No, a refrigerator doesn’t need a GFCI. You can plug the appliance into a GFCI outlet if you think that the situation calls for one. For instance, if the refrigerator is located in a place with a lot of moisture and water, a GFCI outlet will protect you and your family from electrical shocks.
Does a refrigerator need a dedicated electrical circuit?
Your fridge does not need to be on a GFCI circuit if it’s in a residential setting, however, it’s highly advisable as it’s safer, especially since your fridge is in the kitchen. If you bypass the GFCI circuit and the current detects an imbalance, it will immediately shut off …
Is a refrigerator required to have its own dedicated circuit?
Do refrigerators need to be on a GFCI? All commercial buildings/kitchens are required to have GFCI for refrigerators. If the circuit feeding the refrigerator outlet is a dedicated individual circuit, than it can be either 15-A or 20-A. In a garage or an unfinished basement of a Dwelling unit, the refrigerator must have a GFCI circuit.
Can I plug my Refrigerator into a GFCI outlet?
No, a refrigerator doesn’t need a GFCI. You can plug the appliance into a GFCI outlet if you think that the situation calls for one. For instance, if the refrigerator is located in a place with a lot of moisture and water, a GFCI outlet will protect you and your family from electrical shocks.
Do new Refrigerators require freezer defrosting?
Jun 04, 2020 · Does a refrigerator need to be on a GFCI? All commercial buildings/kitchens are required to have GFCI for refrigerators. If the circuit feeding the refrigerator outlet is a dedicated individual circuit, than it can be either 15-A or 20-A. In a garage or an unfinished basement of a Dwelling unit, the refrigerator must have a GFCI circuit.
Why does my GFCI keep tripping?
If the GFCI keeps tripping because of EMI from an inductive load, you can install a snubber. It sits between the fridge and the GFCI. It will reduce the interference, preventing it from tripping the GFCI.
Do refrigerators draw the same amount of electricity?
Refrigerators do not draw the same amount of current all the time. They have periods during which they require a lot more power. For instance, the appliances use more electricity when the door is open.
Can a GFCI receptacle cause a ground fault?
Water is the sort of conductor that can cause a ground fault. GFCI receptacles respond to ground faults by tripping. If your GFCI outlets keep tripping, Henderson Engineers encourages you to check the amount of moisture in the area. Sometimes, moisture enters the receptacle box. The box should be dry. Otherwise, tripping will become a regular occurrence.
Can you install GFCI on every outlet?
You can install GFCI technology on every outlet. This is convenient but also expensive because the individual GFCI outlets cost a lot of money. You also have the option of installing GFCI technology on a single outlet in a manner that ensures that all the outlets downstream have GFCI protection.
How far away from sink should a refrigerator be?
1) Within 6 feet of the edge of any sink - For example, if the refrigerator receptacle is within 6 feet of the kitchen sink, even if it is a dedicated circuit, it must be GFCI. But this applies if a refrigerator happens to be within 6 feet of any sink, anywhere in the house.
Is a refrigerator GFCI protected?
Wednesday, June 19, 2019. Although the National Electrical Code (NEC) does not require that a receptacle outlet serving a refrigerator must be GFCI-protected, it specifies certain areas where any receptacle—including for a refrigerator—must be GFCI: 1) Within 6 feet of the edge of any sink - For example, if the refrigerator receptacle is within 6 ...
What does it mean when a frige is tripping a GFCI?
If you have a frige that is tripping a GFCI it has too much leakage current and is defective. I would refer it to the NRTL that listed it. The leakage current allowed under the standards is well below the 4-6 ma of a GFCI.
When did GFCIs start being required?
UL Class A ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) began to be required in kitchens, bathrooms and outdoor outlets in the early ’70s, and have saved many lives over the years: According to...
Is it safe to not have a fridge on a GFCI?
Not having the fridge on a GFCI is a safety issue IMHO. It has a big metal handle that people grab tightly to open. If there is a short to the case, it can be deadly. I've had several calls where people have old fridges in the garage that trip the GFCI. After verifying the GFCI is functioning properly, I tell them the GFCI is doing it job to protect them from shock and they should throw out the fridge.
What is 210.8 circuit interrupter?
Ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection for personnel shall be provided as required in 210.8 (A) through (C). The ground-fault circuit-interrupter shall be installed in a readily accessible location.
What is a snubber?
There are devices called snubbers that can be used to reduce, or eliminate the effects of EMI. Installing one between the fridge and the GFCI device, could prevent nuisance trips. The best solution though, is to connect the fridge to a non-GFCI protected circuit.
Do refrigerators need to be GFCI protected?
If the refrigerator is in a garage, boathouse, or unfinished basement. All the receptacles are required to be GFCI protected, so the fridge will have to be plugged into a GFCI protected receptacle.
Can a refrigerator tripping a GFCI?
While most (all) manufacturers are aware that refrigerators can cause nuisance tripping of GFCI devices, most ( none) seem willing to provide a solution. It would be complete speculation for me to try and tell you why they don't care, so of course I'll go through a few possibilities.
Can a sump pump trip a GFCI?
Sump Pump motors are know to trip GFCI as well, but code or installers sometimes insist a Sump Pump be on a GFCI for safety, which could cause a flooded basement if the sump trips the GFCI. Share. Improve this answer. answered Aug 22 '17 at 18:44.
Do you need a GFCI for a refrigerator?
In a dwelling unit (residential), GFCI protection is only required for kitchen receptacles that serve the countertop surfaces. There's no requirement to GFCI protect receptacles that serve a refrigerator. Unless the fridge is plugged into a countertop receptacle.
What is the NEC?
The NEC (National Electrical Code) is a set of standards for safety and compliance with the installation of electrical wiring/equipment in the U.S. These are the guidelines that our licensed and insured electricians at KB Electric LLC must follow for the safety of you and your family. They also allow us to be safe in the field as well.
Do you have to keep your home up to code?
Not only is it recommended to keep your home up to code for safety reasons, but most townships will require these things to be done for home renovations, addition work, etc. Check with your township to find out which NEC year they use for safety and compliance.
