Fridge causes spikes that harm equipment

[[email protected]]

Hi all,

We've got a fairly new fridge, maybe a year old, and we've
discovered that it's causing power spikes especially when
it clicks on. Sometimes these spikes continue for some time.
These spikes hit any equipment that's in the kitchen and using
different outlets. It's an old house, so my question is,
is this a fire hazard? And is this indicative of a fridge that's
defective or could it just be the old wiring? These spikes
cause the screen on my laptop to flicker, which doesn't
happen when it's connected to outlets in other rooms
(or buildings) or on battery power.

Thanks.

 

[Salmon Egg]

Hi all,

We've got a fairly new fridge, maybe a year old, and we've
discovered that it's causing power spikes especially when
it clicks on. Sometimes these spikes continue for some time.
These spikes hit any equipment that's in the kitchen and using
different outlets. It's an old house, so my question is,
is this a fire hazard? And is this indicative of a fridge that's
defective or could it just be the old wiring? These spikes
cause the screen on my laptop to flicker, which doesn't
happen when it's connected to outlets in other rooms
(or buildings) or on battery power.

Thanks.

Usually, I would expect spikes when the power goes OFF--inductive spikes you
know. Try using a surge protector for your fridge. It should keep spikes
from going out as well as keep spikes from hitting the fridge.

Bill

 

[Charles Perry]

Hi all,

We've got a fairly new fridge, maybe a year old, and we've
discovered that it's causing power spikes especially when
it clicks on. Sometimes these spikes continue for some time.
These spikes hit any equipment that's in the kitchen and using
different outlets. It's an old house, so my question is,
is this a fire hazard? And is this indicative of a fridge that's
defective or could it just be the old wiring? These spikes
cause the screen on my laptop to flicker, which doesn't
happen when it's connected to outlets in other rooms
(or buildings) or on battery power.

Thanks.

I would suggest you refer to IEEE 1159. You can then chose the appropriate
term for what is happening. That will help people in this group answer your
question.

The fridge probably is creating voltage sags, not "spikes", when it turns
on.

Charles Perry P.E.

 

[Eeyore]

Hi all,

We've got a fairly new fridge, maybe a year old, and we've
discovered that it's causing power spikes especially when
it clicks on. Sometimes these spikes continue for some time.
These spikes hit any equipment that's in the kitchen and using
different outlets. It's an old house, so my question is,
is this a fire hazard?

It certainly shouldn't be but ......

And is this indicative of a fridge that's
defective or could it just be the old wiring? These spikes
cause the screen on my laptop to flicker, which doesn't
happen when it's connected to outlets in other rooms
(or buildings) or on battery power.

If you get a different result in othe rooms in the house, it sounds awfully like
your wiring is suspect. You ought to get an electrician to inspect it.

Graham

 

[**THE-RFI-EMI-GUY**]

Check all of the outlets on the affected circuit for loose wiring.
Specifically look out for outlets that are "back stabbed". this means
that the installer pushed the wires into friction holes (provided for
that purpose) in the back of the outlets instead of looping the wires
around the connecting screws on the sides of the outlets. The option to
"back stab" is controversial and in my experience, I have seen as a
result, loose and severely overheated wiring in a 27 year old house.
While you are at it, make sure any associated splice wire nuts are
secure. If this is unfamiliar territory for you, hire a licensed
electrician IMMEDIATELY.

Hi all,

We've got a fairly new fridge, maybe a year old, and we've
discovered that it's causing power spikes especially when
it clicks on. Sometimes these spikes continue for some time.
These spikes hit any equipment that's in the kitchen and using
different outlets. It's an old house, so my question is,
is this a fire hazard? And is this indicative of a fridge that's
defective or could it just be the old wiring? These spikes
cause the screen on my laptop to flicker, which doesn't
happen when it's connected to outlets in other rooms
(or buildings) or on battery power.

Thanks.

--
Joe Leikhim K4SAT
"The RFI-EMI-GUY"©

"Treason doth never prosper: what's the reason?
For if it prosper, none dare call it treason."

"Follow The Money" ;-P

 

[[email protected]]

Hi all,

We've got a fairly new fridge, maybe a year old, and we've
discovered that it's causing power spikes especially when
it clicks on. Sometimes these spikes continue for some time.
These spikes hit any equipment that's in the kitchen and using
different outlets. It's an old house, so my question is,
is this a fire hazard? And is this indicative of a fridge that's
defective or could it just be the old wiring? These spikes
cause the screen on my laptop to flicker, which doesn't
happen when it's connected to outlets in other rooms
(or buildings) or on battery power.

Thanks.

