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Hey there! I know this video is a years old but it did help me with an issue I was having with my fridge so thank you!. It's been tripping since I moved in so I tried the method and the fridge is staying on now! As a note for future watchers, make sure your load and line aren't backwards to what it was in the video. My outlet had the line at the bottom so when I moved everything to the top like in the video, I was actually moving to the load so the outlet stopped working but the fridge was fine. Once I moved everything down to the line correctly, both are all good.
Thank you so much for the informative diy unhooking load terminal + transfer to line instead to prevent power interference to fridge when outlet trips. Such a relief to not stress out if I have to buy a new fridge. It’s only 11 yrs old and thought they last longer than that ❤❤ thank you again 🎉
Thank you so much for this!! I had this issue for the last 2 years. I had a handyman come out to give me an estimate to fit the issue. He said I had to upgrade my entire electrical panel. Yikes! 💀 after tripping on the extension cord again, I thought to give youtube another try and your video popped up! Yay!! 🙌🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 worked like a charm ✨️ 👌 😌
Thank you so much! I have been looking for an instruction like this. When the GFCI trips in my bathroom, 1/2 of the house loses power! its been a challenge! Thanks again
@JustForYouDiy went thru all these easy and informative steps you gave at the end I tripped my gfci fridge stayed on correctly but tried resetting my gfi and it won’t reset what could possibly be the problem? Thanks in advance
With most GFCI outlets you have to make sure that the line and neutral wires are from the same run (black and white wires are in the same jacket). This ensures that they are the same length and are very close to the same resistance. That said, often times when there are multiple lines and neutrals in the same J-box, if the wrong neutral is connected to the GFCI outlet, it will not reset (it stays in the fault mode). Hope this helps. If you find it helpful, please report back and consider donating to the channel.
If you have other receptacles daisy chained off the fridge receptacle then will this not defeat the GFCI protection for them? One needs to pull the fridge receptacle and look for daisy chaining and if found take a different solution.
Correct. In that case do what’s suggested in this video and just change the next outlet downstream of the fridge outlet to a GFCI outlet. Then, all other outlets connected to that circuit will be GFCI protected. Hope this helps.
I have an old King of the Road. Woud you know if my GFCI situated in the bathroom is link to the fridge. Note that my GFCI outlet is broken and my external outlets is not working as well. "Just for you" great video. Tanx.
One way you can check is with using a GFCI outlet tester. Home Depot has Klein Tools GFCI Tester. Plug the tester into the outlet in question. Push the button on the tester. If the outlet in question is connected to a GFCI outlet, it will trip. Hope this helps.
Your video gives me hope for my fridge. I know that "GFCI" located in the bathroom is defective. Before replacing it, I will try the method you describe so well in the tutorial. Next tool I purchase is the one suggested. Transforming an old RV with electrical current to a cottage. Thank you very much. Can't wait until tomorrow.
Thanks for this informative DIY video. I have a problem with a garage freezer on a circuit where one of these GFCI outlets is the first thing along that circuit. Freezer runs normally and cools down properly until the timer kicks on the defrost element and the increased draw trips that GFCI that nothing is plugged into. Now I can fix the problem! Thanks!
I want to put my second fridge in the garage, I have gfci receptacles in the garage, I plugged up the second fridge and the outlet tripped, is it because it’s on the same line as the fridge in the house? Do I need a separate outlet in the garage to run the fridge?
Thank you for this video. I installed a new refrigerator in my garage and the power trips every few hours. Is the technique you showed safe for the garage too? Mine is also a GFCI outlet. Thanks in advance.
Thank you for watching the video and your question. Most likely the reason the GFCI is tripping is because of the fridge’s compressor turning on and off. For that reason, I do not power a fridge with a GFCI outlet. As for safety of not using a GFCI outlet in the garage, it depends on where you leave and the local codes.
See I have this same question. I had the fridge in my garage for least a year in my new home. It hasn't never trip. Now the past 3 months it trips within 15 mins. So I've plug it to a no gfci outlet inside my house and it has never trip the breaker from the outlet I have it now. Gfci is a safety device too tho. So it makes me think something is wrong with my fridge like I have Internal issue going on wirh my fridge that's allowing The gfci to trip. My concern is that I may bring a problem to my new outlet and everything else that's sharing same power on that outlet. My fridge doesn't go off now and it doesn't trip the breaker. So am I ok? What I'm concerned about should it be a concern? Please advise Thanks.
My garage fridge is on a dedicated circuit. The fridge trips the gfci every now and then. Will this technique work when there are no other outlets down line?
Correct. In that case you can just change the next outlet downstream of the fridge outlet to a GFCI outlet. Then, all other outlets connected to that circuit will be GFCI protected. Hope this helps.
KEK this trick actually worked i spent 8+ hours on the fridge outlet, trying gfci and afci and neither, pigtailing and switching wires and whatnot, sure as shit this trick on the fridge outlet and the upstream outlet fixed my issue.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I was convinced my freezer was un-fixable because it began tripping twice a day after running fine for over a year. I was getting ready to have it taken to the dump - then I saw your video. Great instructions !!!!!
Helpful video. I have a 10-year old frig that trips the GFCI outlet. Could this be because of a short in the frig or will it be OK to do your method of correction to keep frig on all the time? Thanks.
Dan, I would suggest plugging the fridge to a regular non-GFCI outlet first to make sure the fridge does not have a short. Once that’s confirmed, and there is not a short, you can do what’s in the video.
