AFCI / GFCI with old wiring and appliances

[marmathsen]

When retrimming receptacles in and existing project where they are required to have AFCI or GFCI protection, how often do you find that you now have a tripping device issue that you need to solve? Between existing wiring and existing appliances, it seems very common. Close to 1 issue power house for me.

I find that it often makes me look like the bad guy because "well it worked before you installed the new device". It's hard to tell someone that they need to buy a new microwave, vacuum, etc because their 5 year old appliance causes their new devices to trip.

Rob

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[costanzo]

We run into this all the time. I explain this to the customer before I quote a price. Plan for the worst, hope for the best.

 

[ptonsparky]

I agree, the customer has to notified upfront.
I would not replace each device with an $$AFCI/GFCI, but would want to protect the entire circuit at the panel. MWBCs were common in older homes so that brings up additional problems.

 

[costanzo]

I agree, the customer has to notified upfront.
I would not replace each device with an $$AFCI/GFCI, but would want to protect the entire circuit at the panel. MWBCs were common in older homes so that brings up additional problems.

We run into that as well. We have pretty good luck with 2 pole 15 and 20 amp AFCI breakers on existing MWBC.

 

[Fred B]

The AFCI/GFCI receptacles firmware is not as frequently updated as breakers. When replacing always look for the newest mfg date as more likely to have recognition of the appliances "arc" signatures that are not a fault. There are breaker mfg that can update the firmware if you provide a particular appliance information they will provide a breaker that recognizes the particular signature as "normal" and not a fault. Some even have the ability to update via wifi without having to change the breaker.

But most times my experience has been that the devices are tripping from loose connections that include in a jbox that may be buried or hidden (seen this a lot), or damage to cords that are being "plugged in". Another cause of tripping seen alot is the multiple tapped neutrals in a jbox (someone just tied all the whites together even though you have more than one circuit in the jbox).