Nuisance Tripping GFCI Commercial Kitchen Receptacle

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sparkycheesehead

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We have provided GFCI protected receptacles for a commercial kitchen as required in 210.8 (B) (2) knowing that nuisance tripping may be a problem. The refrigerator loads are all tripping the GFCIs (each is on its own dedicated circuit). The refrigerators are all brand new. I have been unable to find any definitive evidence proving that the inrush of a undamaged compressor will or will not trip a GFCI. Is anyone aware of such testing?
 
is the protection a breaker or a receptacle?? So more than one and on different circuits and brand new?? Yikes,.....this is not supposed to happen ,.. are you sure there is no human error on the premises side
 
Before Iwire jumps in, there is no such thing as nusinsance tripping. Something is wrong somewhere. My guess would be the equipment. If they were wired wrong and they are new GFCI's they shouldn't reset.
 
The GFCI protection is integral to the receptacle. Each receptacle is supplied with a dedicated 20A circuit. I know it is not supposed to happen, but I have seen it happen before and have never found any effective solution short of telling the client to monitor the refrigerators. Other solutions that have been eliminated due to cost include GFCI protection at the breaker and include an alarm. In addition, this still does not solve the primary problem of refrigeration equipment tripping GFCIs.

I have heard it should not happen, but what tests have been done to prove it will not (or what tests have been done to prove it does happen).

Thanks!
 
You say "GFI protected receptacles." Does that mean GFI breakers? If so, are you sharing neutrals?

If a receptacle, try just replacing it. Sometimes that clears it right up.
 
All equipment is brand new. All refrigerators are having the same problem. Right now, I consider these to be nuisance trips - it does not happen on every start. If there was something wrong, I would expect every time the compressor starts to be a problem.

Is there some testing that you could direct me to indicating that GFCIs will not trip when a compressor starts?
 
A load is a load. The GFI doesn't care what the load is, whether it's 0.05 amps or 19.95 amps. But it is sensing an imbalance somewhere, whether an actual leak in the equipment or an imaginary one due to a bad GFI.
 
I would imagine ul tested the receptacle type for motor loads, I have had a fridge plugged in to a gfci for 7 years I test it regularly never have I had a trip . older fridge too. Are these receptacles from a big box ??

I heard a rumor that Joe Ross(code expert) has said that one of the big box stores is selling counterfeit gfcis ,.. I guess he was at my local supply house letting them know,...could be that maybe??

I would try selling a breaker type,.. the electronics are better and it is cheaper than loosing a fridge full of food.
 
sparkycheesehead said:
All equipment is brand new. All refrigerators are having the same problem.
Click to expand...
Doesn't surprise me. I just went though this with a deli that I wired. Two refrigerated reach-ins, both brand new, were tripping the GFCI from time to time. I meggerred the attachment cord, neutral to ground, and hot to ground (got the same bad reading). Me and the manufacturer's tech (Traulsen) went through both units and found that both units had mullion heaters that were "leaky".
 
Another Idea would be to get some O.K. from someone for a field modification and hard wire the fridges no receptacle no gfci requirement ,..still got some leakage though???:smile:

I thought you might like to read this ,..it is where I got the idea to hard wire them,, notice he does not seem to think an O.K. is required ,..I disagree you cannot just chop off the cord and hard wire it .

http://expert.ecmweb.com/resistance_grounding_experts/2006/05/25/gfci-in-kitchen/
 
Good restaurant operating procedures normally dictate that any reach-ins are emptied at the end of each day, cleaned, and the product placed in the walk-in boxes overnight. Not all operators subscribe to this practice, however.
 
Let me throw this in, I wonder what % of moisture in the compressor dose the manf. allow. I have seen refg. and freezers collect moisture in the compressor all-tho there would not be enough leakage to trip a standard breaker they would trip a gfic.
 
mdshunk said:
Doesn't surprise me. I just went though this with a deli that I wired. Two refrigerated reach-ins, both brand new, were tripping the GFCI from time to time. I meggerred the attachment cord, neutral to ground, and hot to ground (got the same bad reading). Me and the manufacturer's tech (Traulsen) went through both units and found that both units had mullion heaters that were "leaky".
Click to expand...

I am curious how the readings came out < how many ohms> and to what voltage you got to before you started seeing "Leakage"? I have a job coming up that needs a mullion heater between two rerer units.

As far as the OP if all the refers are new and have the same motors in them they could all have the same problem. I would agree with Marc that you should megger test them and start at the cord, if the problem is present at the male end of the cord it is on the manufacturer to fix it or pay for your time. Either way Problem solved.
 
acrwc10 said:
I am curious how the readings came out < how many ohms> and to what voltage you got to before you started seeing "Leakage"? I have a job coming up that needs a mullion heater between two rerer units.
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I don't know. This was a good while back. I would never check this sort of equipment at more than 500 volts. I can't really tell you why these reach-in fridges even had mullion heaters. That's normally typical of a freezer. Traulsen is high-dollar stuff in terms of restaurant equipment, so maybe they just overdo things? I know they have a temperature controller with a 50 page manual that will make your head spin.

EDIT... just checked their website on a fridge that looks similar to the one's I remember. It says "Controllable Anti-Condensate Door Perimeter Heaters"
 
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I dont even think they make Class B GFI's anymore, buy when they did they were for pool lights installed before the adoption of the 1965 NEC... and they tripped at 20 milliamperes...
 
Class B trips at 27 ma.
it is not GFCI it is GFEP and it is made only in the cb type ( example QO 1015-epd) single pole 120 V 15 Amp
cost is $273 made by Square D
 
I know that the UL standard for home use appliances only permits 0.75mA of leakage current. Is this the same for commerical equipment?
Don
 
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