Problems with Outside AC Outlets

Slackers
Slackers Posts: 490
in Battery/Electrical & Solar
Our outdoor alternating current (shore-powered) outlets stop working intermittently. The indoor outlets (but not the GFCI) work reliably.   Usually a toggle of the circuit breaker (and/or the GFCI reset) restores function.  I have checked all the connections on the outlets and they appear to be secure.  The failures are not weather or humidity related.  The failures are not load related either.  Our 2019 CS-S has a hard-wired PMS which shows no errors or faults.  Any suggestions?  
2019 Tab 320 CSS, 2019 Ranger TV, OH

Comments

  • pthomas745
    pthomas745 Posts: 4,645
    Look very closely at the GFCI reset buttons.  Some are hard to reset.  This comment from a thread a couple of years ago might help:

    "Just a quick interweb search revealed that some GFCI outlets will display a red light when tripped and a green light when in normal condition so yours might just be tripped. Try resetting it (pushing the non-receded button then the normal button")

    2017 Outback
    Towed by 2014 Touareg TDi
  • Slackers
    Slackers Posts: 490
    Yes that often fixes the problem, but it keeps happening in a way that is unpredictable and I'd like to find out why. 
    2019 Tab 320 CSS, 2019 Ranger TV, OH
  • Sharon_is_SAM
    Sharon_is_SAM Posts: 10,035
    Change out the GFCI outlet.  They can go bad.  Cheap place to start.
    Sharon / 2017 T@B CSS / 2015 Toyota Sienna Minivan / Westlake, Ohio
  • 4ncar
    4ncar Posts: 1,072
    X2 to @Sharon_is_SAM. Both gfci & arc fault outlets use micro circuitry; it doesn’t take much to have them to start flaking out....
    TV- '16 Chevy Colorado LT Crew Cab-DuraMax
    2018 320S Outback
  • Slackers
    Slackers Posts: 490
    Thanks everyone.  I've only seen the red fault light when I hit the test button even though a reset often resolves the issue.  @Sharon_is_SAM what you say about replacing it makes sense. 
    2019 Tab 320 CSS, 2019 Ranger TV, OH
  • ScottG
    ScottG Posts: 5,688
    +1 on GFCI replacement. All of the accessible outlets are wired on a single circuit through that one GFCI. (At least that is the way it is in my T@B).
    2015 T@B Max S (320)
    2015 Nissan Frontier SV V6 4x4
  • Dinger
    Dinger Posts: 6
    I highly recommend this little tool as a great first step in troubleshooting things:
    https://www.fluke.com/en-sg/product/electrical-testing/basic-testers/fluke-1ac-ii

    That and a multi-bit screwdriver are in my backpack at all times.
    === Incoming ===  2021 T@B 400
    2007 Toyota Tacoma V6 Access Cab
    San Francisco, CA
  • Slackers
    Slackers Posts: 490
    edited October 2020
    I replaced the cabin GFCI outlet with an extra I had on-hand.  So far so good with all outside outlets.  Thanks all for your help! :)
    2019 Tab 320 CSS, 2019 Ranger TV, OH
  • ScottG
    ScottG Posts: 5,688
    I once had a GFCI start buzzing loudly just before it LITERALLY let the smoke out and stopped working for good. I've also had experience with certain brands of GFCI tripping when used with certain devices. They are temperamental little buggers--glad that swapping out yours seems to have solved the problem!
    2015 T@B Max S (320)
    2015 Nissan Frontier SV V6 4x4

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