SAAPI
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- Boston, Massachusetts
Just had the GFI kick on my unfinished basement freezer - lost $500.00+ do I need really need a GFI for a freezer - I was thinking of replacing it with an outlet with a single receptacle?
The exception that permitted using a single receptacle for a dedicated appliance in lieu of GFCI protection last appeared in the 2005 code. If you are on a newer code, the receptacle must have GFCI protection. With refrigerators and freezers that do not have power conversion equipment (VFDs) a tripped GFCI most often indicates a problem with the equipment.Just had the GFI kick on my unfinished basement freezer - lost $500.00+ do I need really need a GFI for a freezer - I was thinking of replacing it with an outlet with a single receptacle?
the GFI is 25 years old - and the freezer seems to be working and didn't retrip the GFI - Just ordered an alarm.The exception that permitted using a single receptacle for a dedicated appliance in lieu of GFCI protection last appeared in the 2005 code. If you are on a newer code, the receptacle must have GFCI protection. With refrigerators and freezers that do not have power conversion equipment (VFDs) a tripped GFCI most often indicates a problem with the equipment.
You could add an alarm to get a notification of loss of power to the freezer.
FYI:the GFI is 25 years old - and the freezer seems to be working and didn't retrip the GFI - Just ordered an alarm.
The 2020 code requires all basement receptacle outlets to be GFCI protected.FYI:
I believe even if it's a finished basement it would have to be AFCI/ GFCI protected.
Depressing indeed. Us humans like to shoot ourselves in the foot sometimes.found a GFCI with an alarm - replacing the existing unit - and also adding a sensor with an alarm - depressing throwing away $300.00 to $500.00 worth of food
of course this week also my condensate pump also blew in my attic - at least it was wired correctly - so it shut off and didn't flood the attic.
Is this your own house and is it or is it not in the walking path of your inspection department? Hint, hint.Just had the GFI kick on my unfinished basement freezer - lost $500.00+ do I need really need a GFI for a freezer - I was thinking of replacing it with an outlet with a single receptacle?
Thing I have a hard time convincing some customers is that even if not on a GFCI that alarm is still a good idea. That $500 of food still spoils if power is lost for any other reason or if the thermostat or compressor of the freezer goes out.found a GFCI with an alarm - replacing the existing unit - and also adding a sensor with an alarm - depressing throwing away $300.00 to $500.00 worth of food
of course this week also my condensate pump also blew in my attic - at least it was wired correctly - so it shut off and didn't flood the attic.
“Frost free” freezers and refrigerators have a defrost heater coil connected to a timer. Over time the heater coil insulation begins to crack and you can get a small amount of leakage to ground if there is dust and/or moisture built up on it. The older it is, the more leakage there is. Bottom line, once it starts tripping the GFCI, it will likely start happening more often. If you can find a service manual for that unit which shows where the heater coil is and how to replace it, they are not all that expensive, especially in light of the cost of your food.the GFI is 25 years old - and the freezer seems to be working and didn't retrip the GFI - Just ordered an alarm.
That would be for freezers that have a blower to blow air over a cooling coil for the most part. The defrost heater is embedded within or immediately adjacent to the cooling coil in some way, as that is where the most ice build up will occur.“Frost free” freezers and refrigerators have a defrost heater coil connected to a timer. Over time the heater coil insulation begins to crack and you can get a small amount of leakage to ground if there is dust and/or moisture built up on it. The older it is, the more leakage there is. Bottom line, once it starts tripping the GFCI, it will likely start happening more often. If you can find a service manual for that unit which shows where the heater coil is and how to replace it, they are not all that expensive, especially in light of the cost of your food.
Yeah my inspector in NY doesn't enforce the rule either. If I had one that did, I would remove it after inspection.There are very few basements here in South Georgia, but my local AHJ exempts all refrigerators and freezers from requiring a GFCI as long as we install a simplex recep.
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I used to think that way, but have run into units with actual ground fault and missing EGC pins on the plug, that were shocking people.Yeah my inspector in NY doesn't enforce the rule either. If I had one that did, I would remove it after inspection.
I agree, minus the 'I used to think that way'.I used to think that way, but have run into units with actual ground fault and missing EGC pins on the plug, that were shocking people.
Also run into ones with an actual ground fault, appliance repair guy told them to get an electrician to replace the GFCI, I ended up finding the fault and told them to call repair guy back and replace that faulted component.
One thing to go into basement or garage and touch live cabinet on an appliance, even more risky to go do it barefoot, which does happen when people are in their own homes.
From the website:Interesting. They work inside the Faraday cage called a freezer? I guess if the WiFI router is close by.