Block Heater trips GFI
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 203
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From: Ohio
Block Heater trips GFI
I've had this problem with my 99 and now my 04. You have to pull the block heater plug outside of the truck to plug it in. Once and a while just from dripping or melting snow on the truck it gets the plug wet which in turn trips the GFI. I've thought about putting a small length of bike innertube over the plug on the truck end and zip tie it plus wrap with elec tape to stop the water from dripping onto the Plug. Anybody else have this problem and what was your fix. I like the block heater on cold mornings but like this morning it was 7 degrees and the GFI had tripped during the nite.
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: LaPorte, CO
One problem we have here in Colorado is the Magnesium Chloride they use for a de-icer on the roads and I suspect that you get salt in Ohio. You have to keep the plug very clean with a GFI since it only takes a few milliamps of cross terminal leakage to trip them.
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Ohio
Yeah we get all that salt and other liquids they spread on the roads. It's rough on the trucks sheet metal. I try to clean the plugs. Normally spray some WD40 on it. I just tried the cheap fix with the innertube I'll see if it works. It's gonna get cold again tonite.
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Madison CT
I had the same thing happen to me. I am a electrician and I just took it off the GFIC. In CT you don't need a GFIC for a truck heater. It is a good thing to do but the risk of shock in low. My GFIC failed and shot the cover off. 5-8 millamps is all you need to trip them. You can buy GFIC breakers with Variable Sensitivity. There are also in-use covers and snap on plug covers if you want try to keep the GFIC. Good luck
Casey
E-2
Casey
E-2
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Ohio
Casey I understand the GFI thing But I know the problem is water or another thing causing the gfi to trip. It only trips for the block heater nothing else. I just plugged it in tonite after doing my cheap fix. Every thing looked dry but it tripped the GFI. So out with the WD40 sprayed both plugs shook them off plugged it in and it worked. So I guess I'll see in the morning if it works.
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 96
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From: Eagle River Alaska
Up in Alaska, is plug it in or they complain bitterly. Have had them trip on the GFI when it was wet snow, but one kept tripping the GFI. Ended up replacing the block heater. The heater elment definitely shorted to ground.
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Joined: Jan 2005
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I saw on the diesel stop (it's ok to post about other sites, right?) where a guy bought a Marinco outlet from a marine supply store and installed it on his truck. The outlet has a cover on it, and the install was very clean looking. I'm not sure if it addresses the issue that you are having or not, but you may want to try and search for it. He has some good pics available.
I found the write up here
I found the write up here
Last edited by Tx05PSD; Jan 17, 2005 at 11:41 PM. Reason: found link
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Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Other side of the sunrise
I tripped my gfi while I was half asleep, running my snow blower the other morning. Yeah, you probably guessed it. I ran over the extension cord. Hadn't had my coffee yet. Boy, what a sight when I saw the snow jumping and flinging in front of me in the dark in the snow blower lights. Trashed the extension cord. Nice one too.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,203
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From: Carlsbad, California
Made sure to bring sun block and extra water for my bike ride at lunch today. It's already 66 deg and we're expecting a high of 73 today. Whew, glad the A/C is working at the office today 
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 161,999
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From: 3rd Rock
You flat land guys.....I was in snow 25 feet deep this week end, counted 26 avalanches.
Got to drive an 05 x for the weekend….sure do wish I had mine back.
I will try and post some pic next week, got some good ones with the X and real deep snow
Got to drive an 05 x for the weekend….sure do wish I had mine back.
I will try and post some pic next week, got some good ones with the X and real deep snow
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 34
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From: Madison CT
Rocknut,
I did not understand your GFI was tripping for no real reason. Any leak to Ground will also trip the GFI. This may be due to the elements leaking to ground. As our heaters get hot they may create a small capacitance (due to inductance) this would also trip the GFI. I'am out of ideas, good luck.
I did not understand your GFI was tripping for no real reason. Any leak to Ground will also trip the GFI. This may be due to the elements leaking to ground. As our heaters get hot they may create a small capacitance (due to inductance) this would also trip the GFI. I'am out of ideas, good luck.
Last edited by Casey245; Jan 18, 2005 at 08:10 PM.