Refrigerator Electrical Problem

Question

I am having problems with my dometic refrigerator. When I turn it on electric, it works for a short while, then trips the GFI. I replaced the GFI and that didn't solve the problem.

To try to isolate the electrical problem, I turned a ceramic heater on for more than half an hour. It did not trip the GFI. I then turned the refrigerator on with the ceramic heater on and it worked all right for 10 minutes. I did not want to leave the ceramic heater on while I was not there, so I turned it off before leaving. I left the refrigerator on, but expect when I return tomorrow, it will have tripped the gfi again.

Any idea where to look for the problem and how to solve it?

chris_bryant · Answer

The refrigerator heating element is bad- replace it.

old-biscuit · Answer

Only thing 120V AC on fridge is the electric element.Tripping CGFI......yep bad element

nbking · Answer

I am not questioning the wisdom of members, but I am curious.  Why would a bad heating element trip a GFI?  You would think that it would simply not cool the refrigerator and not affect the electrical system in any other way.

old-biscuit · Answer

GFI---GFCI
Ground Fault 'Circuit' Interrupter

"In the event of a ground fault, a GFCI will trip and quickly stop the flow of electricity to prevent serious injury".
It works by comparing the input current on the hot side to the output current on the neutral side. If there's the slightest difference in current, on the order of a few milliamps, then there is current leaking out somewhere

Fridge element is shorting out when it heats up

nbking · Answer

Thank you very much.  I appreciate your answer.

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Refrigerator Electrical Problem

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