GFI & storms

[westom]

Originally Posted by Doug

I thought they were standard now, but have a hard time making believers.

GFCIs are not used on refrigerators for same reasons you have suffered.

GFCIs can be surge damaged if proper 'whole house' protection is not installed. So newer GFCIs will trip open on power loss. And will not reset if surge damaged. That is a problem for you.

So many have posted myths. For example, any ground fault before that GFCI is completely irrelevant. The only relevant ground fault is after the GFCI. AFGIs and GFCIs do not 'fight' - another myth based in not understanding what these devices do. GFCIs do nothing for surges - for so many obvious reasons.

A GFCI measures an electromagnetic field around both wires. Obviously, this causes no power changed or problems. If those fields are not same, then a GFCI opens. IOW if current after the GFCI finds some other path to earth, then GFCI trips.

This is considered a major human safety problem for refrigerators. Therefore GFCIs are exempted on appliances that cause safety problems when tripped.

[Doug]

Thanks for the input guys. Just trying to decide on what option to try so that when away and power flickers, I still have most things running. Likely best to only runs lights on that circuit when away and the rest on the house gfi circuit.

So then Westom, why does the other GFCI/AFCI not trip under the same circumstance? Is there a difference between the ones we install and my panel breakers?

Also Steve. Never heard from you since posting pics of the GFCI/AFCI. Dont you guys use them in Alberta or BC ?