Electrical Works: Your Safer Standard for RV Travel
At Electrical Works, we believe RV park owners deserve complete confidence every time a guest connects to power. With Grounding Monitor Interrupter technology being added to all newly manufactured RVs in the near future, the RV industry is adopting an important improvement in electrical safety. GMIs give an RV the ability to verify that a pedestal connection is safe before electricity flows, offering travelers a higher level of protection at every stop.
While park owners are looking to upgrade their electrical systems to prepare for this change, many RV park owners want to know what GMI compliance means for them. The answer is simple: more safety, more reliability, and some serious problems if your electrical system isn’t up to snuff.
What Is a GMI and Why Are RVs Getting Them?
A Grounding Monitor Interrupter (GMI) is a built-in safety device that checks the power source at the pedestal before allowing electricity into the RV. The GMI confirms that the ground is intact, there is no unwanted voltage on the ground, and that the neutral and ground are connected correctly.
Initially, upon plugging in, the device will run a test to ensure that there is a proper grounding system in place. If it fails that test, it will not turn on. If that test passes, it then runs a series of tests to ensure that it is safe to connect to the power system. These tests may be run continuously, so just because it didn’t have issues when it’s first plugged in, doesn’t mean that it can’t turn off later if issues arise. The GMI will be testing continuously for proper voltage, correct polarity, and that there is NO MORE than 30V on the ground.
One thing to keep in mind about GMIs: there are multiple manufacturers, and the standards we are discussing are THE MINIMUM standards. Each manufacturer may have stricter requirements. For example, “ABC Company’s” GMI products could turn off if more than 27V is measured, or if there is less than 110V between a hot leg and the neutral; whereas “Johnson RV Parts’” GMI products could turn off at 25V or if there is less than 105V between a hot leg and the neutral.
If the device senses a grounding issue, it immediately stops the flow of power to prevent electrical shock or equipment damage. This is a proactive safety feature that gives RV owners great confidence when plugging in at unfamiliar parks or older sites.
What Will RV Owners Notice When GMIs Roll Out?
For most RV owners, the experience will feel familiar. You will plug into the pedestal as usual, and the GMI will complete a quick safety check in the background.
If the pedestal is grounded correctly and compliant with NEC standards, your RV will power on normally. If the power does not turn on, it usually means the GMI has identified an issue with the pedestal, such as:
- Incorrectly wired equipment grounding system
- Absent equipment grounding system
- Voltage leaking on the ground
- Reverse polarity – incorrect wiring
- Improper voltage levels due to voltage drop
In these cases, the GMI is doing exactly what it is designed to do: protect the RV and its occupants.
What Should RV Park Owners Do to Prepare?
There is nothing required on the RV itself. GMIs will be installed by manufacturers and operate automatically. However, these steps can help RV park owners and operators feel more prepared:
- Recognize that a GMI blocking power is a safety alert, not a malfunction
- Prepare the on-site staff to track issues onsite as they come up and keep records
- Find a trusted 24-hour electrician for potential issues that could arise
Park owners across the country are already upgrading grounding systems and electrical infrastructure to meet NEC standards, so many parks will be GMI-ready long before these RVs reach widespread use.
Those of us who have been in the industry for a long time know that major issues rarely happen between 8-3 pm Monday-Friday. They happen when everyone’s A/Cs are running at 5 pm, taking showers and cooking dinner. It happens when everyone arrives at the big rally at the same time, on giant buses. It happens when you’re fully booked on the July Fourth weekend. The biggest issues arise during peak usage, which may as well be synonymous with peak revenue periods. And naturally, getting those issues fixed is always more expensive when it’s an emergency call on nights and weekends, which typically costs 75-200% more to fix. Don’t wait to address a known deficiency until you have no vacant sites to move people to and your operations are trying to focus on making money.
How Electrical Works Supports the RV Community
Electrical Works’ primary role is helping park owners modernize and maintain their power systems, but the benefits extend directly to RV travelers. By improving grounding systems, replacing aging wiring, and preparing parks for GMI-equipped RVs, we help ensure a safer travel experience nationwide.
Our Vice President and Master Electrician, Tristan Ciceri, represents the Outdoor Hospitality Industry on NEC Code-Making Panel 7. His expert insight helps bring real-world RV and campground experience into future electrical standards.
As GMIs become the new normal, our expert team will continue supporting park owners so RV owners can enjoy safe, more dependable power wherever they travel.
With over 25 years of industry experience and more than 20,000 RV and MH sites completed, Electrical Works is licensed in more than 20 states and trusted nationwide for outdoor hospitality electrical work. Our leading team delivers complete turnkey services, including design, engineering, installation, rewiring, and long-term maintenance.
Every project is driven by our core values:
- Unmatched Hard Work
- Unquestionable Integrity
- Undeniable Ownership
- Uncompromising Detail
We hold these qualities close to our hearts, and it’s just one of the reasons our customers trust us with their properties. Our goal is to give RV park owners confidence that the infrastructure at their parks is not only robust and reliable but also keeps their guests safe and protects them from liability concerns.
A Safer, More Reliable RV Experience
GMI technology represents a major step forward in electrical safety for RV owners. It adds a protective layer to the RV itself and encourages parks to maintain safer electrical systems for travelers.
Electrical Works remains committed to improving the reliability and safety of RV infrastructure across the outdoor hospitality industry. Whether you manage a park preparing for compliance or are just trying to understand how to communicate this to on-site staff, we are here to help.
CTA: Speak with a GMI compliance expert today.