Fridge on GFCI protection.

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stickboy1375

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Litchfield, CT
Found this while doing a google, Anyone know how/why the GFCI fridge/freezer myth is such a popular one?


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.
 
stickboy1375 said:
Found this while doing a google, Anyone know how/why the GFCI fridge/freezer myth is such a popular one?

Well probably because it is true. I have seen lighting cause gfci to malfunction far more often than I have seen damage to a breaker. I feel it is coming for resi kitchens but for now I avoid them on refrig.
 
Dennis Alwon said:
Well probably because it is true. I have seen lighting cause gfci to malfunction far more often than I have seen damage to a breaker. I feel it is coming for resi kitchens but for now I avoid them on refrig.


I was more leaning toward the nuisance tripping myth than anything.
 
stickboy1375 said:
I was more leaning toward the nuisance tripping myth than anything.

That's semantics.. If lightning trips the GFCI then it is a nuisance.:smile: It would be to me. That being said I have a refrig. in my basement on a GFCI for 5 years now and it has never been a problem.
 
Dennis Alwon said:
That's semantics.. If lightning trips the GFCI then it is a nuisance.:smile: It would be to me. That being said I have a refrig. in my basement on a GFCI for 5 years now and it has never been a problem.


I just cannot wait until they do require GFCI protection everywhere just to see the riots start. :grin:
 
stickboy1375 said:
Anyone know how/why the GFCI fridge/freezer myth is such a popular one?

It's a lack of understanding of basic electrical principles, as well as not understanding how a GFCI functions.

But hey, it was fun to sleep through school, right? ;)
 
Dennis Alwon said:
Well probably because it is true.

What is 'true' the fact people think refrigerators can not run on a GFCI or that you think refrigerators can not run on a GFCI.

The fact is refrigerators run fine on GFCIs till they become the refrigerator develops a defect.

It amazes beyond words that the same people that would never replace an OCPD with a larger one if an appliance started tripping it would more then happily remove a GFCI that started tripping. :-?
 
iwire said:
What is 'true' the fact people think refrigerators can not run on a GFCI or that you think refrigerators can not run on a GFCI.

Calm down Bob--- What is true is the fact that GFCI trip and can be a PITA. Did you see that I mentioned my basement refrig. on a GFCI. I know it works-- 5 years and running. I don't think you really needed to ask this question.
 
Dennis Alwon said:
Calm down Bob---

Uh OK? :-? :roll:


What is true is the fact that GFCI trip and can be a PITA.

OK that I agree can be true but that was not the topic of sticks thread.

I don't think you really needed to ask this question.

Apparently I thought so 'cause I did. Maybe what you had in your mind was not my interpretation of the words you typed. :smile:
 
peter d said:
If the GFCI trips, it's doing its job. Not sure how how that being a pain in the rear fits into all of this.

Peter-- read my post. I realize if it trips it is usuall doing it's job , however, lightning may also cause it to trip and it is a nuisance in my eyes. That's all I am saying. I have a dang GFCI on my fridge.

I am specifically addressing lightning or surges that cause them to trip or malfunction. I am not advocating to not use them.

Sticky was asking why people had in their minds that a gfci was bad. I was trying to give a reason.
 
Dennis Alwon said:
Peter-- read my post. I realize if it trips it is usuall doing it's job , however, lightning may also cause it to trip and it is a nuisance in my eyes. That's all I am saying. I have a dang GFCI on my fridge.

I am specifically addressing lightning or surges that cause them to trip or malfunction. I am not advocating to not use them.

Sticky was asking why people had in their minds that a gfci was bad. I was trying to give a reason.

I see where you're coming from. :)

Admittedly "nuisance" tripping is the issue but it's hard to say what is "nuisance" tripping, and what is legitimate operation of the GFCI due to current leakage in the fridge.

But oh well, this issue is pretty much null with the new 2008 rules, exempting the kitchen of course.
 
I have two refrigs on one branch circuit, one is old and the other is very old! I have logged current/voltage. One and I don't know which one is doing it will cause a current spike just like the inrush at cycle start. It also generates transients too which "might" trip a GFCI. I'm not saying that one or both doesn't have problems either.
 
I believe motors, generally, have a tendency to ground-fault, e.g. windings to casings -- another fun one to try is a GFCI on a garbage disposal. Thanks, NEC, for that kitchen exemption.
 
stickboy1375 said:
Found this while doing a google, Anyone know how/why the GFCI fridge/freezer myth is such a popular one?

Because of two freezers full of Deer meat, you spent good long, cold weekends, sitting in a tree stand to kill.

....or Costco, I'm not sure which.

Stick I'm not sure either, except to say that it was gospel, a mortal sin to put them on a GFCI. Why? The food. Like they'll stop making food or something. I'm over it. GFCI. If it trips there' a problem. We can get more food. :smile:

Love to know where that quote came from that you posted.
 
frizbeedog said:
Because of two freezers full of Deer meat, you spent good long, cold weekends, sitting in a tree stand to kill.

....or Costco, I'm not sure which.

Stick I'm not sure either, except to say that it was gospel, a mortal sin to put them on a GFCI. Why? The food. Like they'll stop making food or something. I'm over it. GFCI. If it trips there' a problem. We can get more food. :smile:

Love to know where that quote came from that you posted.
Send me a pm and I will send you the link.
 
frizbeedog said:
Because of two freezers full of Deer meat, you spent good long, cold weekends, sitting in a tree stand to kill.

....or Costco, I'm not sure which.

Stick I'm not sure either, except to say that it was gospel, a mortal sin to put them on a GFCI. Why? The food. Like they'll stop making food or something. I'm over it. GFCI. If it trips there' a problem. We can get more food. :smile:

Love to know where that quote came from that you posted.
Gfcis work perfect first time every time I cant believe anyone would doubt them. I think you just want all the deer meat to go to the dogs......
 
quogueelectric said:
Gfcis work perfect first time every time I cant believe anyone would doubt them. I think you just want all the deer meat to go to the dogs......

Now you know who is tripping the gfi's , it's the dogs. They push the test button and in a few days its deer meat at every meal. Rover is no fool. :)
 
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