Should a fridge or freezer at a restaurant have a breaker?

[ubonr1971]

Our tenants have a restaurant in our building. 

 

They have several fridges and freezers. 

 

For safety reasons should their fridges or freezers have a separate breaker? I dont want a fire to occur. We installed new wiring throughout the building 5 yrs ago. 

 

thanks

[Crossy]

It is often recommended that your refrigeration be on a separate circuit, but this is more to prevent nuisance trips taking out your food stocks rather than for electrical safety.

 

Assuming that your re-wire is up to standard and they don't overload anything then there's no danger of conflagration.

 

That said, if they are doing the Thai thing of having loads of traily extensions with freezers all on one outlet then I'd want them to rationalise and spread the load over several outlets.

 

A splash of common sense is your best weapon.

[KhunLA]

At temp, frigs and especially freezers draw very little electric.   Even in a busy restaurant they wouldn't draw that much.

[ubonr1971]

4 hours ago, KhunLA said:

At temp, frigs and especially freezers draw very little electric.   Even in a busy restaurant they wouldn't draw that much.

Thanks for your comment. So maybe the only fire risk is if the engine of the fridge or freezer fails and catches fire not the wiring to the elec box. 

[TexasCowboy]

Calculate the load.

[rwill]

The main thing to consider is how many they have plugged into the same circuit and if the wiring is sized correctly for that load.

[xtrnuno41]

On 4/10/2025 at 6:51 AM, ubonr1971 said:

Thanks for your comment. So maybe the only fire risk is if the engine of the fridge or freezer fails and catches fire not the wiring to the elec box. 

Ever seen the compressor ? It is a closed system and the gas is not flamable.

The compressor is in the with coolgas filled system

Motor and compressor are INSIDE this pot.

[sometimewoodworker]

49 minutes ago, xtrnuno41 said:

It is a closed system

It should be a closed system but some do either get damaged so leak or can fatigue so leak.

49 minutes ago, xtrnuno41 said:

the gas is not flamable.

Depending on the refrigerant it maybe inflammable or li may not be inflammable. In general the more modern the unit the more likely that the refrigerant is a petroleum based one so it is quite inflammable.

[xtrnuno41]

On 4/10/2025 at 6:51 AM, ubonr1971 said:

Thanks for your comment. So maybe the only fire risk is if the engine of the fridge or freezer fails and catches fire not the wiring to the elec box. 

 

 

Fuses are used to protect wiring in house, so they dont get red of heat, setting surrounding on fire.

The more power you use on wiring, the hotter it can get.

Fuse should be chosen on diameter of wire, as a max

Too big fuse for the wiring and a fire can be started.

Essential to pick the right fuse and not cheat in it!

Well at least if, you dont want fire.

 

It isnt just refrigerator drawing power, there are other devices also connected to the same wiring (group)?

They all add up in power and Amperage. You must know that !

As long as the fuse is chosen right to diameter of wiring AND used power, all is ok.

A 2.5 mm2 cable can have 24 A, however depending on for instance place and temperature.

Normal wise 20 A . Thailand has still auto breakers of category C, while B is a better one.