ANOTHER ARC FAULT PROBLEM

[Mr. Spinosa]

I think I learned something new this week. - I put a dedicated circuit in for a customer for her micro-hood and it trips intermittently. (Maybe every 3 weeks or so.) I tested the insulation resistances, looked at my work, and then I used the Siemens Intelli-Arcl tool on the circuit and found the micro-wave was getting a steady yellow and sometimes red light on the tester. (All other circuits were off while conducting this test.) I talked to the Siemens rep and he said to try plugging the micro-hood into a power strip with RFI and EMI filters; it is supposed to cut down on some of the electrical noise that is apparently being generated by the micro-hood. - I guess we'll wait and see what happens as I have passed this info on to the customer. I just hate to tell her that she needs a new micro-hood without knowing for sure that it is indeed a problem. Any thoughts?

I have been including this language in my contracts and pointing it out before installing arc-faults. I think this has saved me a lot of headaches already. I point it out to the customer and then sometimes I have them initial it.

ARC FAULT/GROUND FAULT CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER: In the event arc fault protection and/or ground fault circuit protection is required or added to any circuit, any preexisting condition/s that may cause any such device/s to trip are not covered by this contract. Any work to correct such unforeseen issues will be billed to the customer, according to the terms of this contract, in addition to the cost shown on this Estimate/Proposal/Work Order.

Anyway, I would love to hear how some of you handle these things or test for intermittent tripping. Thanks in advance.

 

[dmxtothemax]

I think I learned something new this week. - I put a dedicated circuit in for a customer for her micro-hood and it trips intermittently. (Maybe every 3 weeks or so.) I tested the insulation resistances, looked at my work, and then I used the Siemens Intelli-Arcl tool on the circuit and found the micro-wave was getting a steady yellow and sometimes red light on the tester. (All other circuits were off while conducting this test.) I talked to the Siemens rep and he said to try plugging the micro-hood into a power strip with RFI and EMI filters; it is supposed to cut down on some of the electrical noise that is apparently being generated by the micro-hood. - I guess we'll wait and see what happens as I have passed this info on to the customer. I just hate to tell her that she needs a new micro-hood without knowing for sure that it is indeed a problem. Any thoughts?

I have been including this language in my contracts and pointing it out before installing arc-faults. I think this has saved me a lot of headaches already. I point it out to the customer and then sometimes I have them initial it.

ARC FAULT/GROUND FAULT CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER: In the event arc fault protection and/or ground fault circuit protection is required or added to any circuit, any preexisting condition/s that may cause any such device/s to trip are not covered by this contract. Any work to correct such unforeseen issues will be billed to the customer, according to the terms of this contract, in addition to the cost shown on this Estimate/Proposal/Work Order.

Anyway, I would love to hear how some of you handle these things or test for intermittent tripping. Thanks in advance.

Some sort of filter is worth trying.
where does Siemens fit into this ?
Which one did they make ?

 

[mopowr steve]

I had a recent new home where the owners had a used microwave doing the exact same thing.
I finally convinced them to get another microwave and as of now there haven't been any more problems. At least as far as I know.

 

[dmxtothemax]

AFCI

AFCI

I think as time goes on,
The manufacturers of AFCI will develop a cure
Probably some kind of filter.

 

[winnie]

Hmm. Install AFCIs in the panel, and then right next to them install filters to remove any 'arc signature'.....

-Jon

 

[iwire]

Hmm. Install AFCIs in the panel, and then right next to them install filters to remove any 'arc signature'.....

I will make the AFCIF.

The patented iwire Arc Fault Circuit Interpreter Filter will not be required by code, it will only be required by customers that wish their appliances to operate.

I will make millions!!!
​

 

[ptonsparky]

Hmm. Install AFCIs in the panel, and then right next to them install filters to remove any 'arc signature'.....

-Jon

Started doing that a few years ago. Made as much sense then as it does now.

 

[ActionDave]

There is an article in the current Electrical Contractor where the manufacture's rep comes out and admits what we have all long suspected, that the breaker companies are using the US housing market as beta test for AFCIs.

 

[K8MHZ]

There is an article in the current Electrical Contractor where the manufacture's rep comes out and admits what we have all long suspected, that the breaker companies are using the US housing market as beta test for AFCIs.

Got a link to that?

Michigan is AFCI free and I hope it stays that way, any info to that effect would be appreciated.