NotmyArcFault
New User
- Location
- SF Bay Area, CA
- Occupation
- VP Engineering
Hi folks,
I'm looking for some help on diagnosing Murry AT2 breakers 'randomly' tripping for arc faults.
I have a non electrical engineering background, and have worked on electrical system design for many years. So, I'm not starting from zero on the skillset, but perhaps pretty darn close
Background: I live in a 1940s house that had the electrical upgraded some years ago with a 200A panel, loaded with mostly Murray AT3 AFCI breakers.
The house is on a community property, being fed from the main power drop say 400yds away.
I don't have a separate electrical bill and the wiring to the house is not 'owned' by the power company.
The circuits in the house are very discreet in design and isolation at the house panel.
Almost everything has its own circuit. I'm excluding the 220 circuits, they are not AFCI and do not ever trip.
There are separate circuits/breakers for:
Dishwasher
Disposal
1/2 the kitchen (2x outlets)
2nd 1/2 the kitchen (2x outlets)
Fridge
Microwave
Bedroom #1
Bedroom #2
Main Room lights (living and kitchen combined, its one large room)
Some are 15A some 20A (not sure that important for this conversation)
As mentioned, randomly a breaker will trip. When reset the Arc Fault LED goes on. Never the GND fault LED.
The faults usually happen when something on the circuit starts. IE the coffee burr grinder trips the pair of kitchen outlets.
Dishwasher has tripped its circuit starting around 2 months ago. Before that it was fine. I move the dishwasher to the disposal circuit, has only tripped once.
Fridge trips. These usually fluctuate and will trip a lot for a few days, then get better for weeks or longer without a trip.
Tripped once while on vacation, had to toss almost the entire contents.
Other info (maybe useful):
When a large fan is running and something like the stove/microwave kicks in, the fan speed slows (pitch changes noticeably).
So, I'm looking for some guidance on what to check to try to fix this issue. Most everything I've found online centers troubleshooting around 'the bad item' in a circuit. The bad item could be the wiring...
The living room lights will sometimes trip after being on for hours.
In my scenario, it doesn't appear to be an item, or a the wiring of 'a circuit'.
Seems to me there is some sort of general noise that the breakers are picking up and one of them trips. They take turns to make my life interesting...
Looking for help and wisdom from this group to help this noob out of a jam.
I'm looking for some help on diagnosing Murry AT2 breakers 'randomly' tripping for arc faults.
I have a non electrical engineering background, and have worked on electrical system design for many years. So, I'm not starting from zero on the skillset, but perhaps pretty darn close
Background: I live in a 1940s house that had the electrical upgraded some years ago with a 200A panel, loaded with mostly Murray AT3 AFCI breakers.
The house is on a community property, being fed from the main power drop say 400yds away.
I don't have a separate electrical bill and the wiring to the house is not 'owned' by the power company.
The circuits in the house are very discreet in design and isolation at the house panel.
Almost everything has its own circuit. I'm excluding the 220 circuits, they are not AFCI and do not ever trip.
There are separate circuits/breakers for:
Dishwasher
Disposal
1/2 the kitchen (2x outlets)
2nd 1/2 the kitchen (2x outlets)
Fridge
Microwave
Bedroom #1
Bedroom #2
Main Room lights (living and kitchen combined, its one large room)
Some are 15A some 20A (not sure that important for this conversation)
As mentioned, randomly a breaker will trip. When reset the Arc Fault LED goes on. Never the GND fault LED.
The faults usually happen when something on the circuit starts. IE the coffee burr grinder trips the pair of kitchen outlets.
Dishwasher has tripped its circuit starting around 2 months ago. Before that it was fine. I move the dishwasher to the disposal circuit, has only tripped once.
Fridge trips. These usually fluctuate and will trip a lot for a few days, then get better for weeks or longer without a trip.
Tripped once while on vacation, had to toss almost the entire contents.
Other info (maybe useful):
When a large fan is running and something like the stove/microwave kicks in, the fan speed slows (pitch changes noticeably).
So, I'm looking for some guidance on what to check to try to fix this issue. Most everything I've found online centers troubleshooting around 'the bad item' in a circuit. The bad item could be the wiring...
The living room lights will sometimes trip after being on for hours.
In my scenario, it doesn't appear to be an item, or a the wiring of 'a circuit'.
Seems to me there is some sort of general noise that the breakers are picking up and one of them trips. They take turns to make my life interesting...
Looking for help and wisdom from this group to help this noob out of a jam.
