GFCI INTERMITTENT TRIP

[jim dungar]

I’m not sure as company bought this refrigerator brand new. All I can say is that GFCI trips when ac compressor kicks on

Then the problem is with the refrigerator. They need to be the one addressing it, not you.

 

[Jpflex]

Leave the microwave and put the refrigerator on a non-GFCI circuit.

Yes it’s working this way but code requires a GFCI in this location

 

[letgomywago]

Yes it’s working this way but code requires a GFCI in this location

Can you explain why. Is the fridge outlet within 6ft of a sink or is it in a basement?

 

[Jpflex]

Business owners planned location of refrigerator and sink I’ll try to post a picture here as it’s installed in a break room

 

[Jpflex]

Then the problem is with the refrigerator. They need to be the one addressing it, not you.

Yes but I’m afraid another refrigerator will do the same if internal circuit has current off just by a mere 4 mili amperes

 

[letgomywago]

Yes but I’m afraid another refrigerator will do the same if internal circuit has current off just by a mere 4 mili amperes

Try a siemens gfci circuit breaker. They work with pool pumps that nuisance trip.

 

[Jpflex]

Below is what I always recommend for intermittent GFCI trips. Of course it is hard to justify the cost for occasional use.​

Assuming it is a true current leakage and not an EMC issue.​

Fluke 369 True-rms Leakage Current Clamp Meter​

What is EMC issue? I found no measurable current on EGC with my pico mili ampere oscilloscope

 

[Jpflex]

Without finding leaking current on EGC then where could current be going if not all returns to neutral?

 

[letgomywago]

Without finding leaking current on EGC then where could current be going if not all returns to neutral?

Harmonics and capacitors

 

[jim dungar]

Yes but I’m afraid another refrigerator will do the same if internal circuit has current off just by a mere 4 mili amperes

The refrigerator manufacturer needs to solve this ground leakage problem, not you.

Good luck telling the customer they bought poorly.

 

[letgomywago]

The refrigerator manufacturer needs to solve this ground leakage problem, not you.

Good luck telling the customer they bought poorly.

They won't the specs for the fridge probably says not to use gfci and then will reference a pre 2008 NEC

 

[Jpflex]

They won't the specs for the fridge probably says not to use gfci and then will reference a pre 2008 NEC

Lol

 

[Jpflex]

The refrigerator manufacturer needs to solve this ground leakage problem, not you.

Good luck telling the customer they bought poorly.

The business owners are known for buying budget equipment

 

[letgomywago]

The business owners are known for buying budget equipment

I see this with 5k and up fridges all the time. The ice maker motor will trip it often. Price doesn't matter when manufacturers will use anything they can get their hands on that raises their bottom line. Cheap appliances tend to give me less issues than the nice fancy ones.

 

[Jpflex]

I see this with 5k and up fridges all the time. The ice maker motor will trip it often. Price doesn't matter when manufacturers will use anything they can get their hands on that raises their bottom line. Cheap appliances tend to give me less issues than the nice fancy ones.

Yea I was afraid I may have a problem with other fridges due to solid state values off just a bit

 

[Jpflex]

Break room GFCI WAS REPLACED TO STANDARD RECEPTACLE TO LEFT OF REFRIGERATOR AS SHOWN

 

[letgomywago]

Break room GFCI WAS REPLACED TO STANDARD RECEPTACLE TO LEFT OF REFRIGERATOR AS SHOWN

That needs a receptacle behind the fridge. You can get an access hole under the sink and then behind the fridge.

 

[ELA]

What is EMC issue? I found no measurable current on EGC with my pico mili ampere oscilloscope

EMC is Electromagnetic Compatibility. A generic term used to explain how different pieces of electric/electronic equipment should behave in order to prevent electrical interference between them ( to be electromagnetically compatible with each other).
GFCI devices will all false, or nuisance trip, if exposed to enough electrical interference. When they are subjected to enough radiated or conducted electromagnetic interference (EMI), currents flow through unintended paths within the internal circuitry. Those currents then trigger the SCR that trips the unit. This EMI essentially bypasses the differential current transformer that normally discriminates the 5ma differential current.

If you used a pico milliamp current probe and oscilloscope directly on the EGC, of small enough resolution, and measured nothing, then you may have an EMC issue. Did you monitor the current at the moment that the trip occurs?
If it is an EMC issue you could try inserting an EMI filter between the GFCI and the refrigerator as a diagnostic step.

 

[ptonsparky]

Take the GFCI out and use a standard receptacle. No problems. Imagine that.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

The refrigerator manufacturer needs to solve this ground leakage problem, not you.

Good luck telling the customer they bought poorly.

Maybe not...the Technical Committee for UL 943 was presented with evidence that power conversion equipment used in refrigeration and cooling systems can generate high frequency leakage current that can result in a listed GFCI tripping with the high frequency leakage current less than 5 mA. The TC voted not to even look at that issue. For the record, I sit on that TC and did not vote with the majority on this issue.