Patio Refrigerator and Freezer Question?

[Torvy]

I CAN walk across the street blindfolded. Just because something is possible does not mean it is recommended.

Upright & Chest Freezer - Extension Cord or Adapter

products.geappliances.com

I know some of you think the engineers that design stuff are too dumb or afraid. My take is that they are smart and wise. The one time your house burns down because you are smarter than the engineers, I hope no-one gets hurt.

 

[jyoutz]

Romex is not approved to be exposed extension cord.

According to code is must be in conduit. But 12 gauge romex is sufficient to carry the load of a freezer.

 

[repete]

Get yourself one of these test meters.

CT80: AFCI, GFCI and AC Circuit Analyzer | Extech Instruments

CT80: Quickly checks for correct wiring of AFCI/GFCI outlets and circuit breakers. Experience the Extech Advantage

www.extech.com

 

[kenmac]

I must be a lucky man. I haven't burn down any home I have ever owned using the proper extension cord on a refrigerator, or any appliance, or even using my generator back feeding.

In any event, The manufacture of any equipment is going to try to CTA.
Even then, they still get sued.

HD even markets/ sells major appliance /AC extension cords

 

[ultrarunner]

The only appliances I supply are built in…

In this single family home the two refrigerators and one freezer plus the gas dryer and washer are tenant owned.

The home is modest 2 bedroom of 1050 square feet with hundred amp service.

Never had a tenant keep running appliances in a covered patio…

Will follow up and use my tester to check the power cord.

and yes… a maybe 15 cuft refrigerator is on the same extension cord as a small chest freezer.

Not sure what failed but only the last freezer was bought new and Home Depot said warranty does not cover electrical supply problem

Note… last year power was off for days at a time when PGE shut down the grid for fire safety…

As mentioned language is a problem..

Also rent is the same as move in… strict rent control limits increases and Covid meant no evictions and tenant kept paying rent where others did not…

Rent is about a $1,000 under market if tenant voluntarily left…

 

[jaxs]

The only appliances I supply are built in…

In this single family home the two refrigerators and one freezer plus the gas dryer and washer are tenant owned.

The home is modest 2 bedroom of 1050 square feet with hundred amp service.

Never had a tenant keep running appliances in a covered patio…

Will follow up and use my tester to check the power cord.

and yes… a maybe 15 cuft refrigerator is on the same extension cord as a small chest freezer.

Not sure what failed but only the last freezer was bought new and Home Depot said warranty does not cover electrical supply problem

Note… last year power was off for days at a time when PGE shut down the grid for fire safety…

As mentioned language is a problem..

Also rent is the same as move in… strict rent control limits increases and Covid meant no evictions and tenant kept paying rent where others did not…

Rent is about a $1,000 under market if tenant voluntarily left…

So does the fact you are drilling down on the power cord mean you have already eliminated failure of any component intergal to freezer? Out of thousands of complaints I've dealt with I estimate less than 1% were caused by the power cord and when the problem was with the power cord (A) most of the time it was because it wasn't plugged in and (B) if the cord was at fault it was obivous at first galance due to melting and/or discoloration. I am not saying I always find the problem on first visit but I've never once had to make a secound or third trip to nail it down to a power cord. I'm just confused as to why and how this has come down to the power cord. Even more confusing is that Home Depot said the failure was caused by "electrical supply problem" and refused warranty. If Home Depot's technician has been to the house and said there's a problem with electric supply,friend you have a snowball's chance of convincing your tenant tech was wrong,,,,even with help from me and these other interweb buds.

 

[Root Cause]

ll

While I agree that a GFCI is needed for out door use, or at least the out door plug be protected by a GFCI up stream. I have to disagree about using an extension cord for the appliance.

I have a 12/2 extension cord that connects to my freezer and fridge for the last xxxx years. The wall plug is also connected with 12/2 wire
Those small compressors 1/4 hp ? don't pull much juice. I can operate three of four of them plus lights, etc, off my 5500 watt generator

Yes, and someone here exceeds weight limits on their FEL swearing it is ok too.

Extension cords, for permanent use, are just a bad idea. Use them if necessary but match them to the appliance as you have done. The real problem is that others only heard the first part (I've used one for years), go buy an extension cord at Walmart for $3.99, and call it a day. If that wasn't true, this thread would not have been posted.

 

[repete]

Do not forget what else may be on this circuit. Seldom are branch circuit runs dedicated to one outlet. It may well be a terminal setup if the tenant has a 1500 watt heater plugged into the same circuit at a different outlet that is supplied with 14 gauge wire.
One loose screw on a side terminal of a an outlet "upstream" can reduce the circuit capability.
Remember, in reality, branch circuits are no more than extension cords within the wall with multiple tap points and splices.
A volt meter tells you little if you cannot replicate the conditions at the time of any potential issues. A little like putting a volt meter on a battery to see if it is good. Ya it has 12 volts, until you hit the starter.

 

[ultrarunner]

So does the fact you are drilling down on the power cord mean you have already eliminated failure of any component intergal to freezer? Out of thousands of complaints I've dealt with I estimate less than 1% were caused by the power cord and when the problem was with the power cord (A) most of the time it was because it wasn't plugged in and (B) if the cord was at fault it was obivous at first galance due to melting and/or discoloration. I am not saying I always find the problem on first visit but I've never once had to make a secound or third trip to nail it down to a power cord. I'm just confused as to why and how this has come down to the power cord. Even more confusing is that Home Depot said the failure was caused by "electrical supply problem" and refused warranty. If Home Depot's technician has been to the house and said there's a problem with electric supply,friend you have a snowball's chance of convincing your tenant tech was wrong,,,,even with help from me and these other interweb buds.

The original zip cord looked like something used for Christmas Tree Lights and the old refrigerator is two prong and the freezer is three prong with adaptor.

As best I can remember the refrigerator two prong looked “Melted”

I verified power was on and said the zip cord not acceptable… this was two years ago.

Fast forward and a two year old freezer stopped working and food spoiled so I was again called and used a more sophisticated tester which tested OK and noticed an orange cord was now in use.

Through this thread I realized I never put tester on cord which I plan to do…

No service person I know made a site visit but the warranty was up…

Then one of my co workers is friends of my tenant and told me at work the house eats refrigerators…

Which isn’t true because the 25 cuft refrigerator in kitchen on a dedicated outlet has been problem free…

It’s only the units outside on the covered concrete slab having problems…

I have not nor would so want to attempt to repair tenant owned appliances…

Over the years at different locations I have made late nite visits for electrical problems which all were caused by defective appliances/lamps or plugging in several skillets preparing food for a church event.

Only exception was when a S-type safety fuse replaced by tenant was not screwed in all the way.

I’m sure if I spoke Tagalog it would be easier to explain/communicate.

 

[ultrarunner]

On a side note the outlet is GFCI but no report of tripping.

That said… I’m not a fan of using a GFCI for refrigerators… but location requires GFCI protection.

GFCI have generated a lot of service calls over the years but that is a different topic but just about always GFCI doing its job…