I HAVE A UNIVERSAL CERTIFICATION IN REFIRGERATION AND AIR
CONDITIONING, THE REASON THIS IS ONLY HAPPENING IN YOUR KITCHEN IS
BECAUSE THOSE OUTLETS ARE WIRED IN SERIES AND ARE ON A DIFFERENT
BREAKER/FUSE THEN THE OUTLETS IN OTHER ROOMS, IF THIS IS OCCURING WHEN
THE REFRIGERATOR "TURNS ON" IT IS MOST LIKELY CAUSE BY THE COMPRESSOR.
80% OF REFRIGERATION PROBLEMS ARE ELECTRICAL, IT MAY BE EXCESSIVE
CURRENT DRAW IF IN FACT IT IS CAUSING THE LAP TOP SCREEN TO FLICKER,
WHICH SOUNDS TO ME LIKE THE LAP TOP ISNT GETTING SUFFICIENT CURRENT
BECAUSE THE REFRIGERATOR IS PULLING TO MUCH, YOU MAY HAVE TO MANY
THINGS RUNNING OR YOUR BREAKER ISNT LARGE ENOUGH, ALL BREAKERS SHOULD
ONLY RUN 80% LOAD OF THERE RATING (20 AMP BREAKER SHOULD ONLY HAVE 16
AMP DRAW DURING NORMAL OPERATION, THE OTHER 4 AMP IS FOR A START UP
DRAW, IF YOUR PULLING MORE THEN THE BREAKER RATING IT WOULD POP THE
BREAKER) YOU NEED TO CALL A SERVICE TECHNICIAN TO CHECK YOUR
COMPRESSOR ON THE REFRIGERATOR.. IF IN FACT THIS IS ONLY OCCURING WHEN
IT "TURNS ON" ..THIS IS ABOUT ALL THE ADVICE I CAN OFFER WITHOUT BEING
ABLE TO PUT MY METER ON THE COMPRESSOR, CK. YOU DATA TAG ON THE
COMPRESSOR TO SEE WHAT THE SPECS ARE AND HAVE SOME ONE WHO IS
CERTIFIED CHECK THE START, RUN AND COMMON ON THE COMPRESSOR AND SEE IF
IT MATCHES THE SPECS ON THE DATA TAG

 

[Charles Perry]

I HAVE A UNIVERSAL CERTIFICATION IN REFIRGERATION AND AIR
CONDITIONING,

<snip>
Evidently your training did not include anything about the proper use of the
"Caps Lock" key.

Charles Perry P.E.

 

[Rheilly Phoull]

<snip>
Evidently your training did not include anything about the proper use of
the "Caps Lock" key.

Charles Perry P.E.

Hmmm, amongst many other things apparently

 

[Salmon Egg]

FWIW, I once complained bitterly to my power company that they were
generating noise that was preventing me from getting the best low signal
performance from my short wave receiver. The noise was synchronized to the
line voltage. They could find no problem. This was decades ago.

I kept on investigating myself. Finally. to my chagrin, I found out that the
noise was being generated by the butter warmer in my refrigerator. To keep
the butter from freezing hard as a rock, there was a resistor controlled by
a thermostat that would raise temperature in that compartment a bit. The
thermostat was noting fancy at all so that the slightest vibration would
make and break the circuit.

To solve the problem, I just went along with hard butter by disconnecting
that circuit. I never did tell the power company that I had tracked down my
problem.

Bill

 

[[email protected]]

I agree that the OP's problem is likely to be a wiring problem. However, if
it's causing voltage sags or momentary dropouts, I'd be inspecting the outlet
that the fridge is connected to for loose connections. And I'd also be
suspicious of the circuit breaker or the fuse in the distribution box (or the
connections to them) that's feeding the kitchen. The fact that it isn't
affecting any other circuits in the house seems to put the blame on the kitchen
circuit.

I have to correct myself: I've now detected it upstairs as well,
and that circuit uses a different circuit breaker.

 

[ChairmanOfTheBored]

Hi all,

We've got a fairly new fridge, maybe a year old, and we've
discovered that it's causing power spikes especially when
it clicks on. Sometimes these spikes continue for some time.
These spikes hit any equipment that's in the kitchen and using
different outlets. It's an old house, so my question is,
is this a fire hazard? And is this indicative of a fridge that's
defective or could it just be the old wiring? These spikes
cause the screen on my laptop to flicker, which doesn't
happen when it's connected to outlets in other rooms
(or buildings) or on battery power.

Thanks.

Check your line voltage. You may be at the extreme "end of line" of a
segment, and have a voltage that is already at the bottom of the
acceptable range. When your fridge kicks on, it sags the entire house's
line voltage to brown out levels, causing many items to barf.

 

[ChairmanOfTheBored]

I HAVE A UNIVERSAL CERTIFICATION IN...

Being an ALL CAPS Usenet RETARD!


You're a Fucking Usenet Idiot.

 

[ChairmanOfTheBored]

Or, the difference between series and parallel.

Hahahaha... good catch!

 

[ChairmanOfTheBored]

Quite so.

I also think it would have quite interesting effects if all the outlets were
wired up in "series" as he claims

First of all, NOTHING would work unless something was plugged into ALL
outlets in the chain, and all would have to be energized, and then the
fireworks begin! (on at least on item in the chain)... maybe...

 

[**THE-RFI-EMI-GUY**]

It could be a loose main conductor on your circuit panel or meter box.
This would be a good time to call an electrician.

I have to correct myself: I've now detected it upstairs as well,
and that circuit uses a different circuit breaker.

--
Joe Leikhim K4SAT
"The RFI-EMI-GUY"©

"Treason doth never prosper: what's the reason?
For if it prosper, none dare call it treason."

"Follow The Money" ;-P