Arc Fault breakers
- Thread starter chris1971
- Start date
- Status
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
Perhaps the op wasn't intending to include the bath receptacle in his description.
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
Does the breaker trip when you turn the fan on?
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
I agree with Dennis you could put the enitre MB, except for the receptacle, on the bedroom circuit.
hunt4679
Senior Member
- Location
- Perry, Ohio
Ask if it happens when the use the vacuum. I found on four differant houses with the same vacuum "Kenmore Progressive Bagless" it will trip the arc fault. It will run in the upright position until you drop the handle wich engages the beater bar then it will trip the arc fault. You plug it into a non arc fault circuit and no problem. I have contacted Kenmore about this with no response. Just a thought!
Maybe you have a neut to grnd problem have you tried to load the circuit?
Maybe you have a neut to grnd problem have you tried to load the circuit?
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
Sure, if it happens when the fan comes on. If it doesn't trip when the fan is on then it can't be the fan.
Arc faults can be a trick to troubleshoot. I have never had any problems until the last few jobs. I believe the culpret was a bad AFCI breaker. This is the first trouble I have had with GE AFCI. The problem can show up under totally different conditions or situations. We had one where we stayed at the house for over 2 hours and left every light on the circuit on-- it was just lights on this AFCI. The dang thing never tripped. We changed the breaker and have not heard a thing since-- we'll see.
surf more
Senior Member
- Location
- eastern NC
ran into same problem with kenmore vacum before.
macmikeman
Senior Member
- Location
- Planet macmikeman
I have an ever growing pile of combination ark fault faulty breakers in a drawer in my van. Three or four more and its going to be worth the trouble to find out where I bought each one and take em all back for refunds. Right now its not worth the bother, .... yet..
jwjrw
Senior Member
I have had this happen to me in 2 different homes. Different brand of vaccums and cutler hammer arc faults
hunt4679
Senior Member
- Location
- Perry, Ohio
We had it on CH and siemens
hunt4679
Senior Member
- Location
- Perry, Ohio
7.2 Amps plus a tv or something else turning on? Overload problem? What kind of lighting do they have to draw 7.2 amps?
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ELA
Senior Member
- Occupation
- Electrical Test Engineer
That is an interesting combination Chris,
Are any of the lamps CFLs?
AFCI breakers are looking for a minimum 60hz current level along with higher frequency components as a "signature" of an arc.
In theory if you had enough varied loads together to exceed the minimum 60hz level, along with various high frequency components from the different non-linear loads, they could trip the AFCI.
It is certainly possible theory wise and it appears as though you may have found the right combination?
Have you measured leakage current to exclude that as a possible reason for the trip?
shortcircuit2
Senior Member
- Location
- South of Bawstin
Brand New Treadmill with a 2hp motor trips a Cutler Hammer AFCI breaker everytime it is started. Tried switching circuits, but same result. Will be consulting CH...
shortcircuit2
shortcircuit2
ty
Senior Member
- Location
- 3rd Rock from the Sun
We install CH all the time.
Have never had that problem.
We have over the past 10 years had very few issues with CH AFCI breakers. I could count them on one hand.
- Status