GFCI Question

daveplot

Since I have an 18 month son, and another on the way, I decided to check to make sure my kitchen and bathroom receptacles are GFCI protected. They aren’t. I knew I had a GFCI breaker in the box, but it is for some of my basement receptacles (no all, don't know why, that's another issue). My house was built in the 1970s.

The two bathrooms and master bedroom are on a 15 amp circuit.

The kitchen receptacles, refrigerator, and dishwasher are on a 20 amp circuit.

Since I don't know which outlet comes first to wire the line/load on a GFCI outlet, are there any drawback, other than increased price, in just replacing the two breakers with GFCI ones?

Jim Port

GFI breakers are an acceptable way to provide the protection. You could also use GFI receptacles at each location and only use the LINE terminals.

You will need to move the circuit neutral to the breaker.

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Answers based on the National Electrical Code. Local amendments may apply. Check with your local building officials.

kbsparky

I do not recommend putting your fridge on a GFCI device. Too many factors can cause nuisance tripping, putting you at risk for spoiled food.

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-KB

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Jim Port

A properly functioning refrigerator should not trip a GFI. The allowable leakage current is about 1/10 of what the GFI is designed to trip at.

A saved life is more important than food.

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Answers based on the National Electrical Code. Local amendments may apply. Check with your local building officials.

daveplot

That sounds like a good plan. Probably what i'll do. Thanks.

I read that somewhere, and it's a good idea, and with a wife who is going to be pumping and freezing breast milk, I would rather not feel the wrath of spoiled milk. I even have a wireless temperature alarm on the fridge and freezer just in case.

Leah Frances

You want to protect LIVE meat (you, your wife, your kid) not dead meat. One is replaceable. One is not. Like Jim said.

If you have a temp alarm then you don't have to worry at all.

I've got a freezer plugged into a GFCI and don't have a problem with it.

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If I could only remember to THINK about what I was doing before I did it.

kbsparky

That is the mantra brought about by those bureaucrats on the CMP's and the lobbyists from those who manufacture and sell GFCI devices.

The truth is there are a lot of things that can trip out a GFCI that are not related to how "properly functioning" a refrigerator might or might not be.

A bad lightning storm or power surges can trip out and/or literally fry the guts of GFCI's. I've seen this many, many times. Those lobbyists and cmp members fail to consider such outside factors when implementing mandates.

Besides, refrigerators are not required to have GFCI protection. Why is that, if they are supposedly the cat's meow in the ultimate protection?

You talk about saving lives. How about saving a life from food poisoning?

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kbsparky

I suppose you have never returned from a week's vacation to find a freezer full of rotting food, and tripped out GFCI? A temp alarm is not any good if you are not home to hear it bleep.

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Jim Port

Refrigerators are required to be GFI protected in a commercial kitchen.

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Answers based on the National Electrical Code. Local amendments may apply. Check with your local building officials.

kbsparky

Geez, Jim. Commercial kitchens are beyond the scope of a DIY forum.

Besides, a commercial establishment is more likely to have someone present most of the time to deal with nuisance tripping of a GFCI.

A dwelling does not have as much supervisory presence, especially when the owners are away at work, or on vacation.

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Leah Frances

No. I haven't and I've had fridge/freezer plugged into GFCIs, in different residences, for the last 10 years.

But I have been shocked by a fridge that had a ground fault that was not GFCI protected.

So, Sparks, you know I usually agree with you. But I emphatically believe that I would rather loose a freezer full of stuff than have someone get shocked or injured.

__________________
If I could only remember to THINK about what I was doing before I did it.

kbsparky

Simple proper grounding would have prevented that. How old was the appliance?

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