texastrophies Posted June 13, 2010 Report Share Posted June 13, 2010 Just got home a little bit ago from grocery shopping. I went into the garage to put some meet in the freezer. Noticed a not to good of a smell when I open the freezer, everything in it was nice and warm. After a few choice words, I got to searching and finally determined that the GFI in the outlet on the other side of the garage was tripped and stopping the current from coming to the outlet I had the freezer plugged into.:jaw: Steak, antelope, mule deer, whitetail deer, bacon, hot pockets, breakfast sausage just to name a few of the items that were wasted. Now I am refreezing them in hopes of killing the smell before throwing it all away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted June 13, 2010 Report Share Posted June 13, 2010 Man I hate that. I think it has happened to most of us at some time and usually seems to happen when you have it full of food. Re-freeze and hope the smell aint too bad when you throw it all out. At least it will be solid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubleA Posted June 14, 2010 Report Share Posted June 14, 2010 I had that happen last year at my camp house. I think the upright freezer must have been out for a few days to a week before arriving. I had some deer and bear capes along with a couple of deer heads in it and boy was there a stench and a mess. I almost lost my cookies several times cleaning the mess up....and oooooooh there were little things moving around amongst everything. I dont wish that upon anyone. A few weeks after that we had our freezer at home do the same thing but we caught it in time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest TennesseeTurkey Posted June 14, 2010 Report Share Posted June 14, 2010 Aww man! that bites big time! hate to see such good meat wasted... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prairiepredator Posted June 14, 2010 Report Share Posted June 14, 2010 I would be so mad if that happened! That really sucks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunt or be Hunted Posted June 14, 2010 Report Share Posted June 14, 2010 That's the thing about them GFI's. a little bit of water and BAM it kicks it off. that's a good thing i guess. I hope you can save most of your stuff! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun_300 Posted June 14, 2010 Report Share Posted June 14, 2010 Oh man that sucks Jeff!! Had that happen here quite a few years back, I'll never forget that smell. Sure makes a mess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcwa Posted June 14, 2010 Report Share Posted June 14, 2010 Jeff, you need to rewire the outlet to the freezer. It's easy to do. The GFIC has a line side and a load side. The freezer is hooked up to the load side, when the GFIC tripped it cut the power to the freezers outlet. You need to rewire the outlet to the freezer to the line side on the GFIC. Make a pigtail off the lineside of the GFIC and connect the 3 black wires together with a wire nut and the 3 white wires with a wire nut. That way when the GFIC trips you will still have power to the freezers outlet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted June 14, 2010 Report Share Posted June 14, 2010 Man that really stinks Jeff, sorry to hear that. Our electrical inspector told me that our freezer outlets in our basement have to be ground faulted, he did not personally agree with that, but said it is in the new codes. Would follow Chance's advice above on rewiring the freezer outlet, would be easy enough to do. Our inspector told me that if we ever have problems with our freezers that we could change them up. Once the final inspect is over with and we are done I will probably do it anyway just to avoid problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suro25 Posted June 14, 2010 Report Share Posted June 14, 2010 That surely stinks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papadz Posted June 14, 2010 Report Share Posted June 14, 2010 Happened to me also. After that I just ran a dedicated circuit to the freezer/ref.. Even during storms it doesn't go out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texastrophies Posted June 14, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2010 That surely stinks. Man that really stinks Jeff, sorry to hear that. Our electrical inspector told me that our freezer outlets in our basement have to be ground faulted, he did not personally agree with that, but said it is in the new codes. Would follow Chance's advice above on rewiring the freezer outlet, would be easy enough to do. Our inspector told me that if we ever have problems with our freezers that we could change them up. Once the final inspect is over with and we are done I will probably do it anyway just to avoid problems. Just a matter of time before the comedians strike.;) I was thinking about just putting a regular outlet in place of the GFIC one. Why would there be one in the garage anyways? I thought they were normally just around a water source? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted June 14, 2010 Report Share Posted June 14, 2010 Just a matter of time before the comedians strike.;) I was thinking about just putting a regular outlet in place of the GFIC one. Why would there be one in the garage anyways? I thought they were normally just around a water source? Generally used anywhere outside, the potential to use an extension cord is there in wet conditions. I'm sure Anthony could quote you the code on the requirements. I would not use one to depend on for my freezer personally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suro25 Posted June 14, 2010 Report Share Posted June 14, 2010 I didn't mean like stinks as in smell. it stinks as is sucks that it happened. I'm sorry if you thought I was cracking a joke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted June 14, 2010 Report Share Posted June 14, 2010 Our electrical inspector told me that our freezer outlets in our basement have to be ground faulted, he did not personally agree with that, but said it is in the new codes. Yep. Sump pump has to be on one too, which, someday will probably get you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted June 14, 2010 Report Share Posted June 14, 2010 Just a matter of time before the comedians strike.;) I was thinking about just putting a regular outlet in place of the GFIC one. Why would there be one in the garage anyways? I thought they were normally just around a water source? Sorry Jeff, was not trying to be a comedian. Shame you lost all that good food. As far as the codes go, my understanding is that any unfinished space is required by code now to have ground faulted outlets, so unfinished attached garages, laundry/utility rooms and unfinished basements fall into that. There were some exceptions allowed previously for appliances like freezers, but those exceptions have apparently been recently ruled out. Assuming your garage is/was unfinished. Inspector told me they are getting really bad about this gf stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted June 14, 2010 Report Share Posted June 14, 2010 Yep. Sump pump has to be on one too, which, someday will probably get you. Not me, plan to follow our inspector's advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texastrophies Posted June 14, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2010 Yall took me wrong. I am not upset about the stink comments. Actually laughed a little at them. If you can't find humor in things, life is tough on you. At least I didn't see anything crawling around in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adjam5 Posted June 15, 2010 Report Share Posted June 15, 2010 That does bites Jeff. Sorry to hear about that. I too, learned the hard way with these GFCI and their unique sensitivity. I lost game meat also one time...ONCE! Code usually requires any convenience receptacle 6' or less from a water source to be gfci protected. Basically for bathrooms, kitchens and washing machines. My freezers are on normal receptacles with pilot lights in case the power goes out on that line, it is easily noticeable. About wiring from the line side... I am pretty sure when the GFI trips you will not get power out of that device. Line or load side until you reset it. It would be of no use if it tripped and remained operational delivering power. Yes, the wires in the box will still be hot, but the slots for the device will be dead until the reset button is pushed. Just plug in the freezer to a normal device(non GFCI protected) and you should not have any issues in the future. You can use an extension cord, just make sure it is of the proper gauge wire. Don't use any flat, lamp cord type extensions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goinghuntin Posted June 15, 2010 Report Share Posted June 15, 2010 WOW, that's pretty bad man :jaw: I know I would be mumbling a few of my favorite phrases the rest of the day after that. Nathan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerClay Posted June 15, 2010 Report Share Posted June 15, 2010 Sorry for your loss Jeff. I see that they make alarms for freezers now. The freezer starts to warm up and Beep!!! Anyone ever try one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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