Understanding Common Electrical Issues in your Kitchen

Overview

This guide helps troubleshoot electrical issues within the kitchen. Please follow the steps carefully before escalating any issues to our support team. This guide focuses on power outlets and electrical circuits commonly encountered in CloudKitchens facilities.

Best Practices

Avoid overloading outlets with too many appliances.
Do not place equipment near outlets if there is a risk of exposure to water or potential fire hazards.

Outlets

Good use of power outlets is important: avoid excessive stress on plugs that can fracture the outlet, do not place equipment in proximity to the outlet if it poses a risk of water and fire.

Please note that outlets under the hood could be shut off if the ANSUL system was activated. If the outlet is under the hood, please reach out to the facility’s AOM. If the outlet is not under the hood, please continue below.

Outlet vs Breaker

Before proceeding to troubleshooting your issue, determine if the outlet is tripping or if the breaker is tripping.

If you have a breaker box for your kitchen (it should either be right outside the kitchen or inside your kitchen), you can check if the breaker is tripping there. If there is no breaker box in or near your kitchen, go to the support chat and request a ticket be sent to your AOM.

Physical Damage

Check if there is any visible damage to the outlet, such as burn marks or melt cover. If so, go to the support chat and request a ticket be sent to your AOM.

Outlet Tripping

Determine Outlet Type

First, determine if the outlet is a regular outlet or a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) outlet (pictures below).

GFCI Outlet

Standard Outlet

If it is a GFCI outlet, proceed to Reset GFCI Outlet.
If it is not a GFCI outlet, proceed to Breakers section.

Reset GFCI Outlet

Unplug equipment from outlet and push reset button. Ensure the small light is on when it is reset.

If the GFCI outlet does not reset, return to the chat and request a ticket to be submitted to your AOM.
If the GFCI outlet does reset, proceed to Test Reset GFCI Outlet.

Test Reset GFCI Outlet

Plug the equipment back in and operate it to its full capacity.

If the outlet trips again, you will need to have your equipment serviced.
If the outlet does not trip, monitor the outlet. If trips again after some time, you will need to have your equipment serviced.

Breakers

If your breaker is repeatedly tripping, please follow the guidelines below.

Unplug Equipment

Unplug everything plugged into the outlet that keeps tripping. If multiple outlets keep tripping, unplug everything from each outlet.

Reset the Breaker

Reset the breaker in the kitchen panel to ON position. Plug each equipment in one at a time, testing each item before plugging in the next. If the breaker trips again, proceed to Plug Equipment In Individually.

Plug Equipment In Individually

Verify the total connected equipment load does not exceed the breaker size for that outlet. Breaker size (Amps) can be found from the breaker in the kitchen panel. The equipment load can be verified from the equipment nameplate. Another practice is to plug each equipment in one at a time, testing each item before plugging in the next.

If the outlet is overloaded due to excessive electricity pull, move equipment to another outlet.
If you require the equipment to be located in that place and it cannot be relocated, a kitchen improvement will be required at your expense to increase the size of the breaker or add a new circuit from the kitchen panel. Reach out to the facility’s AOM.

If the breaker tripping is not due to overload, your equipment needs service.

Examples below of equipment labels and where to find amps used.

Kitchen Electrical Guide