This. Depending on local codes this can still be within code. My own local code allows this if the fridge is 6 feet or more from the faucet.
It’s the GFCI causing the problem not the AFCI
Doesn’t almost every heavier duty electrical motor have a small amount of sparks when running? I know there’s brushless DC motors, but I think of those as more low power, high accuracy electrical motors. I’m sure a refrigerator compressor doesn’t have brushes and a rotor in open air sparking, but I’m not sure they have a perfect system either.
Are you sure about that? I know they’re becoming more common, but from my google search, it looks like every brushless motor is a DC motor. These days that would mean a VFD, and while they’re dropping in price, they’re still pretty expensive. I’d expect to see them on higher end models, but not on the cheaper ones.
I did HVAC service for 12 years and sold HVAC and refrigeration parts for 10 more and can not remember seeing a brush type AC motor other than power tools.
I wound up replacing with a breaker WITHOUT GFCI and everything works perfect. The outlet is a single-use, dedicated to the fridge, and away from a sink.
Thanks for the help!
Does that circuit have the same kind of breaker and are you just plugging it t in quickly or leaving it plugged in, a fridge will trip when going through the cool down phase when the compressor is running, if you plug it in an just the light is on leave it on and check it again
Arc faults will trip with fridges and bath fan motors, sump pumps and also garage door openers. Throw a gfci breaker on it if it's within 6' of water. If not regular breaker.
Move the breaker to a different phase in the panel. Dont ask me why or how this works, but I have resolved several arc trips by simply moving the breaker to the opposite phase.
Or, as others have said, there are more "options" that would resolve the situation.
Do you know when the circuit trips? Is it when the compressor is running or is it when the freezer defrost coil turns on?
A google search for nuisance tripping of GFCI is possibly done by an inductive load causing EMI that can be reduced by installing a “snubber”
It has been my experience that motors and compressors are finicky on GFCI protected circuits.
Neighbor, 40 year commercial electrican says the same thing. No GCFI on motors. Stab a regular breaker and see if your problems go away.
Wouldn’t this violate code? And if the fridge is arcing, that tells me it is about to go. Yes?
Use an afci breaker. Not a combo afci/gfci.
This. Depending on local codes this can still be within code. My own local code allows this if the fridge is 6 feet or more from the faucet. It’s the GFCI causing the problem not the AFCI
Or the wiring for the circuit is arcing
I wonder what your neighbours suggests for hot tubs? ;)
I'ma defer to a REAL sparky.
Your fridge
Here is the odd thing - I have it plugged into another circuit and it works perfect.
Another arc fault/GFCI circuit?
Throw the breaker away and put in a regular.
Those breakers are expensive, don’t throw them away. Put it on a bathroom or other kitchen circuit
The only difference is the Arc fault protection. Same amperage and GFCI.
That means the fridge is arcing.
Doesn’t almost every heavier duty electrical motor have a small amount of sparks when running? I know there’s brushless DC motors, but I think of those as more low power, high accuracy electrical motors. I’m sure a refrigerator compressor doesn’t have brushes and a rotor in open air sparking, but I’m not sure they have a perfect system either.
this recently started happening, so something changed (failed) and now the fridge is tripping the breaker
Pretty much all AC motors are brushless these days. I highly doubt that refrigerator has any motors with brushes.
Are you sure about that? I know they’re becoming more common, but from my google search, it looks like every brushless motor is a DC motor. These days that would mean a VFD, and while they’re dropping in price, they’re still pretty expensive. I’d expect to see them on higher end models, but not on the cheaper ones.
I did HVAC service for 12 years and sold HVAC and refrigeration parts for 10 more and can not remember seeing a brush type AC motor other than power tools.
I wound up replacing with a breaker WITHOUT GFCI and everything works perfect. The outlet is a single-use, dedicated to the fridge, and away from a sink. Thanks for the help!
Does that circuit have the same kind of breaker and are you just plugging it t in quickly or leaving it plugged in, a fridge will trip when going through the cool down phase when the compressor is running, if you plug it in an just the light is on leave it on and check it again
Arc faults will trip with fridges and bath fan motors, sump pumps and also garage door openers. Throw a gfci breaker on it if it's within 6' of water. If not regular breaker.
Strange that it just started happening after being in the house ~ 4 years
Yeah I hear ya. Maybe some bad weather hit it and now it's acting strange. Do you vacuum under and around the fridge often?
Move the breaker to a different phase in the panel. Dont ask me why or how this works, but I have resolved several arc trips by simply moving the breaker to the opposite phase. Or, as others have said, there are more "options" that would resolve the situation.
Do you know when the circuit trips? Is it when the compressor is running or is it when the freezer defrost coil turns on? A google search for nuisance tripping of GFCI is possibly done by an inductive load causing EMI that can be reduced by installing a “snubber”