AFCI

[domnic]

went to a service call today afci breaker tripping in bead room overhead lights work fine but when you plug something in outlet it trips the breaker and over head lights go out. HELP.

 

[mbrooke]

First step is an insulation resistance test to rule out wiring errors or damaged insulation.

 

[mopowr steve]

Part of a AFCI breaker doesn't begin to sense a series fault until at least 5 amps of current is being drawn, it could be a loose bulb, bad socket at light fixture once you plug something in that increases load.
May have a ground wire in receptacle box extremely close to neutral screw, this can cause the condition also.
The object your plugging in may insert excessive noise on the circuit which may inadvertently dupe the afci into sensing a false arc condition.

If you have seimens breakers, go turn it off then back on and pay attention to which lights on breaker flash on for a brief moment. 1 is for arc fault the 2nd is for ground fault that may help us diagnose your problem.

 

[domnic]

afci

afci

If I have a neutral and egc touching will it trip a afci breaker?

 

[flatlander]

If I have a neutral and egc touching will it trip a afci breaker?

Yes , if the afci used has ground fault sensing

 

[mbrooke]

If I have a neutral and egc touching will it trip a afci breaker?

Yes.

 

[Sierrasparky]

If I have a neutral and egc touching will it trip a afci breaker?

Yes.

only if the AFCI device has ground fault , many new AFCI devices don't trip if you even share a nuetral, I think some newer Eaton and GE have the ground fault feature removed.