ACFI breaker problem. Should I have done more?

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David Goodman

Senior Member
Location
Pahrump, NV, USA
Alright, I am ready for your criticism.

AFCI breaker problem.

I was at a residence today to replace the compressor in their condensor unit. The capacitor was bad, contactor points were burned thin on one pole, and I only had 115 volts at the disconnect between L1 and L2 (240V single phase).

So, I checked the breaker panel. The home was about 15-20 years old, and had a side-by-side Cutler-Hammer meter socket/breaker panel (200Amp).

On opening the access cover, I noticed that the breakers didn't fit well into the dead front. They were tight on one side with a gap on the other. As I removed the dead front panel, the two AFCI 15 amp breakers toward the bottom "slipped" to the off position. I hadn't touched them. The levers just moved to the left (off) position, but not to a tripped position.

The 50 amp breaker for the unit I was working on had some darkening of the one of the screw terminals. So, that breaker was replaced, and that restored 240V to the disconnect. Compressor, contactor and capacitor were then replaced.

As I put the dead front panel back on, one of the ACFI breakers buzzed then flipped to off (Yes, I was working in a live panel). A moment later the other one buzzed and tripped. I turned both back on, and they held. The spring tension felt a little odd though.

Three hours after leaving the job, we got a call back because the HO's television was not working. I check the breaker panel. All of the breakers were in the on position. I barely touched (2 oz. of pressure) one of the AFCI levers and it flipped to off. I turned it back to on and power was restored.

I had the HO come out to observe what was happening. With her watching, I pressed the test button on one of the AFCI breakers. It clicked to the "tripped" position. I pressed on the other one, but it didn't trip.

I explained that the breakers were not part of the system that we could work on, and that she should call an electrician.

Was there anything else I should have done?
Did I go farther than I should have?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.
 
Was this a Cutler-Hammer CH or BR?
If it was a CH, then what you saw was the breakers were tripped and not "off". That's because they trip to the "off" position. You probably were hitting the test buttons when putting the cover back on. I've done this before.

As far as the one that didn't respond to the test button I would say it needs replacing.
 
Little Bill said:
Was this a Cutler-Hammer CH or BR?
If it was a CH, then what you saw was the breakers were tripped and not "off". That's because they trip to the "off" position. You probably were hitting the test buttons when putting the cover back on. I've done this before.

As far as the one that didn't respond to the test button I would say it needs replacing.
Click to expand...

Thank you for your response.

They were Eaton Type BRAF (which I guess is Cutler-Hammer).

Little Bill, sounds like you don't feel this is any major safety issue. That is a relief. I wondered if I should have made calling an electrician sound more urgent.

I have the same meter socket and breaker panel in my home (same age also). I have corrosion like you would find on a car battery appearing near, but not on, the terminal screws like it has been seeping out between cracks in the plastic.

I have an electrician coming out Friday to look at mine.
 
Even the best of us may fall short on afci diagnostics David.

Factors like FCC compliance , appliance electronica, and mag trip ratings have been discussed here , but with little resolve due to manufacturing differences.

Conversely , last week we sat lectured by a nema afci rep , who informed us only a seimens arc fault tester would be helpful, openly putting down all other makes as inadequate. When i asked what it did vs my antique crank biddel megger, he couldn't answer

~RJ~
 
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