Refrigerator On GFI Circuit - Electrical - DIY Chatroom - DIY Home ...

Yesterday, 12:20 PM	? #1
Newbie ? Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 3	kitchen refrigerator is on the GFI circuit one down from the GFI outlet itself. it is used to be OK for 2 years, but now refrigerator trips the circuit all the time. when connected to the regular circuit it works fine. tried changing the GFI otlet- did not help.
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Yesterday, 12:22 PM	? #2
Licensed electrician ? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Maryland Posts: 3,801	Get your refrigerator repaired. __________________ Answers based on the National Electrical Code. Local amendments may apply. Check with your local building officials.
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Yesterday, 12:35 PM	? #3
Member ? Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: IL Posts: 36	Quote: kitchen refrigerator is on the GFI circuit one down from the GFI outlet itself. it is used to be OK for 2 years, but now refrigerator trips the circuit all the time. when connected to the regular circuit it works fine. tried changing the GFI otlet- did not help. Compressors in refrigerators tend to be sealed units to keep the refrigerant gas from leaking out. Inside electrical insulation can breakdown in this environment and set up a small leakage current to ground. A regular outlet won't detect this but a GFCI will. You might be tempted to say ok just plug it in non GFCI and done. The issues is as that leakage grows the current to ground increases. Ground in your home now becomes a current carrying path when it is intended to have no current in it. Worse still if the ground goes intermittent the metal case of the fridge could elevate in voltage creating a shock hazard. Fix the fridge or trash it. I've read any fridge over 5-6 years old is terrible in efficiency compared to newer vintage. So perhaps an upgrade will pay for itself in energy savings.
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Yesterday, 12:57 PM	? #4
It was a dark and stormy ? Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: NW of D.C. Posts: 5,180	Quote: kitchen refrigerator xxxxxxxxxxx
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Yesterday, 01:22 PM	? #5
Newbie ? Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 4	First off refrigerators should be on their own circuit , and it's not a good idea to put one on a GFCI outlet. same with freezers, Best thing to do I contact an appliance repair man to check the fridge, if it checks out. Quick fix would be put the feed through on the line side of the GFCI, better fix run new circuit.
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Yesterday, 01:41 PM	? #6
Licensed electrician ? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Maryland Posts: 3,801	Arkan, why would it not be a good idea to have a refrigerator protected by a GFI? Refrigerators in commerical kitchen function just fine with the required GFI protection. Are you concerned about leftovers or life safety? __________________ Answers based on the National Electrical Code. Local amendments may apply. Check with your local building officials.
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Yesterday, 01:41 PM	? #7
Newbie ? Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 3	i hear that alot, but why refrigerator should not be on the GFI cercuit? it used to be just fine. sounds it may be cheaper to by new energy efficient refrigerator than to make a new circuit.
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Yesterday, 01:50 PM	? #8
Newbie ? Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 4	Doesn't have anything to do with life safety unless you spray your kitchen down with a hose it's just not necessary to protect a resi fridge with a GFI.
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Yesterday, 01:57 PM	? #9
Newbie ? Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 4	Just don't think it's necessary unless you spray your kitchen down with a hose especially in residential use.
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Yesterday, 02:06 PM	? #10
Member ? Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,165	If you have a properly grounded outlet and grounding system, there is no need for a refrigerator to be on a GFCI so long as the outlet is hidden behind the refrigerator and no one can plug anything else into it. The grounded metal chassis would provide plenty of protection. Now take something like a toaster in a kitchen. A kid could stick a knife in it and be shocked. A GFCI would protect the kid. Or a hand mixer with a frayed cord. Someone could touch a bare wire. The danger is with small appliances, especially handheld, which can be plugged into outlets. Those outlets should all be GFCI. Another example is an electric range. No need for a GFCI. No one is going to plug anything else into that outlet.
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Yesterday, 02:22 PM	? #11
Newbie ? Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 3	yes, but if the refrigerator is the GFI is already there and refrigerator is connected, why should someone replace a GFI with non-GFI? may be it is worth buying new refrigerator. seems like new refrigerator working properly should not be tripping GFI anyway.
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Yesterday, 02:58 PM	? #12
Member ? Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 298	I've always taken the side the fridge should be on a GFCI. The argument against it, the outlet is not accessible and if it has an accidental trip while you're away your food will go bad. However, I take the side I've never seen anyone have "accidental" GFCI trips on todays fridges. If your fridge is tripping the GFCI there's more going on. Second, many fridges have an ice-maker. There's your means for a garden hose which, when it breaks can splash water all over the back and floor that you're standing in when you grab the fridge. Third, I don't have a recessed fridge and my wife puts all sorts of nice stuff on the top of it. All it takes is for a bottle to fall and smash/leak behind... now I have liquid that's spilled down the back wall where the recept is and a puddle underneath and trust me my wife would grab the metal fridge, pull it out, and then start cleaning the recept, wall, and fluid without shutting the breaker. I'd feel a whole lot happier if it were a GFCI. Anyway, there are those against it, and those for it. I'm of the latter. Last edited by Piedmont; Yesterday at 03:09 PM.
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Yesterday, 09:45 PM	? #13
Newbie ? Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: ohio Posts: 22	little of subject but in same line why is it i have never failed an inspection on a dryer outlet 240 not being gfci protected being right next to washer box
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Yesterday, 11:20 PM	? #14
Licensed electrician ? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Maryland Posts: 3,801	Quote: little of subject but in same line why is it i have never failed an inspection on a dryer outlet 240 not being gfci protected being right next to washer box The inspector cannot fail you for not installing something that is not required. __________________ Answers based on the National Electrical Code. Local amendments may apply. Check with your local building officials.
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Today, 02:12 AM	? #15
Member ? Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: S. California Posts: 911	It's a bad idea to put a fridge on a GFIC because you could get a false trip....and all the stuff in the fridge could go bad. Not unusual for GFIC's to trip when there was a power failure and power cames back on. If your gone from the house...say for the weekend...there goes your food. The following is the basic setup for outlets... Counter tops....GFIC Microwave on it's own outlet Dishwasher and garbage disposal...own outlet....shared by both. Laundry Room....own outlet...does not have to be GFIC Garage outlets where the person can be standing on concrete or dirt....GFIC You can have a single NON GFIC outlet in the garage for a fridge or freezer Bedrooms AFIC Bathroom...GFIC...and nothing else can be on it....
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