Hello, plz help me, I bought the Used fridge, so first when I connected, my main swith board get trip immediately, so I keep the fridge off for around 24 hours, and than I tried, than it gets on, but my main swith board get trip after around 4-5 hours again, and again i tried and samething happened again after around 4-5 hours.
i have an older fridge/freezer unit from Kitchen Aid, it is the boxy one. no digitialdisplays or anything. we had a power outage for 46 hours from a storm on tuesday finally i knew it came on, yesterday at 221 pm i know my electirc came on. i got hom at 5 and it was on. i opened the fridge door to move frood around, then did it again 5 mintue slater. then nearly 7 pm i opened it and closed it once, then the 2nd time i did it something happened and the lights in both freezer and fridge were off. i went downstairs to push the circuit breaker in and out. not thinking of the CFGI thing. didn't work. i called an appliance guy who came out thie monring. very early siad there was no power going to the fridge. and i forgot there is 4-5 other outlets some with things on them like la lamp a carbon monoxide tester, and a heating pad along it righ tnow. anyway, turnst out my unit was tripped. the appliance guy left did nothing , tested with a extention chord to see if it ran which it did from the basemnet outlet. said it looked fine. an dleft. but said is hould call an electirican to check the pulgs/power source/ circuit breakers so i did. they came, they did move a copue wires in the plug right where the plug of the drige goes in, and he suggesed a new CFGI unit. so i got it . when he left everythign appeared just fine. i get home 6 hours later to find the drige off again but still cold now. i kept hitting the button on the new CFGI unit and thefridge would trun on for 1/10 of a second. but nothign worked. an't get anyone on either side for 3 days ue to a holiday weekend. i will not be home much either for now i plugged it in to the extention chord. will tha tbe safe until tuesday when i can do the rest of teh stuff?
The terminals on the back of a GFCI outlet are labeled. Any outlet that is connected to the terminals labeled “Load” will behave like a GFCI outlet. I hope this helps.
Thank you for this video! We just got a new fridge for the garage and it would trip the GCFI outlet on another wall after a few minutes. Even though the circuit has a 20amp breaker and the fridge is only rated at 4 amps AND with only 2 security cameras plugged into another outlet, it kept tripping. This trick fixed that issue.
I absolutely agree GFCIs and refrigerators do not mix - just like practically any other motor. However, Code now requires one for any refrigerator in a kitchen, so it must be done, period. You can thank Leviton for lobbying the NFPA to get that requirement added, as well as GFCIs for dishwashers. How many people have died from being shocked by a properly bonded dishwasher or refrigerator? None. Not a one. Since Leviton needs to appease shareholders, we now have this stupid requirement. Garbage disposals are coming up in the next cycle. What could possibly go wrong there?
@@JustForYouDiy it’s in a garage. New freezer keeps tripping GFCI. Did away with the GFCI because it seemed pointless although its code. Electrician said it was a nuisance trip anyway. Thanks for the good video though.
The electrician is correct, almost all GFCI trips caused by a frige is a nuisance trip. The reason is because GFCI circuit used in the outlet does not like an inductive load (any device that has a coil of wire in it), such as compressor that is used in a fridge. The electrical noise generated by such devices most often trip GFCI outlets. Hope this helps to better understand the reason.
Eric, it makes sense once you drill down to the fundamentals. Hopefully I can help with that. Eric, You don’t want to have a fridge plugged into a GFCI outlet. As you may know, fridge has a compressor and compressor is an inductive load. GFCI outlet trips quite easily when used with an inductive load that goes on and off. Let me know if you have any other questions.
The GFCI outlet I use is made by Leviton, slim design. It allows for two wires per screw terminal using the backwire feature. The outlet is model number GFNT2-RW.
So it worked for me and all the outlets in my garage work just not the actual GFCI outlet. It keeps tripping. Any reason why this is happening? Again, the refrigerator now stays powered so my initial problem is solved but now I'm out one outlet. Help!
Michael, make sure that you are connecting the neutral and hot from the same run (wires from same 2 or 3 conductor cable) to the GFCI outlet. Even though all neutrals ends up in the same place, different length runs have different resistance and that could cause the problem with GFCI. Or, you have a weak/defective GFCI. Hope this helps.
Bruce, glad to hear it solved your problem. The GFCI outlet should still function as a GFCI outlet. Best way to verify is to test it with a GFCI outlet tester.
@@bruceliu2607 Same exact thing happened to me just now. I couldn't figure out why the outlet itself wasn't working anymore but after reading this comment, I checked and saw that the line was at the bottom and I had actually moved everything up to the load.
Hi- I have an outdoor bar area that has a GFCI outlet that is part of a circuit that powers receptacles at the bar for phone chargers, small appliances, etc- but is usually just used to power a mini-fridge and low voltage landscape lights. This all worked fine for 3+ years, but recently the GFCI was tripped, and would not reset. I replaced it, and now it is tripping once or twice a day- I believe it's the mini-fridge. If I use your method, it seems like it may fix the mini-fridge tripping but will it also make all of the outlets at the outdoor bar "non-gfci", and is this dangerous due to being outdoor and susceptible to rain, etc? Thanks for any advice!
To isolate, consider plugging the mini-fridge to an outlet that is not part of the GFCI circuit. Unfortunately, as devices with inductive load, such as, the coil in the compressor from the fridge, get older could create a spike large enough during the on-to-off period that could trip a GFCI outlet. You are correct, you do not want to use a non-GFCI circuit in a wet area.
Michael, unfortunately, it will not work the same way. The method shown in this video bypasses the function of GFCI outlet. In your case, the GFCI outlet has to be replaced with a regular type outlet.
@@JustForYouDiy THERE'S the answer I was looking for!! Very seldom does the video miss the mark on what I'm searching (albeit just a little) and the OP provide the answer in the comments! Thank you. Sir! 👍
I plugged my fridge into a non GFCI outlet and it works perfectly now. I’ll replace the outlet with a GFCI and connect the fridge through a surge protector for safety.
When I plug the mini split into a GFCI receptacle it trips the GFCI. The mini split does not shut down with a regular receptacle. I'm going to modify the GFCI in my van tomorrow. Thanks for this solution.
i am having this issue but with a mini fridge, was working fine for the last 3 years, unplugged for a month and now it keeps tripping the gfci, everything else works fine. Unable to change the outlet, is there anything that can be purchased to correct this? Would plugging in a snubber fix this issue? thank you to anyone that can provide any information
Ok that’s a way to keep power constant to your refrigerator but now it’s now up to code. The GFCI is required when any plug is close to any water source and it mean to be there to save your house from possibly arching fire.
