Electrical outlets w/breaker built in

[toomanyboats]

Re: Electrical outlets w/breaker built in

Heres the deal,GFIC outlets get weak if their tripped to offen,after a while they just go bad,and weak.heres what you do,go to home depot and get a 20 amp GFI (not a 15 amp)because most garges are wired with 12 ga wire and the 15 will not handle the load,and trip more offen,the 20 is a little are more costly and thats why people buy the cheepest because they just dont know,if that doesn't fix it call someone who knows,theres a real problem and for your own peace of mind get it fixed! <br />I'm a General contractor and Electrical contractor in business for 25 years.<br /><br /><br />98 Baja 272 islander<br />SPEED CHANGES YOU

 

[ehenry]

Re: Electrical outlets w/breaker built in

Thanks Toomanyboats and all that answered. I'll replace the outlet and move the freezer to another location.

 

[dolluper]

Re: Electrical outlets w/breaker built in

Throw your breaker off in the panel and test the other plug outlets you have around with a plug in light that is on , the ones it doesn't have light are on the same circut might narrow things down a bit ,then turn breaker in ypur panel back on and see if it they all light with the corded light if not that plug pigtal ground is bad or recepicle [light will dullen]

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Electrical outlets w/breaker built in

Originally posted by Bondo:<br />You Don't need it in the Garage,.... Bathroom,+ Kitchen maybe, But not the Garage.......<br />Get rid of it,+ install a Standard Outlet.......<br />

Do you install a bigger breaker when one trips? No. The GFCI is there for a reason, and it tripped for a reason. A garage is a good place to have a GFCI outlet, there are alot of situations that could involve water near them. The GFCI blew because there's a problem with what is plugged into it. Fix the problem, not the outlet.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Electrical outlets w/breaker built in

Lots of good advice here, but let me add that you should have the current draw on your freezer checked. Compressors can build up acid in the refrigerant and eat away at the motor windings. This causes it to start pulling more current/amps. Have someone with an amploc with a meter find out what your FLA (full load amps) is on the freezer. There should be a spec plate somewhere telling what it is surpose to be. Compare the two. If the actual reading is higher than is on the plate, then I would say your compressor has seen better days. Good Luck

 

[Sea Six]

Re: Electrical outlets w/breaker built in

The GFCI is there for a reason, and it tripped for a reason. Fix the problem, not the outlet.

I agree - I think your old freezer is developing a short circuit to ground, tripping the GFCI.

 

[heyttown]

Re: Electrical outlets w/breaker built in

Dont take for granted that your garage is wired with #12 wire.......Different codes require different gauge wire....<br /><br />Im sure everyone here is tring to help but some of these responses are crazy, and to say something like that actually puts that persons family in jeopardy...<br /><br />Again if you are unsure or dont feel 100% comfortable with doign it, spend the $$ and get it done right..<br /><br />GFCI's are very good at what they are designed to do, but wired incorrectly can cause a fire almost immediately.<br /><br />GFCI's get old and will result in faulty trips....It could fix your problem, but the ultimate result is the freezer shouldnt be on a gfci to begin with.

 

[one more cast]

Re: Electrical outlets w/breaker built in

I would wire some sort of a small light from the freezer to somewhere in the house so you can tell if you loose power to the freezer.

 

[phatmanmike]

Re: Electrical outlets w/breaker built in

ok, heres the deal.<br /><br /> your breaker you have, its a GFCI, ground fault circuit interuption. you must, by NEC code,(national electrical code) have them in your bathrooms, kitchens, wetbars, dining areas, outdoors, finished basements and a minimum of at least one in the garage.<br /><br />BUT, its not recomended to put any type of induction device or anything else that requires a larger than normal load to get the device started, such as a large motor, or a refridgerator or freezer, on a GFCI. every time the fridge or freezer compressor kicks on, it will TRIP the breaker/outlet. just replace the GFCI outlet with a standard 3 wire grounded outlet and you will be ok. but be sure to place the GFCI somehwere else in the garage, preferably by the workbench.<br /><br />its not a matter of having TOO MUCH on the circuit, thats not it at all. its very commonm for this to happen when you install a GFCI outlet and place a fridge or freezer on it. <br /><br />GFCI are NOT required in hard to reach areas, such as under a cabinet or behind a fridge. they are only required in a kitchen on the counter tops every 48" of usable counter space and also on islands with a minumum of 24" counter space. they are not required by NEC code to be installed on the walls in the kitchen, just above the counters.

