Red light flashing on kitchen GFCI outlet

[FT RV]

The outlet by the stove started blinking red a week ago, at the time I was boondocking so it didnt make much sense (when generator running), I dont even think I've ever used the outlet either. Ive since been to a couple parks and it blinks when plugged in too. Ive hit the reset buttons, no difference.

[Wyatt]

Originally Posted by FT RV

The outlet by the stove started blinking red a week ago, at the time I was boondocking so it didnt make much sense (when generator running), I dont even think I've ever used the outlet either. Ive since been to a couple parks and it blinks when plugged in too. Ive hit the reset buttons, no difference.

Is this a GFCI Outlet you’re speaking of with the red light? Perhaps it’s as simple as the LED bulb in the outlet is faulty?

[FT RV]

Originally Posted by Wyatt

Is this a GFCI Outlet you’re speaking of with the red light? Perhaps it’s as simple as the LED bulb in the outlet is faulty?

The outlet no longer works (just checked) so its something

[Wyatt]

Originally Posted by FT RV

The outlet no longer works (just checked) so its something

Then a bad GFCI? You didn’t mention if that’s the outlet you have…

[be happy]

From the other posts I would say the GFCI outlet is bad. If so do any other outlets not work? If its a GFCI you should have other outlets not working.

[creativepart]

The outlet near the kitchen is a GFCI and it is live on shore power and generator. It should show a green light when powered and a red light when tripped. It could be a bad receptacle or some short to ground somewhere on that line.

[bigb]

GFCI's manufactured after June, 2015 are required to be self testing and when the self test fails they are required to lock out the power. The blinking red LED indicates "end of life" as it has failed it's self test, at least on the Legrand model that I am familiar with. It does not necessarily mean it failed due to age, a surge can take them out as well. I installed hundreds of the Legrand models between late 2015 and 2020 and I only know of 2 that failed in that manner, one was in a kitchen and the other was outside in a landscape. They both failed in less than a year, and displayed the blinking red LED.

Some brands (Leviton)will display a green LED when powered on, correctly wired and grounded, Legrand (except hospital grade) does not display anything when powered on, correctly wired and grounded, it displays solid red when tripped and blinking red when failed. (The newer Levitons could show red when tripped and possibly red flashing when failed)

[Wyatt]

Interesting. I never knew they would blink when going bad good to know!

[Ray,IN]

Isn't it nice having our own forum professional electrician!

[bigb]

I did a little research and read that on some brands the red LED blinks slowly when the device is working as designed, and blinks fast at end of life. Others have a red LED that glows steady when tripped, stays off when working as designed and blinks at end of life. Still others have a green only that stays lit when powered up and grounded, and some have both a green and a red. Bottom line is you need to know what brand you have in order to be sure what the lights are telling you.

For years the Leviton brand always had those red and black buttons which is one reason I chose Legrand (Pass & Seymour) and never looked back. Although now Leviton offers them with all one color faces and buttons. The red and black buttons are OK in a shop but not in a custom kitchen.