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Anyone in the trade can relate problems when GFCI's are connected to refrigerators, compressors, dishwashers, sump pumps, etc.
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I have had my sump pump on a GFCI for almost a year now, the pump runs quite often, a few times an hour during heavy rain, it has never tripped.

I see pool motors and all kinds of motor loads on GFCIs at construction sites running fine. :)

I just do not see the problem, if the fridge tripped the GFCI maybe it is in need of work. :p

[ January 16, 2004, 06:51 PM: Message edited by: iwire ]
 
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Jim why do they trip? what is the magic element in a refrigerator that causes a GFCI to trip?

Maybe it is defective and needs servicing.

On construction sites I see 15 amp chop saws starting up on GFCIs with no problems.

Large threading machines used by the pipe fitters, no problem.

The only time we have "trouble" with GFCIs are when it is wet or there is a defective tool.

What was your fix?

I just do not get it. :confused:
 
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Not sure why they tripped.Could easily be dirt on electrical parts.Were they designed to run on gfci.My cure if they have more than 1 duplex in garage is rework circuit to keep gfci on other outlets and install a single 20 for the frig.This is legal but should they remove the frig it is up to them to get it replaced.How often do we see a customer wanting a dedicated freezer recept in the garage ? What happens if they never buy the freezer?Have you never had a nusence trip in your kitchen? Maybe once every 2 months our can opener trips it.I know your suggesting keep the gfci and call appliance man.How many times would you lose food over this ?It is grounded so should be no hazard.
 
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Jim,
Were they designed to run on gfci.
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huh, does anyone manufacture refrigerators specifically designed for use with GFCI's?

Roger
 
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GFCI have been here for years now.If they felt a household frig needed one they would in the code.
Yes that fridge might have a problem.Will that ground not take care of it ?
In FL we have many lightning storms and they can trip gfci.
 
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Jim, you're babbling now. :roll: Have you ever seen a fridge that states "designed for use with GFCI"?

Roger
 
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Back to the original post, Ryan with the help of Bill Addiss, Glenn Zieseniss has responded to your predicament. :)

Zieseniss, who says he has been a faithful reader of EC&M for decades, says something he read in a 1970 editorial has stuck with him through the years. “It was in a ‘Thoughts From Our Shop’ article on page seven of that issue,” Zieseniss recalls. “It said that the inspector must enforce the letter and spirit of the Code that is written, not as the designer or installer would like to see it written. We need to live by laws or else we will have electrical anarchy.”
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Roger
 
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Ok war stories.....In 85 I was working for the city of New York City board of education electrical dept.I got a work order for flood damage repair.Picture this.... A christmas holiday so lets say 10 days unattended a sink was left on and a rag clogged the drain.10 days water running... there was almost 8 ft of water in the boiler room when workers showed up.There were several 25 hp air handler motors there.As well as the service.The $$$ value well lets say it was more than I could pay.So a 5 cent rag did progably 1/2 a mil. in damage.....How dumb !!!
 
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posted January 14, 2004 11:08 PM I have been informed today that I will need to appear in court for a lawsuit regarding on of my calls as an inspector.A large resaraunt (don't ask me who, alright?) recently built a new restaraunt in my city. I required that, as per 210.8(b), all receptacle outlets in the kitchen be GFCI protected. They complied.About a week ago one of them tripped. It happened to the receptacle that a fridge was plugged into and it was not caught until the next day. They are sueing the city I work for for the money they lost due to the food spoiling. TRUE STORY.--------------------Ryan Jackson


I ran this past a very knowledgeable individual today and the first question he asked was what codes and what year codes has this city adopted.
GOD Bless!
David
 
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I always understood that GFCI's are only useful on 2 wire appliances (no ground).

A refrigerator will have a three wire attachment cord, a GFCI is not only useless it is a nuisance.
 
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Bennie What you are saying makes sense, but it is my understanding that a death or deaths :( in a commercial kitchen(s) is the reason this made it into the code.

The cords in these commercial kitchens can get damaged from the abuse they take, possibly exposing a ungrounded conductor or breaking the EGC.

And unlike your bathroom :D there are many grounded metal surfaces.

I think Charlie the Utility guy had the inside scoop.

Bob
 
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Sorry Bob, I gotta agree with Bennie on this one . . . sorta. Where you can be assured that the grounding conductor is solidly connected to the grounding conductor at the outlet and all the way back to the source, you can eliminate all GFCI protection (this does not meet the requirements of the NEC) and still be safe.

Bennie, the problem with this scenario is the people who place the refrigerators into position. Are they old units with damaged cords or plugs? Do they have damaged plugs? There were a couple of cases where people were killed from hot cases on the refrigerators and we are now required to use GFCI protection.

IMO, each unit should have their own GFCI protected receptacle since a little leakage current is permitted and is normal. Two units into the same receptacle would double the amount of leakage current and increase the likelihood of tripping. This, however, is a design issue. :D
 
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I think this is a contractural issue and not a code problem.

The wiring is not compatible with the equipment.

Is the contractor named in the law suit?
 
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Originally posted by bennie:
Is the contractor named in the law suit?
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No. The installer's response was: "Don't sue me, sue the city...they're the ones that made me put the GFCI in". I can't really blame them. My response would be "Don't sue me, sue the NFPA. They're the ones who made me make the electrician put them in"!! :D
 
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I would apply 90.4 to receptacles obviously intended for refrigeration equipment.

As an afterthought; a good attorney can win this lawsuit for the restaurant, by bringing in the option of applying 90.4.

[ March 16, 2004, 07:24 PM: Message edited by: bennie ]
 
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