When the rocket surgeon who built my house wired the garage, he only put one outlet in the whole darn garage.

So, awhile back, I went and bought some outlets, romex, boxes, and conduit, and added four more. The main outlet is GFCI and all the others coming off it are standard.

I bought a new freezer today with the plan to put it in the garage on this circuit. However, this makes me a little nervous as I don't want the outlet tripping and ruining 21 cubic feet of frozen goodness.

Instructions from the manufacturer are to NOT put this freezer on a GFCI. However, since it is in the garage, it is required to be a GFCI outlet.

So, what does one do? Just plug and go, hoping for the best? Get a power outage alarm? Wire in a standard outlet to the line for the freezer and risk being put in a jail cell next to the guy who tore the tag off of his mattress?

quote:

Get a power outage alarm?

You answered your own question.

quote:

Originally posted by Gustofer:
... and risk being put in a jail cell next to the guy who tore the tag off of his mattress?

Lol. Funny.

I've done a fair amount of electrical work, but I'm not an electrician, so I'll let one of them answer your questions. But one thing I'd be wondering right off is whether or not you have enough power on that circuit to handle your freezer and anything else you plug in out there.

A garage can have a freezer circuit, unless code has changed. I am not an electrician.

IIRC - An outlet exclusively servicing a refrigerator does not need to be on a GFI.

And it is a really bad idea to put one on a GFI.

Don't ask.

Let me warn you, here.

Just what I needed.

Just so you know, you can't get the stink out of a freezer that was full of rotting meat.

And what a lovely smell it is.

I was an electrician for 18 years... but that was awhile ago. I have run into the exact same situation.

Here, our inspector would (years ago) allow you to add a dedicated circuit and receptacle, non GFCI, for something like that. You had to use a single outlet, not a double, so nothing else would be likely to be plugged into it.

GFCIs have greatly improved. I wouldn't worry about it, especially if on a dedicated circuit, but a monitor is always a good idea.

All that being said I'm sure Skins will be along shortly...
I'd listen to him.

My plan was to make the main outlet standard and just move the GFCI down one to the next box. Seems to me that would be kosher but I want to be safe.

Do that and use a red or orange cover plate with a label stating "Freezer Only" NOT GFI Protected Outlet."

It is no guarantee, but it will identify the outlet is unprotected.

Run a dedicated line for the freezer and put it on a standard outlet.

quote:

Originally posted by cparktd:
I was an electrician for 18 years... but that was awhile ago. I have run into the exact same situation.

Here, our inspector would (years ago) allow you to add a dedicated circuit and receptacle, non GFCI, for something like that. You had to use a single outlet, not a double, so nothing else would be likely to be plugged into it.

GFCIs have greatly improved. I wouldn't worry about it, especially if on a dedicated circuit, but a monitor is always a good idea.

All that being said I'm sure Skins will be along shortly...
I'd listen to him.

Did someone rub my lamp?

It's a catch 22. Previously you were allowed a dedicated circuit with single receptacle. That exception has been removed. There is no way to both comply with manufactures instructions and required GFI locations. Manufactures instructions trump code when it is more restrictive/safer. I find it curious why manufacture would state this, seems to me a liability to do so.

If it was my house, I would ignore the code in this situation and install to previous standards. Dedicated circuit without GFI and single outlet. Then replace with GFI before selling it. I am not suggesting you actually do this, as I don't want to end up in bad advice thread, but I'd do it in my house, especially because I always wear shoes. GFIs are required in areas with unfinished floors because concrete is a ground (a poor one, but will shock you if wet).

You may want to contact the manufacture and ask them how to reconcile the conflict with code. They may tell you it's not intended to be used in garages or unfinished areas?

Thanks Skins. I'd rather not have to pay an electrician to come out and wire in a whole new line to the box (but will if needed), is it safe to do as I outlined above?

quote:

Originally posted by Gustofer:

Instructions from the manufacturer are to NOT put this freezer on a GFCI. However, since it is in the garage, it is required to be a GFCI outlet.

What the freak? Just wire up a regular outlet and be done with it. Geez Louise.

A freezer? I'd just plug it in to the GFI and be happy.

quote:

Originally posted by Gustofer:
Thanks Skins. I'd rather not have to pay an electrician to come out and wire in a whole new line to the box (but will if needed), is it safe to do as I outlined above?

After a little more thought. I'd call the manufacture. This just doesn't seem right. It couldn't have got a UL listing with unsafe instructions. There must be a reason it got it's UL listing with those instructions. It may be that the construction of it isolates the external metal parts from the internal grounded frame of the freezer. This is the only reason I could think that it has these instructions.

Again if it was in my house I'd just install dedicated circuit with single receptacle, then change to GFI prior to sale of property. Mostly because I don't ever go barefoot outside of my living room, bathroom, or bedroom, so I'd be safe. The second reason I'd do a dedicated circuit is that if some other item fails in the house I would not want that to trip the circuit and ruin my food.

I am curious how it got it's listing, if you do call manufacture, please post the reason they state not to use a GFI.

quote:

Originally posted by Appliance Brad:
Just so you know, you can't get the stink out of a freezer that was full of rotting meat.

And years to get the corpse smell out of the garage.