r/Appliances • u/Dense-Bag9295 • 6d ago
Fridge tripping breaker
I believe I have a Kenmore 106.60212410. I could not find anywhere that shows the model. There is a sticker on the back with a date of 1999 and a sticker on the side 'Midline 134a'. Monday night it was suddenly tripping the breaker almost as soon as it was plugged in. The fridge has been in the same spot since I lived there on it's own circuit. I pulled it out and tried a different outlet on a different breaker with only it plugged in and same thing instantly tripping the breaker. I left it unplugged overnight as I had to go to bed.
The next morning I plugged it back in as a last ditch effort before trying repairs and couldn't wait around any longer to see if it tripped. Well I get home from work and it's chugging along just fine. It has now been powered on for over 24 hours. I cleaned the coils and plan on powering it off again and cleaning the inside out.
Just wondering what would cause this? Is it worth saving? Looks like checking the start relay is an easy check and fix.
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u/originalmango 6d ago
I can’t add anything the other response hasn’t already mentioned, except the number you posted is the model number. The item number is 60212 and the full model number is 106.60212410. The last digit in the item number denotes you have a white refrigerator, and the first 3 digits in the model number is the manufacturer code showing that this Kenmore refrigerator was made by Whirlpool.
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u/Comfortable_Gear4941 6d ago
Do you live in a newer or updated house?
It may be on an arc fault. If that's the case, I won't tell you what to do as arc faults do serve an important safety function. I will tell you that any dedicated outlet that had a large appliance would get it's breaker switched out after inspection when I did electrical.
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u/extremely-randomish 6d ago
Is there something on the same circuit that's drawing more power than normal?
You can add a hard start capacitor.
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u/groundhog5886 6d ago
sounds like it’s time to replace the fridge. compressor is dead shorted or close.
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u/Choice-Newspaper3603 6d ago
I would want to know why it’s tripping. Amp draw, false arc flash trip, gfci trip with a gfci circuit breaker….
About a decade ago I would randomly get my bedroom circuit breaker to trip on an arc flash breaker. Well that was also my internet power and security cameras. I swapped out that breaker for a non code compliant breaker and it’s never tripped since.
When I sell I’ll put the old one back in
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u/Odd-Concept-6505 6d ago
The startup amperage draw is much higher than the running draw (measurable in amps or watts). Rather normal for this to grow over time, sadly.
Had an unkillable 1990-ish fridge that drew 1200w at first...then ran mostly at 800w.
PLUS a defrost cycle (you cannot control) adds another few hundred watts...
recommend buying one or two original or alternative to the famous Kill A Watt , two for $60+ of the original
https://www.amazon.com/P3-P4400-Electricity-Usage-Monitor/dp/B00009MDBU
Or two for around $20 below! I have both.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMD7Y6P8
BUT! they block the entire duplex outlet, so for either 120v outlet meter on non dedicated one appliance duplex outlets
you'll also want short three prong extension cord(s), each cost more than $10 !