Bad GCF Outlet?

[mexirican]

Long story short, bought our first house about 2 years ago so the list of improvements is still pretty long. The carport was converted onto a garage, so there are a few things that need to be fixed. Mainly, the walls were never finished. Anyways, there is one GFCI outlet that is next to the garage door. The problem I'm having is that when ever I plug in my compressor, it trips the breaker when the auto shut off triggers. I have tried my compressor on other outlets on different circuits and this one is the only outlet in the house that does this. The main problem is that where the outlet is, I'm able to tuck my compressor nicely next to it and out of the way. Even when everything is off or unplugged in the circuit, it trips. Is there a max amount of outlets that is recommended in a circuit? I think there are 8 or 9 in this circuit.

Thanks

 

[G_P]

GFCI outlets do sometimes fail. They are cheap enough that replacing it to see if it solves your problem is the easiest way.

 

[pattenp]

Agree. Try a new GFCI outlet.

 

[67carl]

. Is there a max amount of outlets that is recommended in a circuit? I think there are 8 or 9 in this circuit.

Thanks

My recollection is the NEC only specifies a limit of outlets on a circuit for non-residential use, so for residential convenience circuits there are no specified limits. I believe a general acceptable number for a 20A circuit is 12-13... I'm not an expert so if I misspoke I'm sure someone will clarify.

 

[Mustang51js]

Usually figure 180 watts per outlet

 

[GTO]

Don't plug a freezer into a GFCI outlet in your garage(twice).Ask me how I know

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Usually figure 180 watts per outlet

I think the code specifies 180 VA (watts) per YOKE (or strap) for commercial. That would be a max of 13 receptacles (yokes actually) for a 20 amp, non continuous load circuit. This is for yokes that have no more than 3 receptacles on them. Should you have a four place or more device, then the count changes.

Charles

 

[sourdough]

Don't plug a freezer into a GFCI outlet in your garage(twice). Ask me how I know

I have had a 14 cu. ft. chest freezer plugged into a GFCI recept in my garage for over a year now with no problems.

What is it you know that my freezer doesn't?

 

[n8n]

I have had a 14 cu. ft. chest freezer plugged into a GFCI recept in my garage for over a year now with no problems.

What is it you know that my freezer doesn't?

Theoretically, motor/compressor loads are more likely to false trip a GFCI than other loads; also, often chest freezers are on their own dedicated circuit so you may not notice it's not running until too late...

 

[GTO]

I have had a 14 cu. ft. chest freezer plugged into a GFCI recept in my garage for over a year now with no problems.

What is it you know that my freezer doesn't?

Two seperate times the GFCI's went bad,ruining hundreds of dollars of frozen food.
That's what I know....

 

[MTW]

GTO, Two seperate times the GFCI's went bad,ruining hundreds of dollars of frozen food. That's what I know....

Usually it's not the GFCI that is bad, it's the appliance leaking current to ground of more than the 5mA that the device allows. This is why it continued to happen even with a replacement unit. Normally the defrost heater elements around the door seals and evaporator coil are the culprits, they leak some energy to the metal case in normal operation. This is usually the case with older units.

AFCI (arc fault circuit interrupters) are a different animal, they have a trip setting of 30mA, 6x more leakage allowed. They are to protect equipment and not people. This is the level of protection used on heat tapes, protecting water and process piping, gutters and downspouts. Allows for some leakage to keep it operating, but trips when it becomes excessive, preventing fires. 30mA GFCI breakers are also available, but usually more costly than AFCI. Ω