AFCI and Call Backs

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Re: AFCI and Call Backs

You've followed the rules on installation, right? I've seen smokes nuisance alarm being too close to cold air returns, hot air supply. Don't forget to notice the one in the basement, too close to the furnace and it will trigger.

Do the alarms you install have a memory feature, so the troubled alarm shows itself? We use Kidde alarms, and whenever they trigger, the alarm that sensed trouble maintains a red LED in place of the intermittent blip to show normal function. That narrows troubleshooting a lot, if it's always the same room.
 
Re: AFCI and Call Backs

I understand that you have to have Brand A AFCI's on a brand A panel and Brand B with Brand B, but are there other brands of AFCI's you could place on the panel for the mean time. Interchangables. Try that out.

Im still not convinced of that all AFCI's are functionally correct. Like George stated yesterday "It seems as if AFCI's went through puberty in about 3 weeks". I bet when all else fails if its not what george described above, its a sensitivity issue with the AFCI.

[ January 29, 2005, 09:33 AM: Message edited by: aelectricalman ]
 
Re: AFCI and Call Backs

If it stops even one wasted service call it was worth it.Maybe you could add some advice like un plugging your appliances and other items to see if they clear the problem.
 
Re: AFCI and Call Backs

We are using Code One smoke detectors,since this is florida there are no basements so heat isn`t an issue.They are at least 4 ft. from all forced air vents.It happens at different times of the day.The only consistent thing there is they go off for no apparent reason.There are no voltage fluctuations.We have checked all splices,this is becoming a real issue.This home is less than 9 months old.Other homes we have had a problem with can usually be pinpointed as to the cause but this one is driving me nuts.
 
Re: AFCI and Call Backs

It's easy to point the finger at the AFCI, but unless clocks are losing their time, electronic appliances are resetting, it's doubtful.

Have you tried a different brand of smokes? Do the "Code One" smokes have the memory feature I mentioned?

(Ace, when I made my puberty analogy, I was referring to the on, off, on the AFCI for smokes debate. One house would fail because they were on the AFCI, and the next house would fail because it was off. Although AFCI's have had a puberty of their own! :D )

[ January 29, 2005, 04:48 PM: Message edited by: georgestolz ]
 
Re: AFCI and Call Backs

We had this problem once back when the smokes had open vent holes into the box to allow better passage of air flow through the detector. What we found was when the home owner opened a outside door or window it would cause the hot attic air to back flow through the smokes. While a smoke detector can be in a high ambient temperature if the ambient temperature rises faster than a given rate it trips the fast temperature rise detector in the smoke. We had to seal off the box's with a sealant and the problem went away. but that was after changing out two set's of the BRK's and three set's of Fire-x. Most newer detectors have a gasket now to prevent this problem but once in a while it will get torn in the installation and if this smoke is mounted on a ceiling that has a hot attic on the other side of it, it will go off.

So keep this in mind (about the fast temperature rise time detector in them) when placeing smokes. If too close to a kitchen the oven can do the same thing. or furnace hot water heater. If you want to test this just use any hair dryer to blow hot air at one, this will set it off.

[ January 30, 2005, 12:21 AM: Message edited by: hurk27 ]
 
Re: AFCI and Call Backs

Wayne At this point I am willing to try anything.So what you are saying is that we go from detector to detector and blow hot air across the detector to see if that sets it off ?Makes scence .
 
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Not at all. I was just saying if hot air from the attic was getting into the detector it might be what's tripping them. Or from a stove or furance or other heat source. The blowing hot air into them was just to confirm that they will indeed trip when hit with a fast rise in temp.
 
Re: AFCI and Call Backs

Back to afci breakers, I had to go back to one new house I wired where they would trip the afci when plugging in a vacume cleaner that had a speed control on it, when I started the vacume in the low speed it would trip the afci every time but when starting in the high speed not once would it trip. Where I live here in Vermont the state didnt wait until the last code came out (2002), they started requiring afci's a year before and not just in bedrooms but all livable rooms in dwellings. Replacing a panel in an older house where most circuits seemed to go to almost any room it cost a fortune to replace a panel. :)
 
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