afci breakers

[electric291]

Has anyone had trouble with afci breakers tripping with a lighting load. I have a box of Sq. D and ITE that trip immediately with one incandescent or compact flour. lamp. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[barbeer]

You have some arcing events occurring.?

 

[ELA]

Sounds more likely that it would be ground leakage current than arcing? Any chance there is a downstream connection between neutral and ground?

 

[M. D.]

Is this all the same event or have you compiled these circuit breakers over time ??
I have had very few mysterious trips ... all of them have either been neutral to grounding conductor or a misplaced neutral connection,.. and way back there was an issue with some paddle fans...

 

[JohnJ0906]

I have had very few mysterious trips ... all of them have either been neutral to grounding conductor or a misplaced neutral connection,..

Same here.

and way back there was an issue with some paddle fans...

Never experienced this one personally.

 

[JohnJ0906]

Has anyone had trouble with afci breakers tripping with a lighting load. I have a box of Sq. D and ITE that trip immediately with one incandescent or compact flour. lamp. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks

Are all these new?
Was this the same light that tripped the breakers?

 

[M. D.]

Never experienced this one personally.

It had to do with the capacitors when changing speeds..I think the issue was resolved as it has not happened with the new generation of AFCI

 

[JohnJ0906]

It had to do with the capacitors when changing speeds..I think the issue was resolved as it has not happened with the new generation of AFCI

Was it any brand (of fan) in particular?

 

[M. D.]

Was it any brand (of fan) in particular?

When the customer called I researched and found this as well as other information ,.. his speed change was at the fan and the make was not the same as the one mentioned here

NFPA Standards Concil Meeting July 14, 2004

Steve Campolo with Leviton
".......Aparticular fan designated a Craftmade ceiling fan, a paddel fan, I personally received phone calls from the field saying "Your speed control is
causing my AFCI to trip." I went out and purchased these fans and hooked
them up with the AFCIs and the fan speed control, and lo and behold, confirmed that capacitive type fan speed controls, a technology around for over 30 years, does indeed cause most -- well, three out of the four available AFCIs on the market today to trip......."