Refrigerator current load

I hardly ever use a toaster oven while I'm sleeping. It's the only 9 amp load I have.

By adding a second load to what should be a dedicated circuit.

Peter Wieck Melrose Park, PA

But it is not my fault that it is not a dedicated circuit. Nor am I required to know whether or not it is. The owner is liable not me.

Wrong. Two reasons:

a) Ignorance is not a defense - that is, and has been, "common law" for ove r 2,000 years. And, yes, "common law" does apply to liability.

b) NEC requires a dedicated outlet for the refrigerator. Ipso-facto, where the refrigerator is plugged in is dedicated. And that receptacle may not be shared per the code. The reasoning may appear circular, but it remains how it would be in a pinch.

When I was doing this for a living (more than 40 years ago) we used simplex receptacles for the refrigerator line. So that down-line idiots did not ma ke that same mistake you might make. That and any other 'dedicated' circuit s, with special reference to AC, 240 V Dryer and similar circuits.

$mdmain$

Peter Wieck Melrose Park, PA

Son moved into a house that had the refrigerator on a circuit with several other outlets in the kitchen. Was even powered from a receptical that was a ground fault. Found this out one day when he called and said there was no power on his refrigerator. No breakers were tripped. I looked around and finally found the GFCI receptical that was tripped.

That's ignorance of the law, not ignorance of what an electrician did under someone else's supervision.

So you are under the impression that I have something plugged into the same outlet. I didn't say that. I said it was on the same breaker as other outlets. There is no way in hell I would be blamed for using another outlet.

Cutting to the chase:

a) You have demonstrated, in a public forum, that you fully understand the situation. b) You also demonstrate that you understand the code. c) You also demonstrate that you know that the situation is not up to present code. d) You also demonstrate that you understand that by plugging in a second large-use device, you are creating a risk, albeit a very small one.

Feigned ignorance will get you nowhere should that risk manifest. You might not like it, but the other principle of assigning liability is called "Last Clear Chance". Which you also demonstrate as having, clearly.

Peter Wieck Melrose Park, PA

"could have still avoided the accident by reasonable care in the final moments"

Which I could not do, since using no other electrical devices is not an option. And then there are housing regulations that would ensure the owner is liable.

Well, in the awful event that you need to test this belief, I hope you survive the event unscathed, and I hope that you are successful should it go to court.

Peter Wieck Melrose Park, PA

Neither the logic nor the NEC apply to him plugging a toaster into a receptacle, dedicated or not.

There is NO requirement per the NEC that the receptacle for the 'fridge be dedicated. (quoting the NEC)

210.52(B)(1) Receptacle Outlets Served. In the kitchen, pantry, breakfast room, dining room, or similar area of a dwelling unit, the two or more 20-ampere small-appliance branch circuits required by 210.11(C)(1) shall serve all wall and floor receptacle outlets covered by 210.52(A), all countertop outlets covered by 210.52(C), and receptacle outlets for refrigeration equipment.

The current NEC requires that the (two or more) small appliance circuits and receptacle be in the kitchen, wired properly etc. It does NOT govern what the user plugs into them. Nor does it say a circuit must be dedicated to the refrigerator.

As to the law - what law specifies that a user not plug a toaster into a receptacle?

Ed

ver 2,000 years. And, yes, "common law" does apply to liability.

e the refrigerator is plugged in is dedicated. And that receptacle may not be shared per the code. The reasoning may appear circular, but it remains h ow it would be in a pinch.

ex receptacles for the refrigerator line. So that down-line idiots did not make that same mistake you might make. That and any other 'dedicated' circu its, with special reference to AC, 240 V Dryer and similar circuits.

why would a fridge [need to be] be on its own dedicated outlet? Such a thin g is unheard of here.

NT

It is done to prevent another device from tripping the breaker, and letting food spoil. I suppose Botulism is unheard there, as well?

Electrical code in Canada requires refrigerators to be on a separate outlet (with only a single power outlet, not a dual outlet as well) with their own breaker for just that reason.

(irrational rant on) Government electrical safety regulations, who needs them? (irrational rant off)

John :-#)#

I think there is something in the NEC about the ground fault outlets in a basement not needing to be uses on the refrigerator/freezor outlet for the same reason.

Like the idiot that wired a GFCI receptical and down stream was the refrigerator receptical in a house my son bought. Ground fault tripped and almost let the refrigerator get too warm before he caught it.

over 2,000 years. And, yes, "common law" does apply to liability.

ere the refrigerator is plugged in is dedicated. And that receptacle may no t be shared per the code. The reasoning may appear circular, but it remains how it would be in a pinch.

plex receptacles for the refrigerator line. So that down-line idiots did no t make that same mistake you might make. That and any other 'dedicated' cir cuits, with special reference to AC, 240 V Dryer and similar circuits.

ing is unheard of here.

I guess this is why Brits prefer warm beer.

Peter Wieck Melrose Park, PA

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** IME, it is common practice here ( Australia ) to put fridges and freezers on a dedicated circuit since they often have high levels of leakage to earth.

That circuit would also not be under control on an ELCB or similar.

Otherwise, the ELCB needs to be set at an hazardous trip current to avoid outages and food spoilage.

.... Phil

No, it's because their refrigerators are made by Lucas! :)

Prince of Darkness, yes.

Peter Wieck Melrose Park, PA

And he prefers to live in England, thank God! :)