@@JustForYouDiy I know you know the difference between a breaker and a GFCI. Two distinctive functions brother. You definitely eliminated the purpose of that GFCI.
That GFCI is not eliminated, it still functions as a GFCI. The fridge is protected by the breaker. You should never protect a GFCI with a device that has an inductive load such as a fridge.
Thank you for the question. No, it does not affect how GFCI outlet works. One way to test if GFCI outlet is functioning correctly or not is to use a GFCI outlet tester such as: Commercial Electric Outlet Tester with GFCI, from Home Depot Model# OTG-102R Internet# 206029151 Store SKU# 398469 Store SO SKU# 398469
Good question. Yes, it is okay for those wires to touch. As you may be able to see, the outlet I used allows for two wires to be secured with each screw.
If the fridge’s outlet is connected to the line side of the GFCI outlet and nothing is plugged into the GFCI outlet, and GFCI trips, GFCI outlet is defective. Hope this helps.
@@JustForYouDiy I have total of 4 outlets to the left of the electric panel in garage (3 gfi and 1 non gfi) and 1 outlet (non GFI) to the right of the electric panel. I tried the outlets to the left of the electric panel all trip after 30 mins of plugging the refrigerator. I have not tried the one to the right yet. It’s brand new construction. Refrigerator is brand new Samsung side by side. I don’t know I tried the method in video for the first gfi outlet to the electric panel to the left which then connects the remaining outlets I believe.
@@muqtarali9974 Good info. Please keep in mind that an outlet that looks like a regular outlet could be connected to a load side of a GFCI outlet which makes it behave like a GFCI. Therefore, it’s best to check the outlet using a GFCI tester. They are sold online and at Home Depot or Lowes (Commercial Electric Outlet Tester with GFCI). Additionally, to eliminate the fridge as a suspect, consider plugging it into a regular outlet inside the house using an extension cord.
The suggested change will not disable the GFCI outlet. The operation of the GFCI does not change. The only thing that changes is how the down stream outlet operates, it operates like a standard outlet NOT as a GFCI. Hope this helps.
I have the exact situation But the refrigerator is in the garage Once I plug it in the GFCi in the garage trips. If I use extension cord plug it inside to another outlet with a GFCi nothing happens. New house. GOD wiring Tested the outlet connections with socket Tester all is good. What is causing this mystery?
If the GFCI that’s inside works correctly and does not trip the fridge, consider moving it to the garage. Also, be aware of other outlets/devices that are connected to the load side of the GFCI in question.
why does just plugging the refrigerator into the top outlet then not solve this problem? honestly asking as someone who is having this problem and doesn't have any experience in dealing with electricity
Thank you for the question. The problem is that the fridge should not be plugged into a GFCI outlet. The solution is to make sure the outlet used by the fridge is not a GFCI outlet. And, this is how you do it. That said, as I have noted in the video if you are not comfortable working with electricity, you should hire a professional.
Will this still help if I plug in my fridge to the gfci outlet or will it shut the fridge off if the outlet trips? In other words, will this only work if you plug the fridge into the non gfci outlet?
If the fridge is within 6 feet of the edge of a sink, or if it's in a garage, NEC requires GFCI protection. Homeowner's insurance would probably deny a claim if anything were to happen in those cases.
@@themonkeydrunken but refrigerator manufacturers put in the owners manual to NOT run the appliance on a gfci protected circuit because they can trip for no reason and your food can go bad if you dont realize it soon enough.
If the 2nd outlet is connected to the line side of the GFCI (the 1st outlet) and fridge is plugged into the 2nd outlet and GFCI trips, you have something connected incorrectly. 2nd outlet being connected to the line means the 2nd outlet is protected by the BREAKER.
Happy to hear that it worked. Surprisingly, it is a very common issue. And, many pay an electrician to resolve it. Thanks again for sharing your experience.
@@JustForYouDiy hmmmm, almost as if someone is making money off the poor craftsmanship in the home building process.... I wonder...nah, surely that's not intentional....surely....
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Most licensed electricians will tell you to pig tail witch is connecting three pieces of wire to the outlet one black one white and the ground then matching the colors together in a wire nut 😝
Thank you Jay for the comments. Any licensed electrician suggests that when the outlet has extra connection points that clamps down on the wires, is wrong.
@@JustForYouDiy They are not wrong, they just aren’t butchers. Stab ins have there issues, and are not equal or better than splicing and terminating under a screw.
GFCI's are required by the National Electric Code to be placed in kitchens (no exceptions for fridges in the recent updates). Why do we need GFCI on fridges? Because a fridge can (and has) killed people who simply went to open the door as normal. (And I don't mean 50 years ago, I am talking in recent years even on commercial grade fridges). Bottom line: if your fridge is tripping it, then that means your fridge is faulty. Unfortunately fridges are made very cheaply today because consumers demand things as cheap as possible. So you could have even new fridges trip GFCI's which I know can be frustrating. I don't know if "tripping a GFCI" is included in the warranty, but I doubt it. This makes the whole situation very unfortunate for the average consumer.
Where I live, GFCI outlet is required when an outlet is within 6 feet of a water source. If the fridge is outside of that distance, there is no need for it to be connected to a GFCI outlet. That said, in most cases that I have seen, the outlet for the fridge is connected to an outlet that is within 6 feet of a water source. And, in most cases that I’ve seen, the fridge outlet is connected to the load side of the said GFCI outlet. Which in that case, the outlet for the fridge that is a regular outlet will behave like a GFCI outlet. By switching the wires from Load to Source, the fridge outlet will no longer behave like a GFCI outlet. It become a normal outlet. Which it will have the same safety as rest of the outlets in the house, protected by the breaker. Hope this helps.
you just defeated your protection, The purpose of a GFCI is to protect from short circuits or contact with an electrical surface loose grounds etc. I would most certainly want a GFCI installed anyplace where there may be a wet surface or possibility touching a metal surface Thats the purpose of the LOAD SIDE OF A GFCI AS YOU HAVE IT NOW IT WILL NOT TRIP IN THE EVENT OF A SHORT CIRCUIT.
