How do I locate the source of an electrical short?

Question

One of the wall sockets in the kitchen repeatidly trips (it's a Leviton Smart Lock GFCI wall socket). The appliances sharing the circuit is the refrigerator and the gas stove/oven. It trips two to four times a day. I've already replaced the wall socket, and it still trips at the same rate. We use to have a mice problem (seems to be gone now), so we suspected they may have chewed on the refrigerators wires. I pulled the fridge out and the wires (including the ones near the compressor) are fine. The stove/oven is never on when the circuit trips, the only thing powered is the LED clock. So how do I find out the source of the short causing the circuit to keep tripping?

Just for clarification: The fridge using a regular wall socket, no GFCI on it. The way the circuit (GFCI only, not the breaker) is tripping leads me to believe that the fridge+oven is on the same circuit (fridge turns off and oven clock turns off). There is nothing else plugged into this circuit. Thanks for all the advice so far.

Even more clarification: The circuit is like this: Fridge (reg wall socket)->oven (i can't see its wall socket type)->unused wall socket->unused GFCI socket

Answer 1

It may not be a short...
Typically a GFI isn't used on a circuit with a high load device, [ie. refrig.]. I would guess that the GFI is heating up [from high current] when the refrig comes on and pops the breaker. If this has become an issue recently, then this may be an indication that your refrig is low on feon and is cyclying on more often.
As mentioned try to isolate the refrig on another circuit.

Answer 2

It is important that we understand the details of what you are saying and that they are correct. If we don't the answers can be wrong or misleading.

You said that the GFCI is tripping, not the breaker in the breaker box. Is that correct?

You implied that the other items go off when the GFCI trips. Is that also correct?

If so, your wiring is not correct. You SHOULD have the refrigerator on a separate circuit. Personally, I don't and it works fine, but it isn't strictly correct.

If you simply replace the GFI outlet with a regular one and the others really are protected by the GFI, you will lose the GFI safety features. You could replace the refrigerator's outlet with a standard one and then put the GFI further down the line so the refrigerator won't trip it.

The better idea is to put the refrigerator on it's own line, but again, that is not really totally necessary.

The fact that you replaced this outlet and it still trips multiple times a day indicates a problem. Again, you probably don't want GFI on the refrigerator, so change the location of the GFI and see if that is enough to solve the problem.

Answer 3

Hi, interesting problem. Your GFCI receptacle is tripping? Many times large motor loads will trip GFI's. Is this receptacle near a water source? If it is not you really don't need a GFI, if this is a dedicated circuit and the GFI isn't protecting receptacles down the line.
When you replaced the GFI did it have an additional set of wires on the back? You should hire an electrician to look at it, it shouldn't be more than an hour, there are other variables, the circuit may be overloaded.

Answer 4

First.....your short, you can buy an outlet circuit tester. you can find them at a hardwear store for about $10.00. All you do is plug it into your outlet and it will tell you if it is good or bad It 3in long yellow in color and has three lights on top of it two yellow and one red. If you don't won't to go that route, FIRST turn your power and start and check every outlet on that ciruit. check the ground make sure it is conected to the outlet itself and to the other ground as well. NEXT check the other wires in the box make sure no wires are exposed to another wire black to black wire only and the same the white as well, check for cuts or bare wires. ONCES AGAIN TURN THE POWER OFF FOR THIS JOB!!

Now to your REFRIGERATOR,, buy code your refrigerator should be on its own ciruit. This may be why the GFCI is tripping. Check the cord on the freg, any bad spots you may want to replace that power cord.

you oven/stove should also be on its own ciruit as well. buy the electric code

If you still can not find the problem, you just might have too many things pluged in on the same ciruit. this not a good idea, you may have a fire one day.

home depot, lowes and books a million. also have basic wiring and problem shoving books. If all fails call an electrician.

REMENBER....If you get the tester leave the power on. If you pull the outlets out power off. Safety First Good luck and good hunting.

Answer 5

Basically you need to isolate the cause of the problem. Un plug your appliances. Toasters draw a lot of current so plug in a toaster and turn on. Does it trip? If it does the problem in in the wiring and you should call an electrician. If not it is one of your appliances. Plug them in one at a time and see which one makes it trip. Then replace or repair that appliance

Answer 6

looks like a connection @ the battery - not the terminals. there's a fuse link close 2 the battery & additionally a buss connector that factors voltage interior. SHORTs blow fuses - are we speaking short or an intermittent electric connection ??Have U checked the GROUNDS ?? engine to physique - physique to physique - battery to dam..U might desire to b breaking floor fairly of dropping your 12 volts !

Answer 7

Is there something else that you can plug into the fridge's spot to rule out the fridge causing this?

Answer 8

you need to seperate the circuits, to many things on the same circuit,do yourself a favor and call a qualified electrician

Answer 9

A GFI is used near water sources, not for refrigerators. Replace the receptacle with a regular 20a one.

Answer 10

ehow.com