drcampbell
Senior Member
- Location
- The Motor City, Michigan USA
- Occupation
- Registered Professional Engineer
It's been a long time since I've seen a factory two-wire cord, but I've seen plenty of two-prong plugs that used to be three-prong plugs.
Refrigerator Recep GFI Protected Manufacturer's "not recommended"
- Thread starter gjhayes66
- Start date
- Status
gjhayes66
Member
- Location
- Turbotville, PA, USA
Thanks All...
ptonsparky
Tom
- Occupation
- EC - retired
Even more than the 2 wire. My point.
The two wire I 'tested' was in a kitchen within 3' of the sink and believe me, it hurt.
Barbqranch
Senior Member
- Location
- Arcata, CA
- Occupation
- Plant maintenance electrician Semi-retired
When I was a kid, back in the 50s, if you touched the refrigerator handle and the sink faucet, you got a tingle. I reversed the plug on the refrigerator (not polarized then) and it solved the problem.
petersonra
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern illinois
- Occupation
- engineer
the main panel board in my house is behind the frig in the kitchen. 
PaulMmn
Senior Member
- Location
- Union, KY, USA
- Occupation
- EIT - Engineer in Training, Lafayette College
Simpler yet-- put the refrigerator on the kitchen lighting circuit. Probably not code, but when the GFCI trips, you'll notice it!
You put the kitchen lighting on a GFCI?
PaulMmn
Senior Member
- Location
- Union, KY, USA
- Occupation
- EIT - Engineer in Training, Lafayette College
No, but if I did, both the light and receptacle would go out together, and be noticed.
*Sigh* Probably a the best solution so far is the "alarmed" dead-front GFCI. So you don't have to pull out the refrig to reset it.
Do the CMPs (I think of them as "Code Military Police...") actually have to -live- with their decisions??
gaelectric
Senior Member
- Location
- Highlands Ranch, CO
GFCI? No big deal. It's the AFCI requirements that are stupid.
When I was a kid back in the 60's our refrigerator used to do the exact same thing to us.
Only difference is back then myself and all of my siblings would wet our hand to see if we could make the tingle more aggressive.
For some odd reason,,, our parents really never tried to stop us .......
JAP>
The best solution when it comes to worrying about a GFI tripping and spoiling all the contents of your electric refrigerator would be to purchase a natural gas or propane unit like what's in an RV.
JAP>
hbiss
EC, Westchester, New York NEC: 2014
- Location
- Hawthorne, New York NEC: 2014
- Occupation
- EC
Those stop working too. I think your best option is to move above the Arctic circle and keep your stuff outdoors.
No, wait! That's no good either. What about Global Warming? :roll:
-Hal
No, wait! That's no good either. What about Global Warming? :roll:
-Hal
Barbqranch
Senior Member
- Location
- Arcata, CA
- Occupation
- Plant maintenance electrician Semi-retired
And bears.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
Refrigerator that is fairly full and loses power - stays cold for several hours if nobody opens the door.
Many people keep things in the fridge that don't need to be kept cold as well, so those items won't spoil especially if warmed up only for short time.
A freezer that is fairly cold can possibly stay cold for days if door isn't opened, especially type with door on the top side.
If you don't have much in there and lose power and food gets too warm and spoils you didn't really lose much.
Some people I guess would rather risk electrocution should fridge/freezer malfunction than risk having spoiled food should a GFCI trip.
Many people keep things in the fridge that don't need to be kept cold as well, so those items won't spoil especially if warmed up only for short time.
A freezer that is fairly cold can possibly stay cold for days if door isn't opened, especially type with door on the top side.
If you don't have much in there and lose power and food gets too warm and spoils you didn't really lose much.
Some people I guess would rather risk electrocution should fridge/freezer malfunction than risk having spoiled food should a GFCI trip.
drcampbell
Senior Member
- Location
- The Motor City, Michigan USA
- Occupation
- Registered Professional Engineer
Sure, if you're there. But if you're away, it's only as effective as the audible alarm.
LarryFine
Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
- Location
- Henrico County, VA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
Oh my!
gjhayes66
Member
- Location
- Turbotville, PA, USA
Thanks again all. Seems the best solution is in the design stage, floor plan design, if possible, design the refer 6ft from the sink, that will solve the GFI issue, but we will always have AFCI issue.
goldstar
Senior Member
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
There's a great idea.:thumbsup: What if you're on vacation in Aruba ?
goldstar
Senior Member
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
Based on what the vast majority have posted here, I guess I stand corrected. I haven't done too much in the area of new residential construction in years - mostly remodel. To date I have not failed an inspection because I didn't put the refer on a GFCI protected circuit. That doesn't mean I did the right thing or maybe that the EI didn't pick up on it.
As many others have voiced their disapproving opinions regarding AFCI's in this Forum let me state mine on this subject. I think it's a bad idea to put a refer on a GFCI protected circuit. We now have to put DW's on GFCI circuits but if the DW fails the dishes didn't get washed - NO BIG DEAL. But if the refer fails due to a GFCI problem you lose your food. I can state, without a doubt, that HO's are not going to put up with this. If one of us EI's don't change out the GFCI protection they'll get Joe Handyman to make the change or do it themselves. I think the CMP's need to revisit this requirement or force the manufacturers to improve their products. Just my 2 cents worth.
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