 

[dhammann]

Re: Electrical outlets w/breaker built in

Most likely you have a ground fault in the freezer itself. Is it a self de-frosting freezer? If so, they have heating elements that can get wet due to condensation. Also, upright freezers have a low wattage heater that surrounds the door seal that can also go to ground. These problems will trip a GFI. High humidity and insects will to.

 

[ehenry]

Re: Electrical outlets w/breaker built in

Since I reset the outlet and plugged the freezer back in to it, its stayed on. HOWEVER the freezer is going to find a new home since its old, not frost free, and in need of a seal.

 

[Indymike]

Re: Electrical outlets w/breaker built in

I've never seen "hard to reach" in my code book. HEHE.although they do use the term not readily accessible. Actuall you may use a non gfci protected circuit or outlet in your garage if it is dedicated to that freezer. ( dedicated appliance outlet ). gfci breakers and/or receptacles are prone to occasional nuisance tripping. I would not put a refrigeration appliance on a gfci protected outlet.<br /><br />See art. 210-8 2002 NEC

 

[kenimpzoom]

Re: Electrical outlets w/breaker built in

myoutboards is 100% correct.<br /><br />I installed a GFCI in my garage in my old house. Very cheap insurance.<br /><br />But dont put refridge/freezer on GFCI, it will trip it.<br /><br />Get rid of the old freezer, think of how inefficient it is. A new one will pay for itself in a few years.<br /><br />Sounds like you have it all taken care of.<br /><br />Ken

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Electrical outlets w/breaker built in

I've had a fridge on the GFCI in my garage for the last 4 years...no trips. At about 13 years old the fridge uses it's fair share of watts too...

 

[JRJ]

Re: Electrical outlets w/breaker built in

Sorry about the food loss, espesally the game. As you found out, don't trust gfi outlets for freezers. They will go and go, then trip for no appearent reason. Sounds like you have a solution.

 

[heyttown]

Re: Electrical outlets w/breaker built in

I agree with everything myoutboards said except only 1 outlet in the garage has to be gfci protected....<br /><br />Although the nec has a say in what should be done.....The final say in what should and shouldnt be a gfci is the AHJ...Authority Having Jurisdiction....They overwrite everything in the code book...So if his local codes call for every outlet in the garage to be GFCI protected, you would have just given him bad info.<br /><br />Call your local electrical inspector and see what he says....Here where I am at every outlet in the garage with exception to dedicated circuits(freezer,refridge,sump pump and garage door opener) has to be GFCI protected...

 

[phatmanmike]

Re: Electrical outlets w/breaker built in

i said NEC ,NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE.<br /><br />i dont know anything about his local codes, so i only gave him the NATIONAL code as a base to start from.

 

[dhammann]

Re: Electrical outlets w/breaker built in

If it was me, I would not use a GFI on a freezer circuit. From a safety standpoint there is nothing to be gained since this appliance is totally enclosed in metal and connected via a 3-prong plug to your equipment ground circuit. Remove the GFI and replace with standard receptacle then daisy chain from that receptacle over to a new wall box and re-install the GFI into this box. This will satisfy code and your pocket book. Of course, if it were me and it was my house, my food I would put the inspector low on my priority list.

 

[eurolarva]

Re: Electrical outlets w/breaker built in

The condensor coils on refridge/freezers are like magnets for dirt and dust. They create an insulation for the coolent and cause the machine to work harder in order to achieve the temperature required for the freezer. These coils need to be cleaned every couple of years. If they are really dirty your machine will be working extra hard and could be causing you the problem you are experiencing. My guess is that inductive kick from the motor starting up is causing the GFI to trip. You may be able to reduce this by cleaning those coils.

 

[dhammann]

Re: Electrical outlets w/breaker built in

Get it off that GFI and I bet your problems will go away. The small compressor in freezers does not pull enough current to trip a 20 amp circuit when coils are dirty. There is a Klixon thermostat on the compressor that will protect it from overloads.