Commercial Kitchen GFI's

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ramIII

Member
Location
virginia
We have had several jobs with commercial kitchens recently where we are having nuisance tripping issues on new kitchen equipment. We can't find anything defective on our side. The equipment suppliers response's are all it's new equipment so it's not our problem. Any ideas
 

user 100

Senior Member
Location
texas
We have had several jobs with commercial kitchens recently where we are having nuisance tripping issues on new kitchen equipment. We can't find anything defective on our side. The equipment suppliers response's are all it's new equipment so it's not our problem. Any ideas

If the equipment is at fault, than that is between the business owner and the supplier of that equipment.The owner will have to return/get equipment that wont trip gfci. You as the ec have to follow gfci req's per the NEC, but you don't have to ,and cannot, accommodate faulty equipment- remember liability and who gets hit if those req's are skimped on. One of the moderators here has mentioned he saw this w/ Italian juicers I think.
 
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JFletcher

Senior Member
Location
Williamsburg, VA
We have had several jobs with commercial kitchens recently where we are having nuisance tripping issues on new kitchen equipment. We can't find anything defective on our side. The equipment suppliers response's are all it's new equipment so it's not our problem. Any ideas

receptacles or breakers? what brand? One mfg of equipment or more? (sounds like more than one) Do they trip every time they are used, or randomly/intermittently?
 

GoldDigger

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Placerville, CA, USA
Occupation
Retired PV System Designer
A hard to ignore smoking gun would be a direct measurement of more than 6ma on the EGC of the cord. But if there is also a ground path through countertop and/or plumbing that may not be possible.
Are these 120 or 240V devices?
 

ramIII

Member
Location
virginia
receptacles or breakers? what brand? One mfg of equipment or more? (sounds like more than one) Do they trip every time they are used, or randomly/intermittently?


P & S GFI receptacles are what we use mostly. We did have multiple issues with Leviton GFI receptacles a few years back and have used mostly P & S since. The problems have been with the same pieces of equipment at the different locations. The trips are intermittent. What has happened is that the owner will run an extension cord to an outlet outside of the kitchen that is not GFI protected and it works. Plug back into GFI same problem. Have changed GFI with same result.
 

ceb58

Senior Member
Location
Raeford, NC
What is the equipment? Refrigerator, freezer what?

If moving the equipment around results in the same thing then as said, its not your responsibility.
 

user 100

Senior Member
Location
texas
P & S GFI receptacles are what we use mostly. We did have multiple issues with Leviton GFI receptacles a few years back and have used mostly P & S since. The problems have been with the same pieces of equipment at the different locations. The trips are intermittent. What has happened is that the owner will run an extension cord to an outlet outside of the kitchen that is not GFI protected and it works. Plug back into GFI same problem. Have changed GFI with same result.

Sure sounds like the equipment, barring of course faulty gfci's on multiple jobs (unlikely- p&s is pretty reliable) or some other set of coincidences.
 

growler

Senior Member
Location
Atlanta,GA
What is the equipment? Refrigerator, freezer what?


What is the equipment and where was it manufactured ?

If you can prove it's the equipment the manufacturer may have a problem if it's manufactured in the US. Does it have a UL sticker ?
 

iwire

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Massachusetts
What is the equipment and where was it manufactured ?

If you can prove it's the equipment the manufacturer may have a problem if it's manufactured in the US. Does it have a UL sticker ?

I bet it's Italian equipment and I bet it doesn't have a UL listing
 

liquidtite

Senior Member
Location
Ny
If the receptive is a non convience outlet and is used for a specific piece of equipment Arnt u allowed to have it not be gfci even tho it's in wet location
 
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iwire

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Massachusetts
If the receptive like is a non convince outlet and is used for a specific price of equipment Arnt u allowed to have it not be gfci even tho it's in wet location

No, those exceptions only applied to garages and basements and have pretty much gone away.

In the case of a commercial kitchen there have never been any exceptions, all 15 & 20 amp 125 volt receptacles must have GFCI protection.
 

ramIII

Member
Location
virginia
Thanks for the responses. I will do a little more checking on the equipment. Just seems lately we are having this problem more and more.
 
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