refrigerator protection

[AaronS]

I am looking in the code book to find what kind of protection I need to put on it I have heard that if it is a receptacle on a dedicated branch circuit located and identified for a cord-and-plug-connected appliance it does not need to be gfci protected but i cant find it in the code book and i dont know if it has to be afci

 

[charlie b]

The rules are different for dwelling units and non-dwelling units. GFCI requirements are in 210.8. AFCI requirements are in 210.12. Take a look through these articles, and let us know whether you still have a question.

Welcome to the forum.

 

[jumper]

Need to know what code cycle you are on also

 

[AaronS]

2014

 

[steve66]

2014

If its within 6' of a sink, it requires GFCI protection. There isn't any exception for something like a refrigerator.

 

[jumper]

2014

Did the code sections charlie b cited answer your question?

 

[AaronS]

it is a dwelling unit i found in 210.8a7 that if 6 ft away from a sink the receptacle must be gfci protected but i have installed a refrigerator receptacle within 6ft and did not have a gfci outlet and had no problem with the inspector i also could not find any other exceptions in chapter 400

 

[jumper]

If its within 6' of a sink, it requires GFCI protection. There isn't any exception for something like a refrigerator.

Yes, but OP has not said anything about a sink.

Edit: Of course he does right before I posted.:slaphead:

 

[AaronS]

it might have been a gfci breaker but i no it was not a gfci receptacle

 

[jumper]

it might have been a gfci breaker but i no it was not a gfci receptacle

Code requires requires GFCI protection, it can either be a receptacle or breaker.

 

[jumper]

it is a dwelling unit i found in 210.8a7 that if 6 ft away from a sink the receptacle must be gfci protected but i have installed a refrigerator receptacle within 6ft and did not have a gfci outlet and had no problem with the inspector i also could not find any other exceptions in chapter 400

As steve66 stated, there are no exceptions for a fridge.

 

[iwire]

it is a dwelling unit i found in 210.8a7 that if 6 ft away from a sink the receptacle must be gfci protected but i have installed a refrigerator receptacle within 6ft and did not have a gfci outlet and had no problem with the inspector i also could not find any other exceptions in chapter 400

There are no NEC exceptions for this and article 400 is for cords you will not find anything about GFCIs in 400.

If they are paranoid about the GFCI tripping and losing food see them an audible GFCI receptacle, it makes a noise when it trips

Many brands have them, here is one. http://www.leviton.com/OA_HTML/SectionDisplay.jsp?section=65562

 

[junkhound]

cannot help myself to not post this -- Not code related, but related to the title

refrigerator protection:

When we had 2 teenage boys at home, put a padlock on the freezer anyway otherwise even that would be empty within a few hours of stocking it.

 

[steve66]

There are no NEC exceptions for this and article 400 is for cords you will not find anything about GFCIs in 400.

If they are paranoid about the GFCI tripping and losing food see them an audible GFCI receptacle, it makes a noise when it trips

Many brands have them, here is one. http://www.leviton.com/OA_HTML/SectionDisplay.jsp?section=65562

Cool. I didn't know they made those.

 

[jumper]

Cool.

Yep, takes the arguement out of "I am afraid that the GFCI will trip and I will not know it".

 

[templdl]

Code requires requires GFCI protection, it can either be a receptacle or breaker.

I have been somewhat apprehensive to put a fridge, furnace, sump pump and similar devices on a GFCI protected circuit but because of the possibility of the device nuisance tripping. Food spoilage, pipes freezing, basements flooding, causing extensive looses is a possibility. Would there be a difference if the outlet was a single outlet that has the ability to supply only one device rather than a duplex that a second device could be plugged in?

 

[jumper]

I have been somewhat apprehensive to put a fridge, furnace, sump pump and similar devices on a GFCI protected circuit but because of the possibility of the device nuisance tripping. Food spoilage, pipes freezing, basements flooding, causing extensive looses is a possibility. Would there be a difference if the outlet was a single outlet that has the ability to supply only one device rather than a duplex that a second device could be plugged in?

Yes, accumulative current leakage of the total amount of connected appliances/equipment increases the odds of nuisance tripping.

 

[templdl]

Yes, accumulative current leakage of the total amount of connected appliances/equipment increases the odds of nuisance tripping.

I'm not referring the potential of an overload but as a result of nuisance tripping of an AFCI at @ 5ma.and causing hundreds if not thousands of dollars in looses.

 

[jumper]

I'm not referring the potential of an overload but as a result of nuisance tripping of an AFCI at @ 5ma.and causing hundreds if not thousands of dollars in looses.

That was what I was referring to. Leakage current to ground, not overload.

2 appliances with 3-4ma of leakage current on one circuit = GFCI protection nuisance trip, neither appliance in itself is "dangerous" with >/= 6 ma of current.

 

[templdl]

That was what I was referring to. Leakage current to ground, not overload.

2 appliances with 3-4ma of leakage current on one circuit = GFCI protection nuisance trip, neither appliance in itself is "dangerous" with >/= 6 ma of current.

I see what you ment.