Now that I was focused on the GFCI outlet, I needed to see if it indeed was the problem. I checked the GFCI outlet with a voltmeter. I noticed that you needed to press the probes deeply into the outlet slots to get the voltmeter to read. The outlet was over 35 years old, so maybe the contacts were wearing. Additionally, we were needing to reset the GFCI several times over the last several months. We could not pinpoint why the GFCI would trip, but as I suspected, the GFCI was going bad.
So, I went to our local home improvement store to purchase a GFCI outlet. When I got home, I attempted to install it. First, I installed it upside down and second, I put the leads on the wrong terminals. Finally, I had it installed correctly. I was satisfied the problem was solved. Later, the toothbrush charging went well. Now I was sure the problem was solved.
While the toothbrush charging issue was resolved, we continued to have problems with the GFCI tripping. Again, I could not figure out why this problem was happening. Keep in mind, that houses built over 30 years ago just had GFCI’s for bathrooms and outside outlets. The electricians would string together the outlets downstream from the GFCI. So, if you tripped the GFCI in the garage, you would need to go upstairs to our master bathroom to reset the GFCI. The process complies with code, so there is nothing wrong here, just annoying. Now GFCI’s are required in all wet areas: bathrooms, kitchens and outside.
My first thought was the small refrigerator in the garage. We use an old dorm size refrigerator to cool our soda and other items. The refrigerator was bought over 20 years ago and passed on from one child to another as they went through college. I have the refrigerator plugged into an extension cord which is plugged into an outlet linked to the GFCI. (I know you should never plug an appliance to an extension cord. (1) I do not have an outlet nearby, and (2) it would not be the first time I would do something stupid.) I decided to replace the 20-foot extension cord with a 10 foot one. I surmised that the longer cord would create additional resistance and maybe cause the GFCI to trip. I would eventually find out that would not be the case.
It did not take too long before the GFCI would trip. We usually would find out the GFCI tripped because the soda in the refrigerator would get warm or the garage light would not work. Okay, what could I do next? My choice was to replace the old refrigerator. Efiwym, my wife, was not entirely convinced that would solve the problem. My hope was we could get a more efficient one that would draw less amps and maybe not trip the GFCI. She eventually gave in, and I went shopping.
I found a larger, under-the-counter refrigerator at one of those “big box” stores. I do not know I would solve the problem of drawing less amps with a larger refrigerator, but it was “Star Energy” rated. I bought the refrigerator and brought it home. Before I could replace the old one, I needed to modify the shelving unit the refrigerator sat on. It consisted of removing and raising a shelf. I was in my Zen Zone, as I took apart the unit and modified it to fit the new refrigerator. I even installed little cubicles to store the 12-pack soda cartons. I was very satisfied with this project. I put the new refrigerator on the shelf, plugged it in and filled it with soda cans.
I was ecstatic that finally the GFCI problem was solved.
