AFCI installed after remodel trips intermittantly

[sfav8r]

We just installed new service to four units. One of the requirements of course, is to place the bedroom circuits on AFCI. On ONE of the units, the AFCI keeps tripping. Sometimes it goes 2-3 days, sometimes only a few hours.

Our first thought was that someone had borrowed a neutral on another circuit, but have not been able to locate a problem.

This unit also happens to have two garage door openers on the same circuit (it's an old building). I suspect the openers are the problem, but according to the owner, the breaker never trips while the doors are operating (or just after they have operated).

Any suggestion what to look for?

The typical neutral/ground fault usually trips the breaker right away, not the long delay we are seeing.

thank you.

 

[allenwayne]

Re: AFCI installed after remodel trips intermittantly

Afci`s can be a bear to troubleshoot.Sometimes it is so obvious we look past the answer

 

[al hildenbrand]

Re: AFCI installed after remodel trips intermittantly

Man! Intermittents are a bear without an AFCI. . .this raises the hurdle bar to a stratospheric altitude.

Some kind of recording scheme might be in order. . .

 

[allenwayne]

Re: AFCI installed after remodel trips intermittantly

Mr. moderator please move the post I made to the correct thread If you would and delete the 2nd post please

 

[peter d]

Re: AFCI installed after remodel trips intermittantly

Allen, is some liquid refreshment involved here???

 

[LarryFine]

Re: AFCI installed after remodel trips intermittantly

There is one more possibility, however remote: the AFCI is operating properly, and there is an intermittent arc in the circuit.

 

[al hildenbrand]

Re: AFCI installed after remodel trips intermittantly

I'm with you Larry.

 

[charlie b]

Re: AFCI installed after remodel trips intermittantly

Originally posted by allenwayne: Mr. moderator please move the post I made to the correct thread If you would and delete the 2nd post please

It has been done, per your request.

 

[james wuebker]

Re: AFCI installed after remodel trips intermittantly

What ever is plugged in that circuit try unplugging each item one at a time. If you can't fine it this way it could be a loose connection in one of your recep.. There's so many things you can try but will take time. I'll think about it some more and maybe pinpoint it closer.
Jim

 

[Wes G]

Re: AFCI installed after remodel trips intermittantly

Another thing I have found on this with older devices has been a trip caused by arcing in a poor switch

 

[allenwayne]

Re: AFCI installed after remodel trips intermittantly

5 will get you 20 that`s the receptacle behind that 400 lb. amoire

 

[George Stolz]

Re: AFCI installed after remodel trips intermittantly

Originally posted by LarryFine:
There is one more possibility, however remote: the AFCI is operating properly, and there is an intermittent arc in the circuit.

Is there a computer in the bedroom?

 

[geezer]

Re: AFCI installed after remodel trips intermittantly

I talked to an electrician a couple of weeks ago who had to replace recessed lighting that was causing an arc fault breaker to trip.

 

[allenwayne]

Re: AFCI installed after remodel trips intermittantly

Originally posted by geezer:
I talked to an electrician a couple of weeks ago who had to replace recessed lighting that was causing an arc fault breaker to trip.

 

[iwire]

Re: AFCI installed after remodel trips intermittantly

Allen I imagine a factory neutral wire was shorted to the fixture metal, maybe at the socket or in the flex.

 

[PlnOldRick]

Re: AFCI installed after remodel trips intermittantly

i have seen intermittent tripping like that from the older style receps that took #12 and #14 stabbed into the back (post afi update). the inards get all worn down after time and when someone slams a door or walks like an oger the vibration causes an arc in the stab in's (exactly why i dont use stab in's). first thing i would do on service calls to older houses that lost power in a room would be to walk around and tap all the receps with a screwdriver and look for flickering.

might wanna try the same approach only look for tripping.

 

[muskiedog]

Re: AFCI installed after remodel trips intermittantly

I had one tripping from an old lift station run for a septic system that was converted to a city sewer system.

The installers of an new sewer grinder pump didn't remove the old wire from the ground. When I finally had days of rain the ground became saturated enough to trip the ACFI.

Just a thought.