You resolved the issue but now you're no longer code compliant. I agree having g f c I on freezers and fridges is a joke. But the reply from the inspector is go by a better refrigerator.. Typical bureaucrat Answers spend more money to fix the problem.
Your going to over load your circuit and may even cause a fire! Do you even know what's causing it to trip ahh could it be an overload which the GFCI is made to do it's job! Bypass it and it could cause a fire by over loading your circuit!
Eric, You don’t want to have a fridge plugged into a GFCI outlet. As you may know, fridge has a compressor and compressor is an inductive load. GFCI outlet trips quite easily when used with an inductive load that goes on and off. Let me know if you have any other questions.
To properly fix it you need to run a dedicated fridge circuit. You need a GFI in the kitchen for when you have a real problem. Theres something wrong with the fridge. Your not supposed to eliminate the gfi like this
If the fridge is no longer tripping the GFCI outlet, the problem is solved. By understanding the internal circuitry of the GFCI outlet you know that GFCI outlet does not work well with inductive loads, such as a fridge which has a compressor.
If you liked this video, or it solved your problem, please consider donating a dollar ($1) using the “super thanks”. Your donation will go a long way towards content production. Thank you.
2 electricians and an appliance technician couldn’t resolve my fridge and gfci issue. This video solved all my problems! Thank you!
Glad to hear the issue is resolved.
Hey there! I know this video is a years old but it did help me with an issue I was having with my fridge so thank you!. It's been tripping since I moved in so I tried the method and the fridge is staying on now! As a note for future watchers, make sure your load and line aren't backwards to what it was in the video. My outlet had the line at the bottom so when I moved everything to the top like in the video, I was actually moving to the load so the outlet stopped working but the fridge was fine. Once I moved everything down to the line correctly, both are all good.
Glad to hear that you found the video helpful.
Thank you so much for the informative diy unhooking load terminal + transfer to line instead to prevent power interference to fridge when outlet trips. Such a relief to not stress out if I have to buy a new fridge. It’s only 11 yrs old and thought they last longer than that ❤❤ thank you again 🎉
My pleasure. Glad that it solved the issue.
Thank you so much for this!! I had this issue for the last 2 years. I had a handyman come out to give me an estimate to fit the issue. He said I had to upgrade my entire electrical panel. Yikes! 💀 after tripping on the extension cord again, I thought to give youtube another try and your video popped up! Yay!! 🙌🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 worked like a charm ✨️ 👌 😌
Excellent. Glad to hear it worked for you. Please share the video with others. Much appreciated.
But now it's no longer up to code.
Ok, Karen.
10 min fix ! Awesome and simple instructions - thank you 100x !!!
Thank you for the post.
Thanks! This solved my issue.
Glad to hear that. And, thank you very much for the “super thanks”, much appreciated.
Thank you so much! I have been looking for an instruction like this. When the GFCI trips in my bathroom, 1/2 of the house loses power! its been a challenge! Thanks again
My pleasure. I’m glad you found the video helpful. Please consider sharing with others.
@JustForYouDiy went thru all these easy and informative steps you gave at the end I tripped my gfci fridge stayed on correctly but tried resetting my gfi and it won’t reset what could possibly be the problem? Thanks in advance
With most GFCI outlets you have to make sure that the line and neutral wires are from the same run (black and white wires are in the same jacket). This ensures that they are the same length and are very close to the same resistance. That said, often times when there are multiple lines and neutrals in the same J-box, if the wrong neutral is connected to the GFCI outlet, it will not reset (it stays in the fault mode). Hope this helps. If you find it helpful, please report back and consider donating to the channel.
If you have other receptacles daisy chained off the fridge receptacle then will this not defeat the GFCI protection for them? One needs to pull the fridge receptacle and look for daisy chaining and if found take a different solution.
Correct. In that case do what’s suggested in this video and just change the next outlet downstream of the fridge outlet to a GFCI outlet. Then, all other outlets connected to that circuit will be GFCI protected. Hope this helps.
Thank you so much you saved me thousands and allot of stress and allowed me to keep my new kitchen design
My pleasure. Please recommend my channel to friends and family. Thank you.
I can't use this "fix" because it wouldn't pass inspection and any claims would likely be denied by my HO policy. How'd you get around that? Help plz.
I have an old King of the Road. Woud you know if my GFCI situated in the bathroom is link to the fridge. Note that my GFCI outlet is broken and my external outlets is not working as well. "Just for you" great video. Tanx.
One way you can check is with using a GFCI outlet tester. Home Depot has Klein Tools GFCI Tester. Plug the tester into the outlet in question. Push the button on the tester. If the outlet in question is connected to a GFCI outlet, it will trip. Hope this helps.
Your video gives me hope for my fridge. I know that "GFCI" located in the bathroom is defective. Before replacing it, I will try the method you describe so well in the tutorial. Next tool I purchase is the one suggested. Transforming an old RV with electrical current to a cottage. Thank you very much. Can't wait until tomorrow.
My pleasure. Best of luck.
Thanks for this informative DIY video. I have a problem with a garage freezer on a circuit where one of these GFCI outlets is the first thing along that circuit. Freezer runs normally and cools down properly until the timer kicks on the defrost element and the increased draw trips that GFCI that nothing is plugged into. Now I can fix the problem! Thanks!
My pleasure.
Thank you so much! I used your suggestion for our GFCI and it fixed the problem immediately.
My pleasure.
