GFI Outlet Use on compressors

[FEISTY]

Greetings to all in the trenches !! There is an ongoing issue here in the U.S concerning use of GFI outlet circuits when load is within 6 feet of a water source. When refrigeration units are installed behind bars, near sinks, the " sparkys " follow code and run outlets with GFI trips for the equipment. After the compressors run for a time, they begin to draw higher amps at startup, then drop to normal RLA. This causes instant trips of the outlet. Does anyone have an in-field solution to this age old " inspector vs. installer " situation. We can't seem to convince the inspectors that tin cans shouldn't be hooked up this way . Any ideas are welcome. As always...stay safe and keep smiling. Thanks !!!

[Yuri B.]

As long as isolation of a compressor 's winding stays undamaged - they should not trip, theoretically. On practice, they do. I read somewhere refrigeration equipment is allowed to dispense with them, on the basis of those nuiscance trips.

[JerryG]

I've always used GFI breakers instead of the outlets, and have not yet had problems. Costs a bit more, but cheaper than wasting time arguing with the inspectors!

Jerry.