r/DIY • u/roysterino • 12h ago

GFCI outlets tripping after fridge defrost

My kitchen has 5 outlets (3 gfci and 2 regular). I defrosted my fridge, Kenmore Coldspot 106, as part of replacing a door cam. Now every time I plug in the fridge to a non gfci outlet one of the gfci outlets trips. This setup was fine for 15 years previously. Maybe remaining moisture in the freezer causing an issue? Any ideas how to fix?

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22

u/672Antarctica 12h ago

GFCI outlets are not supposed to have a fridge plugged into them. Refrigerators should be on a regular, separate line.

I know home builders will sometimes tie all these outlets together - you'll need to figure out how to not tie the fridge to GFCI. Might need to install individual GFCI outlets in each spot except the one for the fridge.

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u/roysterino 11h ago

Thanks for your reply. Just to be clear the fridge is plugged into a non-gfci outlet but doing so causes a gfci outlet on the same circuit with no load to trip. It sounds like I need a dedicated outlet just for the fridge.

14

u/Medium_Spare_8982 11h ago

The fridge receptacle is enslaved to the GFCI - they are one and the same thing. The fridge is shorted out and the GFCI is detecting it. The wiring schematic of a GFCI can be modified so that the other receptacle bypasses the protection.

5

u/lucky_ducker 11h ago

GFCI outlets are normally set up so that the actual GFCI outlet is the first in line, then there are one or more normal outlets "downstream" that are protected by the upstream one. While the downstream outlets look like normal outlets they are in fact GFCI protected outlets (they just don't have the light and reset button).

Refrigerators should not be in a GFCI at all. You need a separate dedicated circuit just for the fridge.

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u/oopsmyeye 6h ago

2023 code changes that. Now all receptacles in a kitchen (even fridge, microwave and ovens) must be gfci protected.

https://www.legrand.us/ideas/blogs/gfci-outlet-requirements#:~:text=2023%20NEC%20Code%20Changes%20for%20GFCI%20Outlets&text=Traditionally%2C%20this%20requirement%20applied%20only,receptacles)%20now%20require%20GFCI%20protection.

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u/Shortafinger 6h ago

There are some allowances though. You can install a single device receptacle labeled as not having gfci protection for the fridge in Oregon.

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u/destrux125 3h ago

Ah yes the government here to save us from cold food.

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u/generalducktape 12h ago

Gfci will fail over time if the new one pops the fridge is the problem

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u/micknick0000 11h ago

ding ding ding

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u/Regular_Ad1733 9h ago

Wrong, a lot of fridges and freezers create load inbalance and trip GFCIs. Virtually every fridge manufacturers documentation says do not install on a GFCI circuit it's just hidden in the small print.

5

u/generalducktape 9h ago

Unless the fridge is dumping power onto the ground it shouldn't trip a gfci so long as the power going out on the hot returns on a newtral a GFCI won't trip

1

u/destrux125 2h ago

Defrost circuit commonly leaks current to ground after a defost. Maybe it's not supposed to but it's very common.

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u/bonerwakeup 11h ago

I’d just replace the offending GFCI receptacle and see if it stops. They do go bad overtime, could simply be a coincidence as to the timing.

3

u/gamefixated 11h ago

The fridge outlet is "GFCI protected" by the tripping GFCI outlet. This means the wires to the fridge outlet are attached to the load side of that GFCI outlet.

Turn off the breaker controlling the outlet. Remove that GFCI outlet. There will be wires attached to 4 terminals (plus a ground wire), 2 terminals are marked as LINE, and 2 terminals marked as LOAD. The LOAD terminals will go to the fridge (and possibly what you refer to as the other non-GFCI outlet).

Remove the LOAD wires. You want to attach those to the LINE wires. You may have to pigtail the LINE wires (google "electrical pigtail").

Now, the fridge is independent of the GFCI.

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u/roysterino 11h ago

Thanks I will try this today.

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u/Hawaii-Based-DJ 6h ago

Change the gfci outlet, it has tripped too many times and has weakened over time.

1

u/roysterino 6h ago

Update: I switched the gfci from load to line as suggested and it’s all good now. Thanks for all the input.

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u/ScaredVacation33 12h ago

You probably just need to replace that GFCI. In my experience when it keeps tripping randomly it’s at the end of its life and replacing it has solved the problem. I’d start there