I want to put my second fridge in the garage, I have gfci receptacles in the garage, I plugged up the second fridge and the outlet tripped, is it because it’s on the same line as the fridge in the house? Do I need a separate outlet in the garage to run the fridge?
GFCI outlets don’t play nice with inductive loads, such as the compressor in a fridge. That said, fridge needs to be plugged into a non-GFCI outlet.
Thank you for this video. I installed a new refrigerator in my garage and the power trips every few hours. Is the technique you showed safe for the garage too? Mine is also a GFCI outlet. Thanks in advance.
Thank you for watching the video and your question. Most likely the reason the GFCI is tripping is because of the fridge’s compressor turning on and off. For that reason, I do not power a fridge with a GFCI outlet. As for safety of not using a GFCI outlet in the garage, it depends on where you leave and the local codes.
See I have this same question. I had the fridge in my garage for least a year in my new home. It hasn't never trip. Now the past 3 months it trips within 15 mins. So I've plug it to a no gfci outlet inside my house and it has never trip the breaker from the outlet I have it now. Gfci is a safety device too tho. So it makes me think something is wrong with my fridge like I have Internal issue going on wirh my fridge that's allowing The gfci to trip.
My concern is that I may bring a problem to my new outlet and everything else that's sharing same power on that outlet. My fridge doesn't go off now and it doesn't trip the breaker. So am I ok? What I'm concerned about should it be a concern? Please advise Thanks.
Same question ^
My garage fridge is on a dedicated circuit. The fridge trips the gfci every now and then. Will this technique work when there are no other outlets down line?
Is the fridge plugged into a GFCI outlet? If so, the suggestion in this video does not fix the issue.
Yes it is on a gfci. Do I need to replace it with a regular outlet? If so do I still wire it like the video?
Before replacing it with a regular outlet, I would suggest using an extension cord to plug the fridge into a regular outlet to monitor how it does.
This way will work, however if you have more than one outlet on that load, none of them will be protected by the gfci anymore.
Correct. In that case you can just change the next outlet downstream of the fridge outlet to a GFCI outlet. Then, all other outlets connected to that circuit will be GFCI protected. Hope this helps.
KEK this trick actually worked i spent 8+ hours on the fridge outlet, trying gfci and afci and neither, pigtailing and switching wires and whatnot, sure as shit this trick on the fridge outlet and the upstream outlet fixed my issue.
Glad to hear the issue is resolved and thanks for posting your comments.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I was convinced my freezer was un-fixable because it began tripping twice a day after running fine for over a year. I was getting ready to have it taken to the dump - then I saw your video. Great instructions !!!!!
My pleasure. Please share the video with others. Thank you & best of luck.
my gfci outlet already has 2 wires plugged into both top sockets. I can't plug the fridge lines in. So how do I fix that? Any ideas?
Same here. I *think* they need to be pigtailed in this situation.
ruclips.net/video/UGWRijiQpQc/видео.html
Helpful video. I have a 10-year old frig that trips the GFCI outlet. Could this be because of a short in the frig or will it be OK to do your method of correction to keep frig on all the time? Thanks.
Dan, I would suggest plugging the fridge to a regular non-GFCI outlet first to make sure the fridge does not have a short. Once that’s confirmed, and there is not a short, you can do what’s in the video.
Mine is doing the same when I plug it into any gfci. When I plug it into a non-gfci it works fine. What gives?
Hello, plz help me, I bought the Used fridge, so first when I connected, my main swith board get trip immediately, so I keep the fridge off for around 24 hours, and than I tried, than it gets on, but my main swith board get trip after around 4-5 hours again, and again i tried and samething happened again after around 4-5 hours.
The following could be defective:
1. Thermostat controlling the compressor
2. Compressor
3. Capacitor for the compressor
Hope this helps.
i have an older fridge/freezer unit from Kitchen Aid, it is the boxy one. no digitialdisplays or anything.
we had a power outage for 46 hours from a storm on tuesday
finally i knew it came on, yesterday at 221 pm i know my electirc came on. i got hom at 5 and it was on. i opened the fridge door to move frood around, then did it again 5 mintue slater.
then nearly 7 pm i opened it and closed it once, then the 2nd time i did it something happened and the lights in both freezer and fridge were off.
i went downstairs to push the circuit breaker in and out. not thinking of the CFGI thing.
didn't work.
i called an appliance guy who came out thie monring. very early
siad there was no power going to the fridge. and i forgot there is 4-5 other outlets some with things on them like la lamp a carbon monoxide tester, and a heating pad along it righ tnow. anyway, turnst out my unit was tripped. the appliance guy left did nothing , tested with a extention chord to see if it ran which it did from the basemnet outlet.
said it looked fine. an dleft. but said is hould call an electirican to check the pulgs/power source/ circuit breakers
so i did. they came, they did move a copue wires in the plug right where the plug of the drige goes in, and he suggesed a new CFGI unit. so i got it . when he left everythign appeared just fine.
i get home 6 hours later to find the drige off again but still cold now.
i kept hitting the button on the new CFGI unit and thefridge would trun on for 1/10 of a second.
but nothign worked. an't get anyone on either side for 3 days ue to a holiday weekend. i will not be home much either
for now i plugged it in to the extention chord.
will tha tbe safe until tuesday when i can do the rest of teh stuff?
Perfect! My new garage fridge was tripping the gfci. Thanks for the tip!
Great to hear and thank you for providing feedback. Much appreciated.
Isn't the tripping a warning sign?
Would the GFCI receptacle still work as intended after the wires from the Load screws are joined with the wires on the Line screws?
Yes.
How would it still work if you have no wires going to the neutral nor load.? What's going to trip the gfci? Please help me understand...
So if I put the fridge on top connecter, the master bathroom outlets are on the GFCI outlet will they go off if the GFCI is tripped?
The terminals on the back of a GFCI outlet are labeled. Any outlet that is connected to the terminals labeled “Load” will behave like a GFCI outlet. I hope this helps.
