If you are struggling to figure out why your refrigerator keeps tripping breaker switches instantly, you are dealing with a serious safety feature activation. Unlike a cooling issue where you have time to react, a tripping breaker indicates a dangerous electrical “short” or ground fault.
You plug your fridge in, and within seconds—SNAP. The lights go out. The good news is that 50% of the time, the fridge isn’t even broken—it’s just plugged into the wrong type of outlet. The other 50% of the time, a specific component has failed. In this guide, we will help you diagnose exactly why a refrigerator keeps tripping breaker panel and how to fix it.
We will explain the physics of a ground fault, why modern fridges hate GFCI outlets, and how to use a multimeter to find the exact part causing the short circuit.
Reason 1: Refrigerator Keeps Tripping Breaker on GFCI Outlets
Before you tear your fridge apart, look at the wall outlet. Is it a standard outlet, or does it have “Test” and “Reset” buttons in the middle? This is a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter).
If your fridge trips GFCI outlet buttons constantly, the issue is likely the sensitive outlet, not the fridge.
- The Science: Refrigerators have large motors (compressors). When they shut off, they create a small “inductive kickback” of electricity. A standard breaker ignores this. However, a sensitive GFCI outlet sees this tiny leakage as a “shock hazard” and trips instantly.
- The Fix: Ideally, move the fridge to a dedicated, non-GFCI circuit. Try running a heavy-duty extension cord to a standard outlet in another room. If the refrigerator keeps tripping breaker even on a standard outlet, proceed to the next step.
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Reason 2: Refrigerator Keeps Tripping Breaker Due to Ground Faults
If your refrigerator keeps tripping breaker switches even on a standard non-GFCI outlet, you have a dead short. This means a live electrical wire inside the fridge is touching the metal frame.
This is dangerous. Do not force the breaker to stay on. You must find the component that is “leaking” electricity to the ground.
The Usual Suspects:
- The Defrost Heater: As the heater expands and contracts, the glass or metal tube can crack, allowing the inner wire to touch the metal coils.
- The Compressor: The internal windings can burn out and touch the casing.
- The Ice Maker: Water can leak into the electrical solenoid, creating a short.
Tools You Will Need to Fix Refrigerator Keeps Tripping Breaker
To find the short without blowing your house fuses 10 times, you need to test for continuity (resistance) using a multimeter.
- Digital Multimeter: Essential for safety.
- Screwdriver: To remove the back panel.
- Flashlight: To inspect wiring.
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Step 1: Isolate Why Refrigerator Keeps Tripping Breaker
If you don’t have a multimeter yet, you can use logic to isolate why the refrigerator keeps tripping breaker. This involves unplugging components one by one.
Warning: Unplug the fridge from the wall every time you touch a wire!
- Unplug the Fridge.
- Disconnect the Ice Maker: Find the wire harness for the ice maker (inside the freezer) and unplug it. Plug the fridge back into the wall.
- Did the breaker trip?
- Yes: Ice maker is fine. Move to the next step.
- No: You found the problem! Replace the ice maker.
- Disconnect the Defrost Heater: Remove the freezer back panel. Unplug the wires leading to the heating element at the bottom of the coils. Plug the fridge back in.
- Did the breaker trip?
- No: You found it! The heater has a ground fault. Replace the heater.
- Disconnect the Compressor: Remove the lower rear panel. Unplug the Start Relay from the side of the compressor. Plug the fridge back in.
- Did the breaker trip?
- No: Your compressor has an internal short. This is the worst-case scenario.
Step 2: Test Why Refrigerator Keeps Tripping Breaker with Multimeter
The safer, professional way to stop the refrigerator keeps tripping breaker cycle is to test the plug itself.
The Plug Test
- Set your multimeter to the highest Ohms/Resistance setting (or Continuity mode).
- Hold one probe on one of the flat prongs of the power cord plug.
- Hold the other probe on the Round Ground Pin of the plug.
- Reading:
- “OL” (Open Loop) or Infinite: This is GOOD. It means electricity cannot flow from the power line to the ground pin.
- Any Number (0.01 to 500): This is BAD. It means there is a connection between power and ground. You have confirmed a short.
Reason 3: Refrigerator Keeps Tripping Breaker Due to Overload
Sometimes, the fridge is fine, but the circuit is overwhelmed. If your refrigerator keeps tripping breaker panels only when the microwave or toaster oven turns on, the problem is the load.
- The Diagnosis: A standard 15-amp circuit can only handle about 1,800 watts total. A fridge uses 500-800 watts on startup. If you run a 1,000-watt microwave on the same circuit, you exceed the limit.
- The Fix: Map your breaker box. Ensure the refrigerator is on its own circuit.
Reason 4: Start Relay Making Refrigerator Keeps Tripping Breaker
If the breaker only trips the moment the compressor tries to kick on (usually accompanied by a loud click), you might have a blown Start Relay that is causing a momentary arc.
Inspect the relay on the side of the compressor. If it rattles when shaken or looks burnt, replace it immediately. This is a cheap fix that often solves the compressor start trips breaker issue.
Not sure how? Read our guide on how to replace a start relay.
FAQ: Electrical Safety
Is it safe to replace a breaker with a bigger one?
NO. Never do this. If you have a 15-amp breaker, it is there to protect 15-amp wires inside your walls. If you put in a 20-amp breaker, the wires will melt and catch fire before the breaker trips. If the breaker is weak, replace it with a new one of the same amperage.
Why does my fridge trip the breaker only at night?
This usually points to the Defrost Heater. Defrost cycles often happen once or twice a day (often at night). If the heater has a ground fault, the fridge runs fine all day (cooling mode) and only trips the breaker at 2 AM when the timer switches to “Defrost Mode.”
Conclusion
Diagnosing why a refrigerator keeps tripping breaker switches is a binary problem: either the outlet is too sensitive (GFCI), or a component is leaking electricity to the ground. Start by testing the outlet with an extension cord. If the outlet is fine, use the process of elimination to unplug the heater, ice maker, and compressor.
Electrical issues are scary, but they are logical. Once you find the component causing the short, simply unplugging it is often enough to get your fridge running again safely while you wait for the replacement part.
If you determined your compressor is the issue, you might need to test its health. Check out our guide on how to install a hard start kit to see if it can be saved.
