Garage Fridge Tripping GFCI

[dTalks]

I got a hand-me-down refrigerator for the garage, but it is tripping my new 20 amp GFCI outlet. The fridge worked perfectly for the previous owner, and it's less than a year old. I've attached a video clip capturing the trip. Can anyone shed light on what may be causing this? Also, the fridge did cool off initially, and sometimes stays on for hours. Other times it trips within 5 minutes. Thanks for the help!

 

[wyliesdiesels]

this topic comes up at least once a month here. most likely culprit is a broken defroster bulb. with the timing of it running for hours, then tripping or running for 5mins and tripping, it could very well be the bulb

 

[dTalks]

this topic comes up at least once a month here. most likely culprit is a broken defroster bulb. with the timing of it running for hours, then tripping or running for 5mins and tripping, it could very well be the bulb

Thanks, I'll look into it! Also, I'm thinking of taking the fridge off the GFCI, like my kitchen fridge. Seems to be a common option found in my Googling.

 

[pattenp]

Thanks, I'll look into it! Also, I'm thinking of taking the fridge off the GFCI, like my kitchen fridge. Seems to be a common option found in my Googling.

That is a work around but is an electrical code violation being in a garage.

 

[rooster59]

use a meter and go through the defrost circuit. Somewhere hot is leaking to ground. If you take out the GFCI who knows how much voltage you’ll have on ground, which is everything metal inside and out.

 

[Showkey]

There are multiple prior posts on the quality of the GFCI devices ……..new does not mean quality or accuracy. So maybe change the outlet as an easy confirmation before tearing into the frig ?????

 

[Shiftless]

I had an old GFCI receptacle that would sometimes trip when my sump pump ran. I replaced the GFCI and no more trips.
But this discussion makes me think about running a dedicated non GFCI circuit for the sump pump.