That was self explanatory,thanks ! Very good vidio !you really don't want to lose all your food in your frig.👍
Thank you Pete.
Thank you for this video! We just got a new fridge for the garage and it would trip the GCFI outlet on another wall after a few minutes. Even though the circuit has a 20amp breaker and the fridge is only rated at 4 amps AND with only 2 security cameras plugged into another outlet, it kept tripping. This trick fixed that issue.
Excellent. I’m glad you found it helpful.
The same happened to me. Thanks. 🎉
@@juandalton my pleasure
Fixed my problem! Thanks!!! I had 3 wires on each side, it's just a process of elimination. Luckily I guessed right the first try :)
Excellent. Glad to have helped.
I absolutely agree GFCIs and refrigerators do not mix - just like practically any other motor. However, Code now requires one for any refrigerator in a kitchen, so it must be done, period. You can thank Leviton for lobbying the NFPA to get that requirement added, as well as GFCIs for dishwashers. How many people have died from being shocked by a properly bonded dishwasher or refrigerator? None. Not a one. Since Leviton needs to appease shareholders, we now have this stupid requirement.
Garbage disposals are coming up in the next cycle. What could possibly go wrong there?
Thank you for sharing your comments.
What if I just replace the GFCI outlet with a normal plug?
Of course, you can always do that. However, whatever is plugging into that outlet will not benefit from GFCI protection.
@@JustForYouDiy it’s in a garage. New freezer keeps tripping GFCI. Did away with the GFCI because it seemed pointless although its code. Electrician said it was a nuisance trip anyway. Thanks for the good video though.
The electrician is correct, almost all GFCI trips caused by a frige is a nuisance trip. The reason is because GFCI circuit used in the outlet does not like an inductive load (any device that has a coil of wire in it), such as compressor that is used in a fridge. The electrical noise generated by such devices most often trip GFCI outlets. Hope this helps to better understand the reason.
So what's the sense of having the GFCI outlet if your going to bypass it? It don't make sense!
Eric, it makes sense once you drill down to the fundamentals. Hopefully I can help with that. Eric, You don’t want to have a fridge plugged into a GFCI outlet. As you may know, fridge has a compressor and compressor is an inductive load. GFCI outlet trips quite easily when used with an inductive load that goes on and off. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Did you add them together on the terminal or did you put the 2nd wire in the hole?
The GFCI outlet I use is made by Leviton, slim design. It allows for two wires per screw terminal using the backwire feature. The outlet is model number GFNT2-RW.
So it worked for me and all the outlets in my garage work just not the actual GFCI outlet. It keeps tripping. Any reason why this is happening? Again, the refrigerator now stays powered so my initial problem is solved but now I'm out one outlet. Help!
Michael, make sure that you are connecting the neutral and hot from the same run (wires from same 2 or 3 conductor cable) to the GFCI outlet. Even though all neutrals ends up in the same place, different length runs have different resistance and that could cause the problem with GFCI. Or, you have a weak/defective GFCI. Hope this helps.
I just did this and it looks like it solved my problem. So does the gfci outlet not work anymore if I plug something into it ?
Bruce, glad to hear it solved your problem. The GFCI outlet should still function as a GFCI outlet. Best way to verify is to test it with a GFCI outlet tester.
@@JustForYouDiy I had the wires connected to the load side. I switch it to line and its working perfect now. I guess mine was upside down. Thank you.
Thanks for the follow up comment.
@@bruceliu2607 Same exact thing happened to me just now. I couldn't figure out why the outlet itself wasn't working anymore but after reading this comment, I checked and saw that the line was at the bottom and I had actually moved everything up to the load.
Hi- I have an outdoor bar area that has a GFCI outlet that is part of a circuit that powers receptacles at the bar for phone chargers, small appliances, etc- but is usually just used to power a mini-fridge and low voltage landscape lights.
This all worked fine for 3+ years, but recently the GFCI was tripped, and would not reset. I replaced it, and now it is tripping once or twice a day- I believe it's the mini-fridge. If I use your method, it seems like it may fix the mini-fridge tripping but will it also make all of the outlets at the outdoor bar "non-gfci", and is this dangerous due to being outdoor and susceptible to rain, etc? Thanks for any advice!
To isolate, consider plugging the mini-fridge to an outlet that is not part of the GFCI circuit. Unfortunately, as devices with inductive load, such as, the coil in the compressor from the fridge, get older could create a spike large enough during the on-to-off period that could trip a GFCI outlet. You are correct, you do not want to use a non-GFCI circuit in a wet area.
You made it very simple to understand thank you.
Thank you for your comment. Please share the video with others. Much appreciated.
Does this work if your fridge is directly plugged in to the GFCI outlet
Michael, unfortunately, it will not work the same way. The method shown in this video bypasses the function of GFCI outlet. In your case, the GFCI outlet has to be replaced with a regular type outlet.
@@JustForYouDiy THERE'S the answer I was looking for!! Very seldom does the video miss the mark on what I'm searching (albeit just a little) and the OP provide the answer in the comments! Thank you. Sir! 👍
I plugged my fridge into a non GFCI outlet and it works perfectly now. I’ll replace the outlet with a GFCI and connect the fridge through a surge protector for safety.
When I plug the mini split into a GFCI receptacle it trips the GFCI. The mini split does not shut down with a regular receptacle. I'm going to modify the GFCI in my van tomorrow. Thanks for this solution.
My pleasure.
i am having this issue but with a mini fridge, was working fine for the last 3 years, unplugged for a month and now it keeps tripping the gfci, everything else works fine. Unable to change the outlet, is there anything that can be purchased to correct this? Would plugging in a snubber fix this issue? thank you to anyone that can provide any information
Plug it into a standard outlet someplace else in the house, that's on a different breaker, like in your living room, to verify it even works at all.
Will the fridge still trip the GFCI when wired like this?
It will not trip the GFCI. However, in case of an electrical issue, it will trip the breaker to the GFCI.
