Fridge and GFCI trips
 

My fridge was installed at a different location than originally
planned so I think the wiring was not done right. The fridge is on a
20A circuit with its outlet the first one on the circuit, then the
GFCI outlet, then other small kitchen appliances such as toaster,
coffeemachine, etc., next in the circuit.

The original plan was to have it as the last device on the circuit, I
think. My old fridge broke down and the new GE fridge now seems to
trip the circuit breaker (only partially) in the garage at least once
every month and switches the GFCI off as well. I reset the breaker and
GFCI and the fridge is on again. This is a big nuisance as the fridge
with freezer could be off for a long time when we are not home or gone
for a few days.

Any good advice for a non-electrician?
Thanks,
Iris

Fridge and GFCI trips
 

"Iris Mazeppa" wrote in message
...
My fridge was installed at a different location than originally
planned so I think the wiring was not done right. The fridge is on a
20A circuit with its outlet the first one on the circuit, then the
GFCI outlet, then other small kitchen appliances such as toaster,
coffeemachine, etc., next in the circuit.

The original plan was to have it as the last device on the circuit, I
think. My old fridge broke down and the new GE fridge now seems to
trip the circuit breaker (only partially) in the garage at least once
every month and switches the GFCI off as well. I reset the breaker and
GFCI and the fridge is on again. This is a big nuisance as the fridge
with freezer could be off for a long time when we are not home or gone
for a few days.

Any good advice for a non-electrician?
Thanks,
Iris

The refrigerator and freezer should not be on a GFIC. They can trip and the
food will spoil. This is one thing the nation electric code puts the food
first and safety second. The refrigerator and freezer should be on breakers
that are not connected to anything else. The motors pull a high current for
a couple of seconds as they start up and then the current falls way back.
If you have other things powered from recepticals on the same breaker as the
refrig , the breaker could trip.

Coffey machines and toster ovens while not large do use a lot of current.
The coffey machines will normally use a lot of current while the coffey is
brewing and then less while just keeping it warm. If you are using them and
the refrig starts up, the breaker could trip if they are on the same
breaker.

Fridge and GFCI trips
 

On Jul 9, 10:19*pm, Iris Mazeppa wrote:
My fridge was installed at a different location than originally
planned so I think the wiring was not done right. The fridge is on a
20A circuit with its outlet the first one on the circuit, then the
GFCI outlet, then other small kitchen appliances such as toaster,
coffeemachine, etc., next in the circuit.

The original plan was to have it as the last device on the circuit, I
think. *My old fridge broke down and the new GE fridge now seems to
trip the circuit breaker (only partially) in the garage at least once
every month and switches the GFCI off as well. I reset the breaker and
GFCI and the fridge is on again. This is a big nuisance as the fridge
with freezer could be off for a long time when we are not home or gone
for a few days.

Any good advice for a non-electrician?
Thanks,
Iris

At this point the easiest thing to do would be either run a dedicated
outlet for the fridge, or replace the GFI with a regular outlet ( as a
temporary fix). From experience, I remember when you put a fridge
before a GFI outlet, it does wierd things due to the current draw when
the compressor starts up.

Fridge and GFCI trips
 

In article ,
"Ralph Mowery" wrote:

"Iris Mazeppa" wrote in message
...
My fridge was installed at a different location than originally
planned so I think the wiring was not done right. The fridge is on a
20A circuit with its outlet the first one on the circuit, then the
GFCI outlet, then other small kitchen appliances such as toaster,
coffeemachine, etc., next in the circuit.

The original plan was to have it as the last device on the circuit, I
think. My old fridge broke down and the new GE fridge now seems to
trip the circuit breaker (only partially) in the garage at least once
every month and switches the GFCI off as well. I reset the breaker and
GFCI and the fridge is on again. This is a big nuisance as the fridge
with freezer could be off for a long time when we are not home or gone
for a few days.

Any good advice for a non-electrician?
Thanks,
Iris

The refrigerator and freezer should not be on a GFIC. They can trip and the
food will spoil. This is one thing the nation electric code puts the food
first and safety second. The refrigerator and freezer should be on breakers
that are not connected to anything else. The motors pull a high current for
a couple of seconds as they start up and then the current falls way back.
If you have other things powered from recepticals on the same breaker as the
refrig , the breaker could trip.

Coffey machines and toster ovens while not large do use a lot of current.
The coffey machines will normally use a lot of current while the coffey is
brewing and then less while just keeping it warm. If you are using them and
the refrig starts up, the breaker could trip if they are on the same
breaker.

Coffey? I try not to play spelling cop, but good grief, this is a new
one on me.

Fridge and GFCI trips
 

On Jul 10, 9:42*am, Mikepier wrote:
On Jul 9, 10:19*pm, Iris Mazeppa wrote:





My fridge was installed at a different location than originally
planned so I think the wiring was not done right. The fridge is on a
20A circuit with its outlet the first one on the circuit, then the
GFCI outlet, then other small kitchen appliances such as toaster,
coffeemachine, etc., next in the circuit.

The original plan was to have it as the last device on the circuit, I
think. *My old fridge broke down and the new GE fridge now seems to
trip the circuit breaker (only partially) in the garage at least once
every month and switches the GFCI off as well. I reset the breaker and
GFCI and the fridge is on again. This is a big nuisance as the fridge
with freezer could be off for a long time when we are not home or gone
for a few days.

Any good advice for a non-electrician?
Thanks,
Iris

At this point the easiest thing to do would be either run a dedicated
outlet for the fridge, or replace the GFI with a regular outlet ( as a
temporary fix). *From experience, I remember when you put a fridge
before a GFI outlet, it does wierd things due to the current draw when
the compressor starts up.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Am I the only one wondering why the new fridge trips BOTH the circuit
breaker and the GFCI outlet?

Fridge and GFCI trips
 

"Smitty Two" wrote in message

Coffey machines and toster ovens while not large do use a lot of current.


Coffey? I try not to play spelling cop, but good grief, this is a new
one on me.

Give the guy a break. he just wants a cup of coffey with his tost. I
wunder if he puts jeli on his tost

Fridge and GFCI trips
 

wrote in message
The original plan was to have it as the last device on the circuit, I
think. My old fridge broke down and the new GE fridge now seems to
trip the circuit breaker (only partially) in the garage at least once
every month and switches the GFCI off as well.

Am I the only one wondering why the new fridge trips BOTH the circuit
breaker and the GFCI outlet?

*******************************

I'm also wondering what he means by the breaker tripping only partially. He
really needs a new line for the fridge, one that does NOT have a GFCI.