I have a house that is just under 2 years old. My 2 year old GE Profile fridge (model PWE23KSKJSS) is hooked up to a dedicated circuit that runs off a 20 AMP Arc Fault breaker. There is nothing else on this breaker, only the one fridge outlet and nothing else.
Everything was fine for 1 year, then my breaker tripped and could not be reset, as if there was a dead short – whether or not the fridge was plugged in. I tested for continuity without the fridge being plugged in and there was none, so it didn't seem like there was any kind of short.
I replaced the breaker with the identical model and it was fine for about 6 months, then the exact same thing happened.
So it really seems as if the fridge itself is responsible – as if the motor is burning out the circuitry in the breaker. Is such a thing possible and has anyone else had a similar experience?
I thought I'd post my question before replacing the breaker for a 3rd time, and I'm thinking just a normal breaker this time.
Eaton panel and Eaton 20 Amp arc fault breaker.
Best Answer
I have had trouble with both arc fault and GFCI breakers (and receptacles) with motor loads especially Refrigerators and front load washing machines. The big issue I believe that is causing the failures was high efficiency motors the variable speed controls. arc faults can’t tell the difference between arcs and a short pulse used for speed control. The early arc fault breakers also had trouble with lighting dimmers when the circuit had a fair sized load (10-12 amps).
I would check your state codes and see if the dedicated circuit even requires arc fault protection. In my state devices known to have problems like the above are exempted from gfci or arc fault protection when on a dedicated circuit.
Things that can cause arc faults to trip. Capacitors especially electrolytes as the age. SCR & TRIAC’s these are the solid state switches that control the wave form to the motor or device. Pitted contacts on “start relays” or contactors. Inductive kick back from the motor itself And what they are designed to trip , arcing from damage to insulation by a staple, screw or metal box.