Ok that’s a way to keep power constant to your refrigerator but now it’s now up to code. The GFCI is required when any plug is close to any water source and it mean to be there to save your house from possibly arching fire.
If you missed it, the fridge is still protected by the breaker.
@@JustForYouDiy I know you know the difference between a breaker and a GFCI. Two distinctive functions brother. You definitely eliminated the purpose of that GFCI.
That GFCI is not eliminated, it still functions as a GFCI. The fridge is protected by the breaker. You should never protect a GFCI with a device that has an inductive load such as a fridge.
what wire gauge do i need to use?thanks
I use 12 gauge for 15 and 20 amp circuits. Hope this helps.
Will that defeat the purpose of having a gfci? Thank you sir. Will the gfci still work/trip if wired this way?
Thank you for the question. No, it does not affect how GFCI outlet works. One way to test if GFCI outlet is functioning correctly or not is to use a GFCI outlet tester such as: Commercial Electric Outlet Tester with GFCI, from Home Depot
Model# OTG-102R
Internet# 206029151
Store SKU# 398469
Store SO SKU# 398469
@@JustForYouDiy thank you sir for your quick reply, and for sharing your knowledge! Much appreciated.
My pleasure.
Is it ok if those wires you moved from the bottom touch the other wires already there on top?
Good question. Yes, it is okay for those wires to touch. As you may be able to see, the outlet I used allows for two wires to be secured with each screw.
Does this create a fire hazard since isnt the purpose of the gfci to protect overloading the circuit
I did the steps in the video for my gfci in my garage and it was just fine for 3 days but then it tripped after 3 days What do I do now?
If the fridge’s outlet is connected to the line side of the GFCI outlet and nothing is plugged into the GFCI outlet, and GFCI trips, GFCI outlet is defective. Hope this helps.
@@JustForYouDiy I have total of 4 outlets to the left of the electric panel in garage (3 gfi and 1 non gfi) and 1 outlet (non GFI) to the right of the electric panel.
I tried the outlets to the left of the electric panel all trip after 30 mins of plugging the refrigerator. I have not tried the one to the right yet. It’s brand new construction. Refrigerator is brand new Samsung side by side. I don’t know I tried the method in video for the first gfi outlet to the electric panel to the left which then connects the remaining outlets I believe.
So tried the 5th outlet as well and it kept tripping again after 30 mins of plugging in.
@@muqtarali9974 Good info. Please keep in mind that an outlet that looks like a regular outlet could be connected to a load side of a GFCI outlet which makes it behave like a GFCI. Therefore, it’s best to check the outlet using a GFCI tester. They are sold online and at Home Depot or Lowes (Commercial Electric Outlet Tester with GFCI). Additionally, to eliminate the fridge as a suspect, consider plugging it into a regular outlet inside the house using an extension cord.
I tried it out. I didn’t realize this will disable the gfci outlet but continue power to the other outlet. I still want power to my gfci outlet
The suggested change will not disable the GFCI outlet. The operation of the GFCI does not change. The only thing that changes is how the down stream outlet operates, it operates like a standard outlet NOT as a GFCI. Hope this helps.
What was it that you cut
Load wires were moved to the line terminals of the outlet.
I have the exact situation
But the refrigerator is in the garage
Once I plug it in the GFCi in the garage trips.
If I use extension cord plug it inside to another outlet with a GFCi nothing happens. New house. GOD wiring
Tested the outlet connections with socket Tester all is good.
What is causing this mystery?
It could be an extra sensitive GFCI in the garage. Typically GFCI outlets do not like inductive loads that cycle on/off. The fridge has a compressor.
@@JustForYouDiy Well I changed the GFCi the new one did the same thing
If the GFCI that’s inside works correctly and does not trip the fridge, consider moving it to the garage. Also, be aware of other outlets/devices that are connected to the load side of the GFCI in question.
Very informative and easy to understand thanks…
Thank you.
Thank you for the video! It worked like a charm!
My pleasure. Thank you for the feedback.
When the GFCI is tripped will it cut off power to other outlets? It looks like you just turned the GFCI into a regular outlet.
When a GFCI outlet trips, it turns power off to itself AND any outlet connected to its load terminals.
why does just plugging the refrigerator into the top outlet then not solve this problem? honestly asking as someone who is having this problem and doesn't have any experience in dealing with electricity
Thank you for the question. The problem is that the fridge should not be plugged into a GFCI outlet. The solution is to make sure the outlet used by the fridge is not a GFCI outlet. And, this is how you do it. That said, as I have noted in the video if you are not comfortable working with electricity, you should hire a professional.
Will this still help if I plug in my fridge to the gfci outlet or will it shut the fridge off if the outlet trips? In other words, will this only work if you plug the fridge into the non gfci outlet?
This only works when the fridge is plugged into a non-GFCI outlet. GFCI outlets are sensitive to inductive loads.
If the fridge is within 6 feet of the edge of a sink, or if it's in a garage, NEC requires GFCI protection. Homeowner's insurance would probably deny a claim if anything were to happen in those cases.
Thank you for your comments.
I thought the rule was the fridge to be on a dedicated circuit like the stove etc?
Yes! You are correct that it must also be on its own 20A circuit now.
@@themonkeydrunken but refrigerator manufacturers put in the owners manual to NOT run the appliance on a gfci protected circuit because they can trip for no reason and your food can go bad if you dont realize it soon enough.
Many fridge’s specifically state not to plug into GFCI outlets in the manuals
Is this safe?
You have to decide for yourself.
I have it on line and still trips
If the 2nd outlet is connected to the line side of the GFCI (the 1st outlet) and fridge is plugged into the 2nd outlet and GFCI trips, you have something connected incorrectly. 2nd outlet being connected to the line means the 2nd outlet is protected by the BREAKER.
Thank you
My pleasure.
Fantastic informative video sir thanks 👍👍👍👍👍
Thank you for the feedback.
