DrewE wrote:
tropical36 wrote:
Since when has the fridge been on a GFI circuit and something new to me? I mean it's usually bathroom, exterior and maybe the galley..:?
Well, it is (or at least I think it is) on my '98 motorhome. The fridge outlet is located in the semi-exposed area near the lower fridge vent, and as such I think it would be considered a damp location by the NEC. Regardless of whether it's technically required, it seems to me to be a good idea to us a GFCI circuit there since fridge elements are known to get electrically leaky from time to time, and it's far better to proactively detect this and shut off the current than to have a hot skin or similar safety hazard.
I actually would not complain if all circuits in residential wiring were required to be GFCI protected. That, of course, is not required, though it would not be forbidden to do so if one wished.
You must remember that GFI's are able to detect very small amounts of current flow and no where near the pain threshold, so I would suggest that any appreciable amount of current flow to ground, would trip the breaker itself, by qualifying as a short circuit. I fully understand their worth, especially with using portable equipment in bathrooms, kitchens and outside receptacles, even though a nuisance for the most part. For other things, they're usually just a PITA, period. Now if all modern outlets and equipment didn't contain the third pin safety ground for metal cases, then it would be an entirely different story.
