GE Profile
Electrical Overload or Ground Fault
Freezer trips the household circuit breaker or GFCI outlet
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Safety Warning
This repair may involve working with high voltage components or water connections. Always unplug the appliance before removing any panels.
If you are not confident in your ability to perform this repair safely, we strongly recommend contacting a professional technician.
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Possible Causes
Shorted compressor, Damaged power cord, Moisture in electrical components, Faulty defrost heater shorting to ground
How to Fix / Troubleshooting
Safety first: Repeated breaker trips indicate a potentially dangerous electrical fault. Do not keep resetting without investigation.
- Move from GFCI: If the freezer is on a GFCI outlet, move it to a dedicated non-GFCI circuit as recommended for refrigerators/freezers.
- Inspect cord: Check the power cord for cuts, burns, or crushed sections. Replace if damaged.
- Unplug and test: If the breaker trips immediately when the freezer is plugged in and turned on, unplug and contact a technician.
- Component isolation (advanced): A technician can disconnect components (compressor, heater, fans) to identify which is causing the trip and replace the faulty part.
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Repair Difficulty
Professional Required
5/5
Required Part
Defrost Heater
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