Great. My garage fridge is tripping every time since I put a new fridge.
Thank you. I hope the issue is resolved quickly.
Bless you brother
Thank you.
Outstanding!
Thank you.
Very useful for me.Thank u.🙏🏻
Thank you for the comment.
Can I do this even if it's an outlet that requires the J-hook around the screw instead of the ones shown here? So 2 J-hooks on 1 screw.
Daniel, to be safe, please follow the manufacturer of the outlet’s recommendation.
@@JustForYouDiy Thank you so much for taking the time to reply, and I definitely will!!!
Thank you kind sir.
My pleasure.
🙌🏿 🙌🏿🙌🏿 u saved me a ton of electrical bills man !!!!Thanks so much !!!! I was about to call an electrician.
My pleasure. Please share the video and consider to subscribe to my channel.
Will do thx again !!!
Thank you. That will help my ranking on RUclips. Regards, Farshid
Thanks solved my problem !!!
Excellent. Glad it was helpful. Please suggest the link and my channel to others. Much appreciated.
Does ground stays the same?
Yes. You are correct.
Thanks🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 thanks
You’re welcome.
Thanks
My pleasure.
Did this and it worked!! Thank you so much!
Excellent. Thank you for the feedback. Please share the link with others. Much appreciated.
So the GFCI outlet will still work at the GFCI outlet?
Yes, you are correct. The GFCI outlet will still function as GFCI.
My fridge kept tripping my GFCI in my garage so I did this and it worked like a champ! Thanks for the tip!
Happy to hear that it worked. Surprisingly, it is a very common issue. And, many pay an electrician to resolve it. Thanks again for sharing your experience.
@@JustForYouDiy hmmmm, almost as if someone is making money off the poor craftsmanship in the home building process.... I wonder...nah, surely that's not intentional....surely....
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It fixed the issue with my fridge tripping the outlet. Thank you.
Most licensed electricians will tell you to pig tail witch is connecting three pieces of wire to the outlet one black one white and the ground then matching the colors together in a wire nut 😝
Thank you Jay for the comments. Any licensed electrician suggests that when the outlet has extra connection points that clamps down on the wires, is wrong.
@@JustForYouDiy
They are not wrong, they just aren’t butchers.
Stab ins have there issues, and are not equal or better than splicing and terminating under a screw.
👍🏾
Thank you.
GFCI's are required by the National Electric Code to be placed in kitchens (no exceptions for fridges in the recent updates). Why do we need GFCI on fridges? Because a fridge can (and has) killed people who simply went to open the door as normal. (And I don't mean 50 years ago, I am talking in recent years even on commercial grade fridges).
Bottom line: if your fridge is tripping it, then that means your fridge is faulty. Unfortunately fridges are made very cheaply today because consumers demand things as cheap as possible. So you could have even new fridges trip GFCI's which I know can be frustrating. I don't know if "tripping a GFCI" is included in the warranty, but I doubt it. This makes the whole situation very unfortunate for the average consumer.
Thank you for your comments.
Is this safe? Your cutting off fail safe to that outlet
Where I live, GFCI outlet is required when an outlet is within 6 feet of a water source. If the fridge is outside of that distance, there is no need for it to be connected to a GFCI outlet. That said, in most cases that I have seen, the outlet for the fridge is connected to an outlet that is within 6 feet of a water source. And, in most cases that I’ve seen, the fridge outlet is connected to the load side of the said GFCI outlet. Which in that case, the outlet for the fridge that is a regular outlet will behave like a GFCI outlet. By switching the wires from Load to Source, the fridge outlet will no longer behave like a GFCI outlet. It become a normal outlet. Which it will have the same safety as rest of the outlets in the house, protected by the breaker. Hope this helps.
Water source it’s in most cases behind the fridge.
ok my frig does same thing i will try this fix in the am
I look forward to your feedback.
@@JustForYouDiy NOT GOOD STILL DOING SAME THING I WILL TRY THE PLUG WHERE FRIG IS NEXT
4:03 is when he start with instructions 😢
Sorry about that. I will post a short version soon.
you just defeated your protection, The purpose of a GFCI is to protect from short circuits or contact with an electrical surface loose grounds etc. I would most certainly want a GFCI installed anyplace where there may be a wet surface or possibility touching a metal surface
Thats the purpose of the LOAD SIDE OF A GFCI AS YOU HAVE IT NOW IT WILL NOT TRIP IN THE EVENT OF A SHORT CIRCUIT.
Thank you Fred for your comments. You do not want a fridge plugged into a GFCI outlet.
@@JustForYouDiy my man!!
Maybe if you use a 20 amp GFCI it won’t happen that.
Thank you for your feedback.
You resolved the issue but now you're no longer code compliant. I agree having g f c I on freezers and fridges is a joke. But the reply from the inspector is go by a better refrigerator.. Typical bureaucrat Answers spend more money to fix the problem.
Thank you for the post.
If you put the speaking speed to 1.5 he sounds better.
Thank you for your feedback.
Your going to over load your circuit and may even cause a fire! Do you even know what's causing it to trip ahh could it be an overload which the GFCI is made to do it's job! Bypass it and it could cause a fire by over loading your circuit!
Eric, You don’t want to have a fridge plugged into a GFCI outlet. As you may know, fridge has a compressor and compressor is an inductive load. GFCI outlet trips quite easily when used with an inductive load that goes on and off. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Isnt that what the breaker itself is designed to do... trip if there is an overloaded circuit to avoid an electrical fire?
To properly fix it you need to run a dedicated fridge circuit. You need a GFI in the kitchen for when you have a real problem. Theres something wrong with the fridge. Your not supposed to eliminate the gfi like this
Lmao, you solved nothing. All you did was remove the GFCI from the situation.
If the fridge is no longer tripping the GFCI outlet, the problem is solved. By understanding the internal circuitry of the GFCI outlet you know that GFCI outlet does not work well with inductive loads, such as a fridge which has a compressor.