F450 works fine when plugged into our outside GFCI plug.

Terry

 

The Cummins IL6 Diesel block heater requires 6.5amps @ 110 VAC according to the RAM manual. As is happening on more than one outlet, I assume the second outlet you tried is a not GFI, I would check the resistance between the two plug prongs.  It could be a shorted cord and if so the resistance would be pretty low or zero.  If not, better to let the dealer check it.  I don’t know the exact resistance you should get but it should not be really low as this is a resistive heating element.



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ticat900


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tincanman wrote:

Thanks Terry for the pedestal suggestion. Plugged it in there last night & no pop. Good thing, it got down to 3 degrees here last night.

If its not poping that breaker then it tells me you had too many  other  loads all running off the  15amp breaker run because if it was shorted(BH) as I first suggested

it would blow even a 20 amp breaker



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