AFCI, Ceiling Fans, Tripping

[harley]

Re: AFCI, Ceiling Fans, Tripping

The problem is noise. Rapid switching of inductive devices weather on the load side or BUS side. Electronic ballasts switch 38khz and some run up to 42khz. It is up to users to help manuf. and report problems with devices. Also check
CPSC.gov web site for the 30 million products that have mauf. defects for possible Arc conditions. It will be manuf. responsibility to make noise immune but unable to test every product or combination of. If bus noise is problem usually other AFCI or GFCI will trip on same phase. THIS IS A RANDOM FAILURE.

 

[hurk27]

Re: AFCI, Ceiling Fans, Tripping

By Harley: If bus noise is problem usually other AFCI or GFCI will trip on same phase.

Not always so.

Problem with this is even tho it is a Voltage spike (noise) event. It causes a current spike too. This current spike does not seem to bother any of the other devices on the same phase as the current only returns to its source. In this case the motor which produced it. I have looked at it on a oscilloscope and the current event dissipation is very fast (less than a half a cycle) This causes a imbalance in the current coil in the AFCI and will look like a ground fault to it. What else that caught my attention was the contact bounce (in the speed control) was causing many of these little half cycle current surges. I'm thinking that maybe the AFCI can't ignore that many and since this is a current issue having the MOV's in the AFCI might not eliminate it. But having the MOV's in the fan control might be a good start. Stoping the surge at the source.

 

[sparkybob]

Re: AFCI, Ceiling Fans, Tripping

I too am having problems with AFCI breakers tripping when ceiling fans are turned on. These are 15 amp Square-D QO's. Each of 3 bedrooms are on their own arc-fault breaker, but only 2 of them trip when the fans or the light kit are turned on. There are no dimmers or speed controls involved. The odd thing is that the one that does not trip has 3-ways installed, while the other 2 rooms have residential grade (cheap) single poles. This may be just a coincidence, but I'm going to try spec grade switches to see if there is a difference.

 

[em1]

Re: AFCI, Ceiling Fans, Tripping

We just started having problems with seimens arc faults. we contacted the the seimens rep, and he sent us a fax stating they changed something in the breaker, and they have been having problems with, "certain dimmers, fans, flourescent lights, smoke detectors, etc. and basicly they dont know what they are going to do about it!