electricguy61
Senior Member
Anyone one else experiencing this problem?
Action Line: Remodeler finds SmartMeter interference with circuit breakers
By Dennis Rockstroh
*deleted email*
Posted: 09/12/2010 04:08:39 PM PDT
Updated: 09/13/2010 06:13:55 AM PDT
Q One item you did not cover in your Sept. 7 SmartMeter article was interference with arc-fault circuit interrupters (AFCI).
This is a type of circuit breaker that code requires in new and remodel construction. Its job is to detect arcing, which has been shown to be a cause of fires.
Normal circuit breakers will not always break when arcing occurs. If arcing is detected by the AFCI, the breaker trips, stopping the potentially dangerous arc.
Long story short, I did some remodeling recently. City code required that I use an AFCI for one of the bedroom circuits that was being remodeled. Some weeks after I completed the remodel, the AFCI started tripping. This meant I had to inspect each junction box and outlet to determine where an arc might be occurring.
Coincidentally, the problem started not long after a SmartMeter was installed toward the end of the remodel.
Finally, after severe frustration, I phoned PG&E for help on this matter. A crew came out and looked at the AFCI breaker for a few seconds. One went to the truck and came back with a conventional meter, a mechanically driven version, and swapped it for the SmartMeter that was installed some days before.
It took some prodding, but eventually one of the PG&E crew told me that they have been observing that AFCIs are sensitive to the meter's radio transmissions.
Dave Zittin
San Jose
Action Line: Remodeler finds SmartMeter interference with circuit breakers
By Dennis Rockstroh
*deleted email*
Posted: 09/12/2010 04:08:39 PM PDT
Updated: 09/13/2010 06:13:55 AM PDT
Q One item you did not cover in your Sept. 7 SmartMeter article was interference with arc-fault circuit interrupters (AFCI).
This is a type of circuit breaker that code requires in new and remodel construction. Its job is to detect arcing, which has been shown to be a cause of fires.
Normal circuit breakers will not always break when arcing occurs. If arcing is detected by the AFCI, the breaker trips, stopping the potentially dangerous arc.
Long story short, I did some remodeling recently. City code required that I use an AFCI for one of the bedroom circuits that was being remodeled. Some weeks after I completed the remodel, the AFCI started tripping. This meant I had to inspect each junction box and outlet to determine where an arc might be occurring.
Coincidentally, the problem started not long after a SmartMeter was installed toward the end of the remodel.
Finally, after severe frustration, I phoned PG&E for help on this matter. A crew came out and looked at the AFCI breaker for a few seconds. One went to the truck and came back with a conventional meter, a mechanically driven version, and swapped it for the SmartMeter that was installed some days before.
It took some prodding, but eventually one of the PG&E crew told me that they have been observing that AFCIs are sensitive to the meter's radio transmissions.
Dave Zittin
San Jose
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