Seeking wisdom dealing with GFI receptacle

My home has a ground fault type wall plug in the carport that keeps throwing. The only thing plugged into it is a spare refrigerator.

This has happened a time or two in the past but this week it has been daily.

I'm thinking the problem is with the frig, and that if I unplug it for a few days and get no repeats then I've found the source of the problem.

However, if it is not the frig, what else might I begin to look for?

 

Have you tried plugging anything else, such as a fan into the outlet? Does it trip? What is the amp rating of the circuit breaker? Did you in fact plug the frig into another outlet of a different circuit? Did it trip?

 

If the frig isn't it next step is to replace the GFCI receptacle.

 

Thanks for the feedback.

Also (usually, but not at this moment) plugged into the same receptacle is an extension cord that powers my carport workbench and a compressor. Those are rarely used to draw power.

The workbench has a two-bulb LED shop light mounted above it, and compressor is used maybe twice a month to top off auto or motorcycle tires. The GFI breaker has never thrown while the compressor is in use.

The only other option for applying power to the frig is to run an extension cord to someplace in the house that draws power from another circuit. That leaves a door cracked open at the dead of summer with heat, insects, and not to overlook it, a dog we need to keep inside.

My work is closed today for the Independence Day holiday so I'm thinking I'll vacuum and blow out the motor and coils of the frig and monitor it another day or two. If it keeps acting up I'll replace the breaker.

If the issue continues after that, it would appear to put the source of the problem in the electrical components of the frig.

Thanks again!

 

Well, as the morning has progressed I've concluded the problem is with the refrigerator.

As I noted above the other use of that particular wall plug (which incidentally houses the GFI) is to serve my compressor and workbench. That current gets across the garage to those two devices via a 25' cord that terminates with a 4-plug box with it's own breaker.

Usually the compressor and shop light are the only things on that cord, and it being plugged in with the frig has not been a problem.

So what I did was plug in a shop fan and two DeWalt battery-pak chargers, and then turn on all of it on to load the circuit. With a compressor, shop fan, shop light, and two chargers all drawing power the GFI has not thrown.

It appears the frig will go to the curb, and unless my wife decides to buy another one, I'll inherit a bit more space for man-stuff!

Thanks again for the comments and insight!