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#1
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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 |
#2
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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. |
#3
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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. |
#4
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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. |
#5
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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? |
#6
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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 |
#7
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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. |
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